Enhancing SMEs’ modernization and green innovation and transition towards successful sustainability by transnational collaborative practices and tools.

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

Date of latest update: 2025-06-23

Description

Description (EN):

GREENSMES project tackles the common territorial challenge of boosting green innovation in business within IPA ADRION area and aims to strengthen innovation capacities in the IPA ADRION region through transnational quadruple helix synergies, by cross-collaboration among participating countries and regions in the field of green transition and clean technologies, SMEs support and up-skilling, innovation ecosystem building and rural development. The project enhances the learning exchange between partner regions, the capacity building of SMEs, the contribution towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the impact investing on green innovation. Positive effects will go beyond project duration through outputs transferability: O 1.1 Strategy to facilitate successful transnational interaction between R&D and business community towards green innovation and O 2.2 Action Plan for network operation to transfer and replicate project activities. A Transnational strategic network will be established as output O 2.1 by engaging PPs and relevant stakeholders. Finally, Pilot action to increase SMEs’ transnational competitiveness in the Green Economy will be tested (O 3.1) in order to also provide output O 3.2 GREENSMES Study on upscaling green transnational entrepreneurial cooperation in the IPA ADRION area. In line with indicative actions foreseen by the Programme, the project will ease the uptake policies, up-scale and test tools and advanced technologies application through pilot actions in specific fields of interest of S3 (energy and sustainable environment; ICT; manufacturing; smart city & smart mobility). Plus, it will promote actions supporting SMEs development and modernization and BSOs’ potential in supporting them via capacity building on crucial topics such as technical and financial issues, dealing with R&I providers, proof of concept mechanisms, etc. SMEs’ sector, including micro-enterprises, constitutes over 99 % of all businesses in the EU and represents the bedrock of economies in IPA ADRION area. Undeniably, the current production and consumption patterns pose serious challenges to human health and wellbeing, such as air / water pollution, excessive noise and chemicals. The expected result of the project is to enhance SMEs’ modernization in the project areas in terms of green transition towards successful sustainability. In the IPA ADRION area, despite the increasing importance of green innovation, efforts to promote growth through green economy actions remain fragmented and short-ranged. There is a lack of a rounded awareness of the multifaceted nature of this issue. Over the past decades the EU has put in place a broad range of environmental legislation and has launched a wide array of green initiatives with both direct and indirect impact on EU businesses to make sure that Europe is sufficiently resilient to challenges posed by new and emerging risks, including the impacts of climate change. The Agenda 2030 and related SDGs also go in this direction. As a result, several industries are changing and modernising their production processes along with their organisational models in order to become greener, more resource-efficient and closer to consumer needs for greener products and services. Yet SMEs in the programme area are not fully aware of policies to become greener and opportunities to increase efficiency either by creating greener production processes and service models or by producing greener products/services. GREENSMES is aligned with the policy priority for green and sustainable development in PPs’ regions and contributes to the specific objective for boosting business competitiveness and transformation by adapting to international conditions and by adopting more sustainable, efficient and green business models. The emphasis placed on green and circular economy reflects both the global developments and trends but also expresses the ecosystemic need to become one of the basic focus thematic areas of the new regional innovation strategies.

Expected Achievements (EN):

WP 1 contributes to enhance transnational cooperation among the green innovation chain stakeholders in the IPA ADRION area by identifying and pursuing green innovation opportunities; fostering interaction and knowledge exchange among R&I institutions, transnational experts, like-minded businesses and more experienced companies; facilitating successful transnational interaction between R&D and the business community towards green innovation. As a results the output 1.1 “Strategy to facilitate successful transnational interaction between R&D and business community towards green innovation” will be delivered in order to strengthen the resilience and adaptation of SMEs to green economy in the medium-long term. WP 2 main purpose is to develop a transnational network to facilitate transnational cooperation for green innovation in SMEs, increase knowledge and capacity of the stakeholders to participate in the cooperation and possibly join the GREENSMES network. To reach the objective, WP 2 will leverage on PPs strong interaction via learning exchange visits as well as on increased competencies within SMEs, sectoral experts and BSOs thanks to design and implementation of capacity building programmes. WP 3's objective is to encourage the implementation of transnationally designed innovations and the testing of smart solutions through voucher schemes collaboration tool as well as promotion of best practices in order to improve green growth and the competitiveness of SMEs. To this purpose the WP will lead to deliver a transnational methodology on upscaling green transnational entrepreneurial cooperation in the ADRION area to be transferred / replicated within and beyond the programme area by also using different funds and leveraging on established relations with institutional stakeholders beyond project PPs.

Project outputs: Strategy to facilitate successful transnational interaction between R&D and business community towards green innovation(EN)
Transnational GREENSMES strategic network members(EN)
Action Plan for Transnational GREENSMES network(EN)
Piloting modernization and green innovation of SMEs – GREENSMES’ experience Model(EN)
GREENSMES Study on upscaling green transnational entrepreneurial cooperation in the ADRION area (EN)

Thematic information

ICT and digital society 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: 027 Innovation processes in SMEs (process, organisational, marketing, co-creation, user and demand driven innovation)

Partners (11)

Lead Partner: TECNOPOLIS Parco Scientifico e Tecnologico Scrl Unipersonale

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 950162434

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 06848450729

Address: Str. P.le per Casamassima, km. 3, 70100 Valenzano, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://www.tecnopolispst.it/

Total budget: EUR 247 662.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 210 512.70

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 37 149.30

Qendra TEAM-Together Everyone Achieves More

Name: Qendra TEAM-Together Everyone Achieves More

Partner’s ID if not PIC: M12403451W

Address: Str. Hasan Vogli, Rezidenca 3D, shk.2, 1001 Tirana, Albania

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Total budget: EUR 48 339.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 41 088.15

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 7 250.85

Opština Herceg Novi

Name: Opština Herceg Novi

Department: Secretariat for Tourism, Economic Development and Investments

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 931460252

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 020008459

Address: Trg Maršala Tita, 85340 Herceg Novi, Montenegro

Department address: Trg Maršala Tita, 85340 Herceg Novi, Montenegro

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.hercegnovi.me

Total budget: EUR 158 909.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 135 072.65

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 23 836.35

Contractors:

Name: Prof.dr Nikša Grgurević
VAT registration or tax identification number: 0

Zdruzenie Nacionalen centar za razvoj na inovacii i pretpriemacko ucenje Skopje

Name: Zdruzenie Nacionalen centar za razvoj na inovacii i pretpriemacko ucenje Skopje

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 984762431

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4057009504474

Address: Bul. 8th of September, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://ncdiel.mk

Total budget: EUR 136 017.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 115 614.45

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 20 402.55

Fondi Shqiptar i Zhvillimit

Name: Fondi Shqiptar i Zhvillimit

Partner’s ID if not PIC: J62325010W

Address: Sami Frasheri Street, 1000 Tirana, Albania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Other

Website: http://ww.albaniandf.org

Total budget: EUR 100 409.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 85 347.65

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 15 061.35

Fond za evropske poslove i razvoj AP Vojvodine

Name: Fond za evropske poslove i razvoj AP Vojvodine

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 936105776

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 106652119 | 08917752 | registration number (EN)

Address: Bulevar Mihajla Pupina, 21108 Novi Sad, Serbia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.vojvodinahouse.eu

Total budget: EUR 152 798.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 129 878.30

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 22 919.70

Gradska razvojna agencija Banja Luka

Name: Gradska razvojna agencija Banja Luka

Department: Department for Implementation of International and National Projects

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 994739948

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 44021112090008

Address: Josifa Pančića, 78000 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Department address: Josifa Pančića, 78000 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://cidea.org

Total budget: EUR 175 541.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 149 209.85

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 26 331.15

Agencija za ruralni razvoj Zadarske županije

Name: Agencija za ruralni razvoj Zadarske županije

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR40310883418

Address: Ivana Mažuranića , 23000 Zadar, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.agrra.hr

Total budget: EUR 178 551.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 151 768.35

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 26 782.65

RRA Zeleni kras d.o.o

Name: RRA Zeleni kras d.o.o

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 943145454

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI42185866

Address: Prečna ulica, 6257 Pivka, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://www.rra-zk.si/

Total budget: EUR 169 325.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 143 926.25

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 25 398.75

ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΜΑΤΙΚΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΤΙΚΗΣ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗΣ

Name: ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΜΑΤΙΚΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΤΙΚΗΣ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗΣ

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 950747441

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 090067370

Address: Leda Maria Block, 6th km Harilaou-Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://kepa.e-kepa.gr/

Total budget: EUR 202 732.04

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 172 322.23

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 30 409.81

Fond “Evropski poslovi” Autonomne pokrajine Vojvodine

Name: Fond “Evropski poslovi” Autonomne pokrajine Vojvodine

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 936105776

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 106652119 | 08917752 | registration number (EN)

Address: Bulevar Mihajla Pupina, 21108 Novi Sad, Serbia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.vojvodinahouse.eu

Total budget: EUR 152 798.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 129 878.30

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 22 919.70

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Enhancing SMEs’ modernization and green innovation and transition towards successful sustainability by transnational collaborative practices and tools.

Project acronym: GREENSMES

Project ID: IPA-ADRION00142

Project start date: 2024-09-01

Project end date: 2027-02-28

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Interreg Adrion „CCI4TOURISM- Improving the entrepreneurial skills of the cultural and creative industries” (EN) | 6 out of 10 PPs of GREENSMES already cooperated in the past ADRION project CCI4TOURISM including the implementation of 2 pilot actions. The Pilot actions demonstrate on small scale the feasibility, effectiveness and replicability of two fundamental items included in the transnational action plan: 1) financial schemes to foster cooperation between CCIs and tourism and 2) cross fertilization/hybridization of companies belonging to different sectors that may jointly realize innovative products/services for the cultural tourism. All PPs followed a joint methodological framework for each one of the Pilot Actions. Upon the completion of the pilots, every partner assessed the process both internally (self-evaluation) and externally (by end users / beneficiaries) using the same evaluation tools (questionnaires, follow-up meetings, templates).
Overall, despite the different scope of each Pilot Action or the different country/region/city, such kind of initiatives provide an added value at multiple levels.
In GREENSMES the results of CCI4TOURISM pilot actions will be capitalized and effectively exploited i.e. by adjusting the formats used for interdisciplinary synergies (for beneficiaries' selection, analysis of results, etc.). In CCI4TOURISM the voucher schemes proved their effectiveness as alternative forms to fund small-scale projects, testing of new solutions and proof of concepts. Based on these results, GREENSMES include a voucher scheme pilot action, too.
(EN), CAST INITIATIVE - Creative and Sustainable Tourism Initiative
(EN) | CAST Initiative is the Creative Hubs’ Network created as an output of the CCI4Tourism project financed under the Interreg ADRION Programme 2014- 2020. The Creative Hubs network is the physical framework established in the adriatic-ionian area to catalyse the community of CCIs, tourism industry operators, decision / policy makers and further relevant stakeholders dealing with cultural heritage valorisation, BSOs, universities and research centres, technological parks and incubators, etc. The CAST Initiative is oriented towards creative partnerships, sustainable development and cultural heritage. The current and future mission of CAST initiative is supporting the inter-linkage between CCIs and Tourism industry to develop and deliver creative and sustainable tourism products and implement positive sustainable practices in both sectors.
LP TNO led the project and now leads the management body of CAST Initiative.
6 out of 10 PPs of GREENSMES are also CAST Initiative founding members (as former PPs of CCI4Tourism project) and they also established the network portal www.cast-Initiative.eu to enable users exploring local creative hubs activities and synergies with other projects and sectors. In this view, both the network and the platform will support engagement of specific target groups in GREENSMES as well as wider and stronger dissemination of results.
Available digital and physical spaces of Creative Hubs - established and equipped during CCI4Tourism - will be used for activities’ organization and management having recognizability at local level and a strong basis of users and attendees.
(EN), Green Business Innovation project (EN) | The project was funded by Interreg Greece-Italy 2014-2020 and implemented in 2016 with TNO as LP. The objective of the Green Business Innovation project was to identify green business innovation opportunities in small manufacturing / trade / service application areas in order to strengthen business cooperation and technology transfer in the cross-border area as well as to enhance the skills of human resources in the three aforementioned sectors.
Meaningful results were reached in involved regions so that within GREENSMES, TNO will capitalize past experience gained and transfer it to other sectors (energy and sustainable environment; ICT; manufacturing; smart city & smart mobility) by also enlarging and strengthening cooperation to the IPA ADRION area.
(EN), RESIST - Horizon Europe project (EN) | RESIST - Regions for climate change resilience through Innovation, Science and Technology; a five-year project funded under Horizon Europe that has emerged from the need to make regions more resilient to climate change. The project will adopt a new practical framework in which climate adaptation pathways will be tested in four EU regions with different socioeconomic profile. TNO is PP in the project and will leverage on its sustainable approach to project management, stakeholders engagement activities and outcomes about sustainability and resilience at territorial/urban level.
Best practices from RESIST project will be transferred to GREENSMES in order to optimize respect of horizontal principles and especially about sustainable development. (EN), CETMA-Digital Innovation Hub for SMEs (EN) | Tecnopolis is also partner of the ongoing project “CETMA-Digital Innovation Hub for SMEs” funded under the action DIGITAL-SIMPLE to foster innovation in small businesses by combining "problem solving" services (technology consulting, research, engineering, etc.) with "problem setting" services (strategic analysis, business planning, fundraising, supply chain relations, etc.). The project aims to trigger synergies with the relevant opportunities offered by regional, national, and European innovation policies and funding. It also wants to exploit the great opportunities of the creation of a structured network of EDIH to promote cohesion between European territories to take advantage of social, economic, and environmental benefits.
One of CETMA-DIHSME objectives is to engage at least 80 local SMEs and PAs in Southern Italy; the ongoing work to reach this TG will be also crucial in the view of GREENSMES implementation. (EN), Soft-landing international programmes (EN) | In 2021, Tecnopolis participated in the virtual soft-landing programme “EU-Sri Lanka Innovation Partnership” connecting Sri-Lankan startups with the incubator to investigate market and cooperation opportunities with local businesses for mutual benefit. Also in 2021, Tecnopolis participated in the “Shenyang Global Projects Docking Fair” (the first Chinese technology entrepreneurship competition featuring overseas intellectuals) with the aim to ease soft-landing of local businesses in China thanks to support services awarded by Shenyang organizers. Within this activity, 4 SMEs assisted by Tecnopolis ranked in the awarded short lists of 25 businesses selected at overseas level.
Both programmes have common point with activities included in GREENSMES WP 3 in fostering transnational cooperation among SMEs and business stakeholders. TNO as LP and WP 3 leader will leverage on past experience for best implementation and results achievement.
(EN), GREENOVET: European VET Excellence Platform for Green Innovation (EN) | The project was funded by Erasmus + programme KA3 Action, EACEA 33/2019 and involved PP8 NCDIEL.
In the framework of the project the first regional Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Green Innovation was established in December 2021. The Centre of Excellence in Green Innovation - CEGI functions as a network of all partners, open for new members, willing to boost collaboration between VET providers, universities, companies and other stakeholders for achieving a circular socio-economic development, resilient economy and a more sustainable future. (EN), “Technical and vocational education and training resilience for the green transition” in Ethiopia, UNIDO project (EN) | The project included the provision of Capacity Building for Teachers and Trainers on Green and Entrepreneurial Learning and involved PP8 NCDIEL. The developed materials on green and entrepreneurial learning, some of which will be inspiring or adapted to fit the goals of the GREENSMES project. (EN), WBC-RRI.NET: Embedding RRI in Western Balkan Countries: Enhancement of Self-Sustaining R&I Ecosystems (EN) | The project was funded under H2020 programme - SwafS-2020-1 and involved PP8 NCDIEL. One of the main goals was: RRI principles can enable the sustainable development of the local R&I systems, enhancing the effectiveness of R&I strategies contributing to the advancement of socio-economic progress in a transparent, open, and inclusive way through active participation of all quadruple helix actors. (EN), Interreg Italy-Croatia “INVESTINFISH “project (EN) | The project involved as PP AGRRA and focused on the development of blue economy and provided assistance in the form of financial instruments, i.e. innovation vouchers for 48 SMEs. The benefits of the mentioned vouchers for companies were, among others, an accelerated path to the market, better connection with innovators, increased expenditures for research and development in the sector of new and "green" technologies/services, and resulted in increased competitiveness of Croatian and Italian companies from the blue economy sector. (EN), INNO GREEN, Encouraging INNOvation for the development of GREEN jobs (Horizon 2020) (EN) | The aim was to empower the innovation capacities of entrepreneurs for the green economy in the Primorsko-notranjska region. Experiences and knowledge have created an important basis for the development of tools and mechanisms for training and educational events in the project GREENSMES in relation to green transition. (EN), Eco-Innovation Support Services - EISS (EN) | The aim of this H2020 project was to collaboratively address a common innovation support challenge; namely to improve eco-innovation support services in smaller manufacturing companies from traditional sectors in the peripheral regions, where innovation services offer is often weak.
The GREENSMES project can consult the outcome of the EISS project, a joint Design Option Paper about how to provide more focused services on eco-energy efficiency.
(EN), Ports as driving Wheels of Entrepreneurial
Realm - PoWER
(EN) | Funded by the ADRION program the project had focused on providing support to the process of the evolution of ports into innovation Hub. PP6 had participated in the project that acted as new transmission belts between regions, and to exploit their untapped entrepreneurial potential while at the same time improving the potential of the ports. Project had In particular fostered collaboration among the key-actors of the Innovation Supply Chain (ISC): cognitive institutions (schools, Universities, research bodies), enterprises and PAs, in order to turn the multi-layered challenges affecting ADRION ports into an opportunity to integrate, cross-fertilize and exploit the potential and the requirements of territories involved in the project (EN), EEN - Enhancing innovation management capacity (EN) | Europe Enterprise Network (in general and) in the Adriatic Ionian region has in the period 2014-2020 under Horizon2020 implemented a program called Enhancing SMEs Innovation Management Capacity. This intervention used the Imp3ove approach which served as the basis for designing capacity building intervention for SMEs in this proposal. Support for SMEs in that program included assessment of the SMEs which serves to design the Action plan for the company that is then supported by the EEN for further implementation through technical assistance in either implementing specific innovation projects or by building innovation management capacity of the beneficiary. In both cases this is realized through connecting companies with relevant resources either local or international experts and service providers, or through solution providers or international business partners. The program has also determined that SMEs need to first be familiarized with innovation and innovation management through more general awareness raising activities (conferences, good practice examples etc.) in order to involve them in the program and that the local group workshops are an effective way to onboard them into the program.
GREENSMES project proposal also builds on these experiences. (EN), ETF - S4E Skills for Enterprises (EN) | European Training Foundation (ETF) initiative Skills for Enterprise Development (S4E) focuses on providing high-quality support in linking vocational education and training (VET) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for innovation, productivity-enhancing skills, and quality of work. Within this initiative a recent study on Technology Transfer in the Western Balkan Countries has taken stock of state of affairs in terms of skills dimensions of horizontal and vertical technology transfer ( technology adoption and innovation) in SMEs. Some of the conclusions of this study have served as the basis for this project intervention. Mainly the BSO onboarding and capacity building program is based on the findings of the study that one of the main issues with innovation and technology transfer support services provision is in the lack of consistency of these services on account of them being project based (funded) and not integrated in the BSOs standard operating procedures and systemic integration on institutional and policies level. In addition the study confirmed the need for capacity building of SME management for innovation and technology transfer but also lack of sufficiently experienced local experts to support SMEs in this process, which are both integrated in support program for SMEs in this project intervention. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 570 283.04

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 334 740.58

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:

Report on the state of play of green economy and innovation at partner territory level
Joint report on the state of play of green economy and innovation at project level
Local co-creation process results
Transnational co-creation workshop
Project communication toolkit and guidelines to engage target group and promoting project results
Quadruple helix model work cafe
Podcast / short video interviews series
Learning and exchange visits
Action plan for the network
Roster of transnational experts
BSO Capacity building and onboarding program report
SMEs Capacity building and onboarding program report
Green Business Excellence High Level Events
Co-participation in IPA ADRION events / sub-cluster and/or EU side events
Quality Plan for project implementation and reporting
Guidelines for WP joint transnational implementation
Voucher scheme report about implementation of soft measures by SMEs in the project area
Catalogue of Green Innovation inspiring best practices in the IPA ADRION area
Green Economy Open Days with press conference
Press and web review

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion The project GREENSMES will do a significant contribution to realization of specific objectives within 3rd pillar of EUSAIR (ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY) by influencing businesses to green transition (with eco-inovation,
circular economy introduction, with supportive environment..), by new technologies and innovative solutions we will try to ensure a good environmental and ecological status of ADRION region (terrestrial and marine environment). Sustainable businesses (i.e. transport, energy, water, etc.) that considers environmental needs of ADRION region are key for enhancing economic empowerment and labour force participation. Designing environmentally conscious businesses would provide win-win outcomes for all and improve well-being across the population and environment.
The Creation of eco-innovations in ADRION will influence natural habitats, they will prevent biodiversity and also stop the environmental degradation, and support the ecosystem services. Businesses will thus be able to contribute directly or indirectly to improvement of biodiversity.
Fostering the circular economy, creating a supportive environment for eco-innovation, introducing eco-innovation, have an important impact on better waste management. We will also try to involve waste management companies in the project, thus also strengthening better waste management in a systematic way.
EuropeanGreenDeal GREENSMES project focuses on the development of skills in the field of green transition initiatives. Specifically, the project will organize training and voucher support for enterprises (SMEs) to facilitate transition towards greening the economy and mobilizing industry for a clean and circular economy. The project would help with the reduction of differences and gaps in the project area by ensuring a transfer of knowledge, capacity building, and improved technology transfer. This would build towards the implementation of EU policies and practices including EU Green Deal.
Eco-friendly or energy-efficient materials and devices will be used in the implementation of the project activities and events and appropriate measures will be put in place for proper management of the waste produced (energy-efficient lamps, recycled materials, paper used for printing promotional materials, bio-based materials for the gadgets produced, separate waste collection). By ensuring a just transition to low-carbon and energy efficient economies for SMEs would increase productivity and lead to better economic outcomes and more resilient societies.
Other Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
The Agenda was signed in 2015 as a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. Signatories (countries and stakeholders at global level) were determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets being part of the Agenda demonstrate its scale and ambition and aim to stimulate action over the years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet.
The Agenda 2030 includes fundamental changes in the way that our societies produce and consume goods and services. Governments, international organizations, the business sector and other non-state actors and individuals must contribute to changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns to move towards more sustainable ones.
Plus, Agenda 2030 calls on all businesses to apply their creativity and innovation to solving sustainable development challenges in order to foster a dynamic, greener and better-functioning business sector.
Other National Recovery and Resiliency Plans (NRRPs)
The SME sector, including micro-enterprises, constitutes over 99 % of all businesses in the EU and was severely affected by the pandemic. Since SMEs represent the bedrock of the economy, it was essential to support them, and Member States have put forward extensive measures in their NRRPs targeting the SME sector both directly and indirectly.The NRRPs outline precise guidelines concerning the interventions directed to SMEs mostly aimed at mitigating the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and at helping to program the future of SMEs. More specifically, most of the measures are geared toward introducing or increasing the use of digital technologies, accelerating the green transition process, maintaining employment, and helping SMEs to address liquidity needs and get access to financing. Every Member State’s plan follows a similar structure, in line with the European indications about the general intervention areas, valid for all member states; these areas make up six “pillars” of action.
GREENSMES project is specifically in line with NRRPs’ pillars: 1) green transition and 3) smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, including economic cohesion, jobs, productivity, competitiveness, research, development and innovation, and a well-functioning internal market with strong SMEs.
GREENSMES thus will combine its activities and results into a wider framework and will also support transfer of EU best practices towards IPA countries.
Other New European Bauhaus
As described in the Communication on the New European Bauhaus, the NEB aims for tangible change on the ground, on the enabling ecosystem for innovation, as well as on products and services, that improve quality of life of our citizens and at the same contributes to mind-set changes in the longer term. The main focus of the NEB is not regulation, but rather to inspire other Commission initiatives and to integrate the NEB values and principles in EU policy making.
The programme covers multiple topics including sectors target by GREENSMES project such as: manufacturing, smart mobility / smart cities, and digital transition; some examples are mentioned below.
Within the EU industrial strategy, a number of transition pathways have been released or are in preparation with several references to the NEB.
A New European Bauhaus Academy has been announced that will promote skills to accelerate the transition toward sustainable construction highlighting the use of bio-based materials.
In November 2022, the transition pathway for proximity and social economy was launched, setting out the path to make the EU's social economy and local businesses more resilient, green and digital.
The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles 20, published in March 2022, proposes actions for the entire lifecycle of textiles products, while supporting the ecosystem in the green and digital transitions.
The transition pathway for a more resilient, green and digital construction ecosystem offers further opportunities to cooperate with NEB.
Other Horizon Europe.
Today's urgent challenges are inherently complex and systemic and will not be solved by individual actors or territories in isolation. Fostering enabling innovation ecosystems across the European Union (EU) requires a systemic approach that is inclusive and collaborative, involves diverse actors, institutions and places, maximises the value of innovation to all, and ensures equitable diffusion of its benefits.
As highlighted in the European Commission Communication on a New European Innovation Agenda, by increasing the inclusion and interconnection of less represented regions and actors into a more strongly integrated European ecosystem, the EU can capitalise on the experience, needs, visions, and perceptions of an increasingly diverse range of people, companies and places. In doing so, it can also take forward a uniquely inclusive European innovation model that is sustainable, guards against substantial labour market and wage gaps, and associated threats to territorial and social cohesion.
Moreover, such well-connected and diverse ecosystems provide innovative companies with the necessary support and conditions to thrive, i.e. through additional capabilities, data, customers, knowledge, and talents. Network connectivity within and between innovation ecosystems greatly contributes to sustainable business growth with high societal value.
GREENSMES by fostering cooperation among ERDF and IPA countries and strong engagement of business and innovation stakeholders thus fitting this approach.
Besides increased innovation performance, competitiveness and green sustainability, the project will provide transnational actors with access to new resources, skills, possible partners etc.. By being actively engaged in both their local and project transnational network, all stakeholders can increase their overall growth potential.
Other Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) of Puglia Region.
The Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) of Puglia Region focuses on the social and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The policy mix targets an approach that allows to associate research, innovation and technology with social and environmental sustainability issues, including also corporate social responsibility, safety and legality. Already in the 2007-2013 programming period, the Puglia Region had a series of initiatives promoting renewable energies and reducing the environmental impact : for instance, the inclusion of environmental indicators for companies grants, pre-commercial procurement for the acquisition of services for an adaptive platform dedicated to water management and the treatment, reduction and reuse of sludge in urban waste water treatment processes; participation in an IPA Adriatic project to build a pilot plant for geothermal air conditioning, unique in Europe in a protected area.
Other Italian National Strategy for Sustainable Development (SNSvS).
In addition to the existing regional smart specialisation strategies which combine their objectives with SDGs, Italy has its own National Strategy for Sustainable Development (SNSvS). This strategy draws a vision of the future and development focused on sustainability, as a shared value and essential to address the global challenges of the country. Moreover, starting from the update of the "Environmental Action Strategy for Sustainable Development in Italy 2002- 2010", entrusted to the Ministry of the Environment by Law no. 221 of 28 December 2015, the SNSvS takes a broader perspective and becomes a strategic framework of reference of sectoral and territorial policies in Italy, playing an important role for institutions and civil society in the long process of implementation, which will continue until 2030. The strategy represents the first step to localise at the national level the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, assuming the 4 guiding principles: integration, universality, transformation and inclusion.
Other Rural Action Plan 2040.
The GREENSMES project tackles the common territorial challenge of boosting green innovation in business within IPA ADRION area through transnational quadruple helix synergies, by also contributing to the specific priorities identified in the participating countries and regions related to circular economy, green transition and clean technologies, but also to SMEs support and up-skilling, innovation ecosystem building and rural development. It brings together public and private players who act for rural communities to thrive and be attractive places for innovators to work and live. In this way, it contributes to advance knowledge and create an enabling environment for innovation to happen in rural area sas it stated in the flagship on research and innovation for rural communities in the Rural Action Plan 2040
Other Smart Specialisation Strategy - S3 (for North Macedonia).
S3 for North Macedonia is expected to be adopted by the Government during the summer of 2023. PP8 NCDIEL took active part in the first phase of the development of the strategy in 2019: “Mapping economic, innovative and scientific potential in the Republic of North Macedonia for the smart specialization strategy”.Analysis recognised key domains where next phases (Entrepreneurial DIscovery Process) focused its research: ICT, green manufacturing, smart materials and buildings, etc.
Experience of PP8 in this and other relevant strategies for North Macedonia (listed below) were used to prepare GREENSMES proposal and will be also helpful to achieve effective results in North Macedonia and in the entire project area.
Other Entrepreneurial Learning Strategy for Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020 .
Strategy was developed with support from the European Training Foundation. Main focus of the strategy was to increase entrepreneurial and innovation competences among learners. both in formal and informal education. Among the main achievements from the strategy was the introduction of the obligatory course “Innovation” in 9th grade of primary education and courses “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” in 1st, 2nd and 3rd year of secondary education. Part of PP8 NCDIEL team was responsible for development of curriculums and textbooks for these courses and conducting courses for more than 2000 teachers from primary and secondary schools on these topics
Other Strategy for development of clusters in the Republic of North Macedonia (2018 - 2025).
On the request of the Ministry of Economy, NCDIEL prepared the 2017 Strategy for development of clusters 2018-2025. Aim of the strategy was to line domestic policies with EU principles and mechanisms for cluster development in order to increase the competitiveness and internationalization of national SMEs through enhancing the management and visibility of the cluster organizations and link them to international.clusters and networks
Other North Macedonian innovation strategy 2012-2020.
As a part of the team of OECD, PP8 NCDIEL experts conducted background study for analysis of innovation capacities of 500 surveyed North Macedonian companies in order to present current level of innovation awareness and development in the companies and to provide recommendations for development of North Macedonian Innovation Strategy 2012-2020
Other RIS3 Strategy of the Region of Central Macedonia.
The RIS3 Strategy of the Region of Central Macedonia includes the idea of circular economy by identifying the need to reduce environmental impact of specific economic sectors and by using the terms "clean energy”, materials and packaging’ recycling and waste treatment.
The GREENSMES project contributes to RIS3 Strategy, as it will enhance green innovation by offering capacity building and collaboration opportunities to the SMEs by also activating the relevant ecosystems.
Other Western Balkans Green Agenda.
The Western Balkan (WB) countries agreed to key elements of the European Green Deal. The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (GAWB) remains the top priority of the Economic and Investment Plan (EIP). The five-pillar agenda relies on regulatory reforms in the region to align it with the ambitions of the European Green Deal, as well as relevant investments. 5 MAIN AREAS of the strategy are Decarbonisation and climate resilience Circular economy Depollution: air, water & soil Sustainable food systems & rural areas Biodiversity: protection & restoration of ecosystems which are all correlated to the project overall goals and actions
Other S3 strategy of Republic of Serbia.
The RIS3 Strategy of the republic of Serbia refers to the need to transform the industry from a linear to a circular model within all the sectors mentioned in the S3 in ICT, manufacturing and food. Beside this within the sectors of food and ICT it also refer to Under-utilised potential for inter-sectoral cooperation.
The contribution of the project GREENSMES is in enhancing potential for cooperation and collaboration between the SME that require innovation potential and also international collaboration or networking while focusing on green innovation and sustainability
Other National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2023-2030 (Albania)
The project will contribute to the Strategy’s following Specific Objectives:
- Specific Objective 2.1 “Increasing cooperation between Higher Education Institutions, Central and Local Government Institutions , the business sector, and civil society through the expansion of research and development joint projects. (Quadruple Helix Model),
- Specific Objective 2.2 “Improve mechanisms and increase support for international technology transfer”
- Specific Objective 2.3 “Increasing the role of science and innovation in technological development”

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

2025-06-23

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)

638 / 638 (100%)

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Enhancing SMEs’ modernization and green innovation and transition towards successful sustainability by transnational collaborative practices and tools.

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

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