Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B IPA Adriatic-Ionian

Date of latest update: 2025-10-06

Description

Description (EN):

Digitalization improves the efficiency of working processes and contributes to reduction of the impact on environment and transition to green economy. However, digitalization is still underutilized, with different regions of Europe (either EU or non-EU member states) having different support mechanisms to foster digitalization. Project DigiTrans connects 10 partners 9 different countries, which are all supporting digitalization of their regional SMEs. The partners represent different spheres, from industry, business support, and administration, to the academic sphere. This gives them the great opportunity to tackle the challenge of underutilization of digital technology from the point of view of different actors. The project will set up a quadruple helix model (connecting representatives of industry, academia, government and community in each of the project partnership regions, which will form a platform for cooperation between key actors for fostering digitalization and uptake of other forms of innovative technologies among SMEs, boosting their competitiveness. At the same time, thanks to the transregional cooperation among project partnership regions, a joint transregional platform will be formed reaching international results in fostering digitalization by exchange of knowledge, experience and also setting up joint action plans for increase in digitalization within the partnership by forming twin regions with partnership trios (where one partner will represent the holder of a good practice to be transferred into a different region; another partner within the trio present the project partner from the region that will pilot test the good practice into their respective region; and the third partner within the trio will be the key stakeholder - such as one of the 8 associated partners, or another key stakeholder fostering digitalization). Within the project the partnership will prepare the regional State of the Art analysis, to get an overview of the level of digitalization in each participating region. Based on this a transregional analysis will be prepared, to show how the regions can work together to increase the number of SMEs cooperating with other innovation actors by 10% and in this way foster the digitalization and implementation of I 4.0 technological solutions. Based on such a model there will be cooperation between 9 countries of the Interreg IPA Adrion program: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia, with 1 partner from each country (and two from Slovenia - LP1 and PP10), forming 9 partnership trios, that will set up 9 actions plans for transfer of good practice for fostering digitalization, which will be pilot tested within the project and based on the pilot testing joint solutions will be developed. Additionally, a special focus will also be on closing the gap between the innovation uptake of the lagging rural areas in comparison to the more developed urban areas with a bigger capacity for uptake of innovative technologies such as digitalization. Through the DigiTrans project the partnership will increase the digitalization uptake among regional SMEs, improve regional policies to "strengthening research, technological development and innovation,” and contribute to achieving the strengthening of innovation capacities in the Adriatic – Ionian region.

Actual Achievements (EN):

As part of the DIGITRANS project, ZICER has taken the lead in developing a common methodology that serves as the foundation for assessing regional policy environments supporting the digital transformation and innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This structured methodological approach has guided all project partners in conducting a comprehensive analysis of their respective regional policy frameworks to identify existing tools, mechanisms, and strategic directions that influence SME development, particularly in the areas of digitalisation and innovation. Using this methodology, each partner has produced a detailed Regional Innovation Map, resulting in a total of nine regional maps and one overarching Transregional Innovation Map. These documents capture the current state of play in each region and collectively provide a comparative overview of the innovation ecosystems across partner territories. The process has enabled project partners to identify gaps, overlaps, and unique opportunities within their regional contexts and to benchmark these findings against one another. This extensive baseline analysis has laid the groundwork for a shared understanding among partners regarding the strengths and weaknesses of current policy instruments. It has also helped identify areas where improvement is needed, both in terms of policy design and implementation. The transregional map, in particular, has highlighted common challenges faced by SMEs across borders, such as limited access to digital tools, fragmented innovation support systems, and underdeveloped collaboration between key actors in the innovation ecosystem. A significant component of the DIGITRANS project has been stakeholder engagement. All partner regions have made a concerted effort to involve a wide range of relevant actors, including policymakers, representatives of SMEs, innovation support organizations, chambers of commerce, academic institutions, and civil society. This inclusive and participatory approach ensures that the perspectives of those directly affected by innovation and digitalisation policies are taken into account from the outset. Stakeholder engagement has taken multiple forms, tailored to regional needs and capacities. Local meetings have created space for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and priority setting. Online consultations have expanded the reach of engagement efforts, allowing for broader participation and greater inclusivity. In addition, targeted working groups have been established in several regions to delve into specific thematic areas, such as digital skills development, smart specialisation strategies, and funding mechanisms. Based on insights gained through this participatory process and the comparative findings from the innovation maps, the project partners are now in the process of drafting a set of strategic policy recommendations. Another important achievement of the DIGITRANS project has been the development of a methodology for establishing and funding regional stakeholder groups. This methodology provides clear guidance on how to set up and sustain stakeholder engagement structures that are both inclusive and effective. In line with this, partners have already begun forming stakeholder groups in their respective regions. These groups will continue to play a crucial role throughout the project’s next phases, providing ongoing input, validating project outputs, and ensuring that the co-created solutions are rooted in real-world needs and experiences. By combining in-depth analysis with broad stakeholder participation, the DIGITRANS project is laying a strong foundation for the development of better, smarter, and more inclusive regional policy instruments that will accelerate the digital transformation of SMEs in partner regions/countries.

Project outputs: International corporation of partnership trios(EN)
Transregional Action Plan(EN)
Small scale testing of improved policy frameworks(EN)
Improved regional policy frameworks for fostering digitalization of SMEs(EN)

Thematic information

ICT and digital society Governance, partnership SME and entrepreneurship

Priority: (VI-B_IPA-A_1) Supporting a smarter Adriatic Ionian region

Priority specific objective: RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 013 Digitising SMEs (including e-Commerce, e-Business and networked business processes, digital innovation hubs, living labs, web entrepreneurs and ICT start-ups, B2B)

Partners (10)

Lead Partner: Univerza v Ljubljani

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999923240

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI54162513

Department: Faculty of electrical engineering

Address: Kongresni trg, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Department address: Tržaška cesta, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.fe.uni-lj.si

Total budget: EUR 224 072.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 190 461.20

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 33 610.80

Regionalna razvojna agencija za Podravje - Maribor

Name: Regionalna razvojna agencija za Podravje - Maribor

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999891812

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI33925950

Address: Pobreška cesta, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: https://rra-podravje.si/

Total budget: EUR 154 116.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 130 999.28

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 23 117.52

POSLOVNO UDRUŽENJE VOJVOĐANSKI IKT KLASTER

Name: POSLOVNO UDRUŽENJE VOJVOĐANSKI IKT KLASTER

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 951533141

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 106621203

Address: TRG D. OBRADOVIĆA , 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.vojvodinaictcluster.org

Total budget: EUR 128 772.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 109 456.20

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 19 315.80

t2i - trasferimento tecnologico e innovazione

Name: t2i - trasferimento tecnologico e innovazione

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 948446019

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT04636360267

Address: Piazza delle istituzioni, 31100 Treviso, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.t2i.it

Total budget: EUR 153 675.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 130 623.75

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 23 051.25

Regionalni biznis centar Berane

Name: Regionalni biznis centar Berane

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 60/31-01066-5 | 03063259 | national identifier (EN)

Address: Biznis zona Rudeš , 84300 Berane, Montenegro

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.rbcberane.me

Total budget: EUR 127 814.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 108 642.24

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 19 172.16

Бизнис конфедерација на Северна Македонија

Name: Бизнис конфедерација на Северна Македонија

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 950148563

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4080010510200

Address: Macedonia, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.bcm.mk

Total budget: EUR 126 756.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 107 742.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 19 013.40

Ινστιτούτο Τεχνολογίας Υπολογιστών & Εκδόσεων «Διόφαντος»

Name: Ινστιτούτο Τεχνολογίας Υπολογιστών & Εκδόσεων «Διόφαντος»

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999643783

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 090060693

Address: N. Kazatzaki, GR26504 Patras, Greece

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.cti.gr

Total budget: EUR 148 428.16

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 126 163.93

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 22 264.23

Zagrebački inovacijski centar d.o.o.

Name: Zagrebački inovacijski centar d.o.o.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 949845050

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 53921712112

Address: Avenija Dubrovnik , 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.zicer.hr

Total budget: EUR 151 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 128 520.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 22 680.00

Javno preduzeće “BIT Centar” d.o.o. u Tuzli

Name: Javno preduzeće “BIT Centar” d.o.o. u Tuzli

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 933023504

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 209952970004 | national identifier (EN)

Address: Trg slobode, 7500 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.bitcentar.com/

Total budget: EUR 127 512.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 108 385.20

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 19 126.80

OFICINA

Name: OFICINA

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 904299379

Partner’s ID if not PIC: L82007452N

Address: Qemal Stafa, 1001 Tirana, Albania

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.oficina.al

Total budget: EUR 131 544.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 111 812.40

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 19 731.60

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Regional Development Agency for Podravje - Maribor

Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Partners and Projects info

Vojvodjanski IKT klaster

Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Partners and Projects info

t2i – Technology transfer and innovation

Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Partners and Projects info

REGIONAL BUSINESS CENTER BERANE

Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Partners and Projects info

Business Confederation of North Macedonia

Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Partners and Projects info

Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus”

Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Partners and Projects info

Zagreb Innovation Centre Ltd.

Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Partners and Projects info

Public company “BIT Centar” Ltd. in Tuzla

Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Partners and Projects info

OFICINA

Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Partners and Projects info

University of Ljubljana

Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Project acronym: DIGITRANS

Project ID: IPA-ADRION00039

Project start date: 2024-09-01

Project end date: 2027-08-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

DIGITAL REGIONS (2014 - 2020 Interreg Europe) (EN) | The project's main goal is the increase of cooperation between the SMEs and other innovative actors, which will also be the case of DigiTrans by implementing the quadruple/quintuple approach to fostering digitalization and general uptake of innovative technologies. (EN), Chain Reaction (2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Central Europe) (EN) | RDAPM was involved (as Styrian Technology Park) in the implementation of the project and has gained the knowledge for application of methodology to implement project partner teams (duos and trios) in order to achieve transregional cooperation in a specific field of innovative technologies. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 473 890.36

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 252 806.80

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 85.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Methodology for Innovation Mapping
Regional Innovation Maps
Transregional Innovation Map
Methodology for founding Regional Stakeholder Groups
Regional Stakeholder Group Charters
State of the Art Report Methodology
Regional State of the Art Report
Transnational State of the Art Report
Recommendations for improvement of regional policy frameworks
Methodology for preparation of Regional Action Plans
Regional Stakeholder Group Workshop report
Study visit reports
Memorandums of cooperation between partnership trios
Regional Action Plans
Joint Methodology for Implementation of Regional Pilot Activities
Draft action plan for Transregional network of knowledge
Methodology for reporting pilot activities.
Pilot testing monitoring report
Pilot testing evaluation report
Transregional pilot testing evaluation report
Methodology for preparation of policy recommendations
9 Regional Policy Recommendations
Adriatic - Ionian transnational policy recomendations
Guidelines for monitoring project impact after the conclusion of the project

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion The most relevant problems identified within the Small Business Act for Europe in the field of digital transformation are the cooperation between businesses and research centres, weaknesses in the business environment and internationalisation (although some countries in the region perform well in some of these dimensions).
For this purpose the project will contribute to connecting businesses and research canters, fostering digitalization of SMEs, by connecting them within the region and by transregional connectivity through the transregional cooperation platform for knowledge sharing.
EuropeanGreenDeal By creating a more favorable business ecosystem for uptake of innovative technologies, a contribution towards a greener Europe will also be created, as DigiTrans will raise the capacity for uptake of innovative technologies in all fields, also in rural areas. The Innovative technologies based on the Quintuple helix system will also consider the environmental aspect of the business development and will thus contribute to reduction of negative impact on the natural environment.
Other Territorial Agenda 2030:
Project DigiTrans will contribute to more balanced Europe through exchange of good practices from various European regions (both EU member states and non-EU member states).
Furthermore, through raised capacity for innovative technology uptake, the project will contribute to more resilient regions.
Additionally the project will contribute to achieving the goals of:
1) Slovenia's Sustainable Smart Specialisation Strategy (S5) - raising the index of digital economy; and inclusion of adults into life long learning.
2) Strategy of Digital Croatia - specifically strategic goal 1 "Developed and innovative digital economy"
2) Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in the Republic of Serbia (2020-25) - specifically to implementing measure 1.4 Development of professional training through short study programs and informal learning.
3) Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Republic of Serbia (2020-27) - through improved business environment through optimization and digitalization of procedures in 4S areas.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B IPA Adriatic-Ionian

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-10-06

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

70 / 70 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

646 / 646 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME

Description

Thematic information

Partners (10)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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