Collaborative environment for virtual collaborative networks of ELV recycling SMEs

The higher the complexity and multiplicity of relationships among SMEs is, the more necessary the involvement of sophisticated ICT solutions is. One such example are the relationships of recycling SMEs with business, economic, legal and ecologic environments, which require business models unthinkable without state-of-the-art ICT systems. The problem of reconciling e.g. increasingly severe legal and ecological requirements with low profit margin makes requirements upon networking technology in recycling exceptionally complex. The paper presents a new business model realisation within a specific collaborative environment, enabled by a highly scalable, open architecture, agent-based platform and a set of free software services for operation of dynamic networks of SMEs. It includes a powerful distributed decision support system for network establishment and management, and an infrastructure for knowledge sharing within knowledge communities. Initial applications in two international SME networks in recycling domain are presented as well.