A comprehensive model for assessing the digital maturity of an industrial ecosystem in a circular economy

Authors

  • Alexey Vadimovich Melnik Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University image/svg+xml
  • Alexander Vasilyevich Babkin Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University image/svg+xml
  • Alexey Dmitrievich Filatchev Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University image/svg+xml

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17308/meps/2078-9017/2026/8/51-68

Keywords:

digital maturity, industrial ecosystem, industrial symbiosis, assessment model, subpotential, digital potential, digital foresight, circular economy

Abstract

Importance: the shift of industrial ecosystems toward a circular economy calls for assessment tools that capture the network effects of closedloop resource cycles. Existing digital maturity models focus on individual enterprises and largely miss the synergy generated through symbiotic linkages. Purpose: the study introduces a comprehensive model for assessing the digital maturity of a high-tech industrial ecosystem operating within a circular economy. Research Design: the model combines systems analysis, the index method, and qualimetry. Nine subpotentials are grouped into two circuits: Digital Potential (resource base) and Digital Foresight (strategic capabilities). Industrial symbiosis is embedded as a cross-cutting core that runs through all four evaluation blocks. The biotechnological subpotential is separated into resource and innovation components. Data collection relied on expert assessments (n = 22, Kendall’s W = 0.68) and quantitative enterprise metrics. The weighted arithmetic mean was used for aggregation, while the geometric mean served as a robustness check. Results: the model was tested on the St. Petersburg Clean Technology Cluster and the Telman eco-industrial park (cooperation coefficient 0.47). The calculations produced an integral Digital Maturity Index of 0.72 (High level), a Digital Potential Index of 0.735, and a Digital Foresight Index of 0.686. Subpotential profiling exposed a bottleneck in the ecosystem component (0.47), compared with a strong organizational-managerial score of 0.89. The gap between the arithmetic and geometric estimates remained below 0.1%. A roadmap was developed with a target ICI of 0.85 or higher. The model’s originality lies in treating symbiosis as a crosscutting core and in splitting the biotechnological subpotential into two distinct aspects.

Author Biographies

  • Alexey Vadimovich Melnik , Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University

    Graduate student, Analyst

  • Alexander Vasilyevich Babkin , Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University

    Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Full Prof.

  • Alexey Dmitrievich Filatchev , Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University

    M.A.

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Published

2026-09-24

Issue

Section

Regional Economics

How to Cite

A comprehensive model for assessing the digital maturity of an industrial ecosystem in a circular economy. (2026). Modern Economics: Problems and Solutions, 8, 51-68. https://doi.org/10.17308/meps/2078-9017/2026/8/51-68