<p>This study introduces a comprehensive framework aimed at assessing the resilience of industrial development in regions facing water-scarce by integrating ecological potential with governance network analysis. The framework merges ecological modeling, vulnerability assessment, ecosystem services zoning, and organizational network analysis. Kerman Province in Iran utilized as a case study. Spatial analysis indicates that the current industrial zones are discrepancy between development initiatives and ecological resilience. The northern and central areas demonstrate greater ecological potential due to favorable precipitation, groundwater availability, and soil conditions, while the southern regions near to the Dasht-e Lut desert exhibit lower potential, characterized by limited areas of moderate suitability. Network Analysis among 13 key stakeholder organizations reveals a significant level of connectivity, with a network density of 76.3%, reciprocity of 60.2%, and transitivity of 60.28%. This highlights the crucial role of water-related and industrial governance agencies in promoting information exchange and collaboration. The primary innovation of this study is the conceptualization of resilience as a dual ecological and institutional characteristic, leading to the development of metrics that assess both ecological sustainability and governance capacity. The findings demonstrate that neither favorable ecological conditions nor strong institutional networks independently guarantee resilience; instead, it is their interaction that shapes sustainable pathways. The proposed framework provides decision-makers with evidence-based tools to realign industrial development towards ecologically appropriate zones while strengthening governance structures, thus providing a replicable strategy for sustainable planning in water-stressed areas.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>