Multiagent market design for circular industrial symbiosis

About the project

This project uses game theory, agent-based modelling and mechanism design to support circular industrial symbiosis, where one company’s waste becomes another’s resource. It investigates economically viable partnerships, fair cost-sharing contracts and effective government incentives. The aim is to develop novel multiagent research methods to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and sustain long-term, mutually beneficial industrial collaborations.

Industrial symbiosis allows companies to use one another’s waste, by-products or surplus resources, reducing demand for virgin materials and waste disposal. However, technically feasible exchanges do not always become viable partnerships. Firms must agree on how to share benefits and the costs of transportation, treatment and transactions, while responding to uncertainty and changing market conditions, including shifts in prices and demand.

This PhD will develop multiagent market design methods that help establish and sustain these collaborations. Companies will be modelled as autonomous decision makers with different objectives, information and capabilities. The research will connect three complementary directions.

First, game-theoretic models will identify when firms benefit from collaborating and which partnerships can remain stable. Second, mechanism design will support fair cost-sharing, dynamic contracts and incentives that encourage participation and continued cooperation. Third, agent-based modelling will investigate how these arrangements evolve over time and how government policies, including taxes and subsidies, influence their economic and environmental outcomes.

Possible research questions include how to distribute costs when waste quality or supply changes, how to discourage opportunistic behaviour, and how to target public incentives effectively. Evaluation will compare alternative mechanisms and policy scenarios using measures such as participation, stability, resource reuse, emissions and public expenditure.

The project offers scope to develop formal models, computational algorithms and simulation tools. Its precise focus can be shaped around the successful applicant’s interests. It would suit applicants with a background in computer science, artificial intelligence, mathematics, economics, operations research or a related discipline, and an interest in sustainability.

The School of Electronics & Computer Science is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.

Dr Vahid Yazdanpanah

• Multiagent (AI) Systems
• Agent-Based Computing
• Responsibility of AI Systems

Entry requirements

You must have an undergraduate degree (at least UK 2:1 honours degree) or its international equivalent in one of the following:

Applicants must be eligible for UK (home) tuition fees or qualify for the University of Southampton’s Horizon Europe fee waiver. Please check the Horizon Europe fee waiver eligibility criteria to confirm whether you qualify.

• computer science
• artificial intelligence
• operations research
• economics
• applied mathematics
• a related discipline

Fees and funding

We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students. Horizon Europe fee waivers automatically cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for qualifying students.

Competition-based Presidential Bursaries from the University cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for top-ranked applicants.

Competition-based studentships offered by our schools typically cover UK-level tuition fees and a stipend for living costs for top-ranked applicants.

Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.

For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages .

How to apply

Apply now

You need to:

Applications should include:

• choose programme type (Research), 2027/28, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• select Full time or Part time
• search for programme PhD Computer Science (7089)
• add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application
• research proposal
• your CV (resumé)
• 2 academic references
• degree transcripts and certificates to date
• English language qualification (if applicable)

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

For questions about applying, email our Doctoral College (doctoralcollege-admissions@soton.ac.uk) .

Project leader

For an initial conversation, email Dr Vahid Yazdanpanah (v.yazdanpanah@soton.ac.uk) .

Research areas