Advancing SMEs Towards Net Zero through COmprehensive Energy Efficiency Integration

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-05-12

Description

Description (EN):

The ECOBoost project addresses the low energy efficiency of MSEs in NWE, which account for 30-40% of the region’s energy consumption. MSEs face financial, technical, and regulatory barriers that hinder the adoption of energy-saving technologies and meeting the EU’s 32.5% energy efficiency target by 2030. These challenges include high initial costs, limited financing, regulatory complexity, and geographical disparities. ECOBoost aims to help MSEs in NWE overcome these barriers by developing an Energy Transition Navigator. This tool offers tailored energy audits, toolkit for energy-saving solutions, technical assistance, training programs, and business models on a centralised online platform. The project promotes regulatory harmonisation and cross-border collaboration, fostering knowledge sharing and a supportive environment for energy efficiency improvements. Key outputs include implementing and refining the Energy Transition Navigator for at least 90 MSEs across IE,BE,DE,FR, and NL. The project will share best practices and lessons learned from these pilot actions to encourage upscaling and replication in other sectors and regions. MSEs, especially in the food and hospitality sectors, will benefit from tailored solutions, improved energy efficiency, and long-term sustainability. By fostering transnational collaboration, ECOBoost ensures best practices and strategies are shared across borders, contributing to long-term energy efficiency improvements in NWE. The project promotes energy efficiency beyond the partnership by scaling pilot action plans, engaging networks to support MSEs, and addressing geographical disparities. A roadmap for replication ensures long-term sustainability, while existing networks will keep the Energy Transition Navigator updated and accessible. ECOBoost aims to expand its impact across NWE, ensuring lasting societal benefits and helping the region achieve its energy efficiency goals.

Expected Achievements (EN):

Understanding the barriers including technical challenges, financial constraints, regulation, and lack of awareness, and developing an Energy Transition Navigator to overcome them. Test, implement, and refine solutions for min 90 of MSEs using the Energy Transition Navigator. Sharing best practices of pilot results through transnational collaboration to facilitate upscaling Expand ECOBoost’s outreach to other MSE sectors by sharing project insights, ensuring long-term impact and societal benefits in NWE. Build a supportive community for EE and sustainable practices across the sector and beyond the project timeline.

Project outputs: Joint Action Strategy (JAS) (EN)
Energy Transition Navigator(EN)
Local Action Plans (LAPs) (EN)
Pilot Action to test and implement the solutions for MSEs(EN)
Joint Training Scheme on Energy Efficiency for MSE Staff in Pilot Regions(EN)
Workshop Empowering Local Stakeholders for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Growth(EN)
Collaborative Network platform(EN)
Website: http://ecoboost.nweurope.eu

Thematic information

SME and entrepreneurship Energy efficiency

Priority: (VI-B_NWE_2) Smart and just energy transition

Priority specific objective: RSO2.1. Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 044 Energy efficiency renovation or energy efficiency measures regarding public infrastructure, demonstration projects and supporting measures

Partners (8)

Lead Partner: South East Energy Agency (previously 3 Counties Energy Agency)

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 950757335

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IE 63762701

Department: EU project

Address: St Kieran's College Burrell's Hall, R95 TP64 Kilkenny, Ireland

Department address: St Kieran's College Burrell's Hall, R95 TP64 Kilkenny, Ireland

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://southeastenergy.ie/

Total budget: EUR 1 204 182.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 722 509.68

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 481 673.12

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

Gemeente Súdwest-Fryslân

Name: Gemeente Súdwest-Fryslân

Department: Beleidsadviseur Economie

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 881643089

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL823288444B01

Address: Marktstraat, 8601 CT Sneek, Netherlands

Department address: Marktstraat, 8601 CT Sneek, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://sudwestfryslan.nl/

Total budget: EUR 553 495.93

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 332 097.55

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 221 398.38

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris

Name: Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris

Department: EU project

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 950323357

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR78130017270 | SIRET 130 017 270 00 682 | Company register number (EN)

Address: avenue de Friedland, 75008 Paris, France

Department address: avenue de Friedland, 75008 Paris, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://cci-paris-idf.fr/

Total budget: EUR 344 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 206 640.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 137 760.00

Chambre de Métiers et de l’Artisanat Ile-de-France

Name: Chambre de Métiers et de l’Artisanat Ile-de-France

Department: Finance

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 901552824

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR 77130027972

Address: rue de Reuilly, 75592 cedex12 PARIS, France

Department address: rue de Reuilly, 75592 cedex12 Paris, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.cma-idf.fr

Total budget: EUR 520 016.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 312 009.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 208 006.40

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

Institut du Droit International des Transports et de la logistique

Name: Institut du Droit International des Transports et de la logistique

Department: European projects

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 915872546

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR 807 811 22 916 | Siret 78112291600047

Address: 110-112 av du Mont Riboudet, 76000 Rouen, France

Department address: 110-112 av du Mont Riboudet, 76000 Rouen, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.idit.fr

Total budget: EUR 439 208.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 263 524.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 175 683.20

House of Energy e.V.

Name: House of Energy e.V.

Department: Projects

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 880597623

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE313695097

Address: Universitätsplatz, 34127 Kassel, Germany

Department address: Universitätsplatz, 34127 Kassel, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://www.house-of-energy.org/Ueberuns

Total budget: EUR 665 251.50

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 399 150.90

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 266 100.60

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

Intercommunale Leiedal

Name: Intercommunale Leiedal

Department: Ruimte & Leefomgeving

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 989579742

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE205.350.681

Address: President Kennedypark, B-8500 Kortrijk, Belgium

Department address: President Kennedypark, B-8500 Kortrijk, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.leiedal.be

Total budget: EUR 560 896.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 336 537.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 224 358.40

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

West-Vlaamse Intercommunale

Name: West-Vlaamse Intercommunale

Department: EU project

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 920515160

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0205.157.869

Address: Koning Albert I-laan , 8200 Brugge (Bruges), Belgium

Department address: Baron Ruzettelaan, 8310 Brugge (Bruges), Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.wvi.be

Total budget: EUR 711 998.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 427 198.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 284 799.20

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20a

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Advancing SMEs Towards Net Zero through COmprehensive Energy Efficiency Integration

Project acronym: ECOBoost

Project ID: NWE0400595

Project start date: 2025-01-01

Project end date: 2028-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Climate Active Neighbourhoods-capitalisation (CAN CAP) Interreg NWE 2020 – 2023
CAN CAP aims to reduce GHG emissions in SME buildings by creating a holistic energy retrofitting approach in urban neighborhoods, building on successful CAN face-to-face and multiplicator approaches. It fosters low-carbon plan implementation for local authorities, empowers SMEs to reduce emissions and costs while boosting competitiveness, and supports EU/national GHG reduction goals and the renovation wave strategy. CAN CAP offers tailored advice and digital toolkits to SMEs, making energy data accessible and facilitating retrofitting financing.
(EN) | ECOBoost builds on the successes of CAN CAP, particularly in leveraging its tools, face-to-face engagement, and multiplicator approaches. CAN CAP's holistic energy retrofitting strategy, effectively implemented in urban neighborhoods, serves as a foundational model for developing the Energy Transition Navigator (ETN) (WP1 A1.4.2. Design Energy Transition Navigator ) in ECOBoost. As a partner in CAN CAP, PP01 integrates personalised, face-to-face strategies and the multiplicator approach into the ETN, offering tailored guidance, training, and support to SMEs at the neighborhood level. This ensures that energy efficiency measures are accessible, practical, and scalable across diverse sectors. ECOBoost expands on CAN CAP's use of digital toolkits, incorporating them into the ETN for broader, more effective outreach, enabling SMEs to access energy data, financial resources, and retrofitting solutions. By connecting CAN CAP's methodologies with ECOBoost's innovations, the project creates a cohesive, scalable approach to energy transition across NWE.
(EN), Green4Micro
Irish national funding scheme.
2021 – Ongoing
The Green4Micro program, initiated by the Local Enterprise Offices, prepares small businesses for a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy. It offers a free training program for businesses with 10 or fewer employees, delivered in two stages: a webinar showcasing green initiatives and their benefits, followed by two days of mentoring with a green consultant. Benefits include increased cost savings, improved resource efficiency, reduced environmental footprint, enhanced product value, better access to customers, an improved corporate image, and greater resilience to climate change impacts.
(EN) | The synergy between Green4Micro and ECOBoost lies in their shared mission to enhance energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions among MSEs. ECOBoost adopts Green4Micro’s proven methods, particularly its tailored support and training approach, in Work Package A2.4 to enhance MSE staff skills through training and upskilling across various sectors. PP1 collaborates with the Local Enterprise Office in Ireland to help MSEs achieve cost savings, improve resource efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and boost resilience to climate change. By integrating Green4Micro’s successful webinars and personalized mentoring, ECOBoost offers practical guidance on greener practices, leading to significant environmental and economic benefits. This collaboration ensures that best practices from Green4Micro are expanded within ECOBoost, fostering broader adoption and scaling up energy efficiency efforts across North West Europe, ensuring small businesses receive comprehensive support to thrive in a low-carbon economy. (EN), SMEPlus1
Interreg Europe, 2019-2023
The SMEPlus project aims to help SMEs boost their energy efficiency by comparing and rethinking energy policies across partner regions, engaging stakeholders, exchanging solutions, and improving instruments for SMEs. Industrial SMEs, representing 95% of companies, have a significant economic impact. To meet the EU's binding target of a 32.5% energy efficiency increase by 2030, project partners share best practices to find solutions and increase SME involvement in energy efficiency improvements. The project addresses common barriers such as low interest and limited participation of industrial SMEs in energy efficiency programs by improving energy policies, developing regional action plans, and exchanging information. These efforts will enhance SME engagement, support the start-up of effective energy efficiency programs, and integrate energy-related policy measures into the industrial SME sector.
(EN) |
The synergy between SMEPlus and ECOBoost centers on their shared goal of enhancing energy efficiency in SMEs, with SMEPlus focusing on industrial SMEs and ECOBoost on micro and small enterprises (MSEs). Both projects address barriers to energy efficiency by sharing best practices, rethinking policies, and engaging stakeholders. SMEPlus's efforts to improve regional energy policies and develop action plans align with ECOBoost's goal of empowering MSEs through tailored solutions like the Energy Transition Navigator. By leveraging SMEPlus's policy improvements and engagement strategies, ECOBoost can better support MSEs, ensuring they access effective policies and programs that drive energy efficiency (WP1). PP05 as partner in SMEPlus plays a key role in strengthening the synergy between the two projects, ensuring that both industrial SMEs and MSEs benefit from a cohesive and comprehensive strategy for improving energy efficiency. (EN), BISEPS (Business clusters Integrated Sustainable Energy PackageS)
(Interreg 2 Seas, 2016 - 2021).
The BISEPS (Business clusters Integrated Sustainable Energy PackageS) project aimed to increase the adoption of mid-scale sustainable energy technologies, such as heat exchange, wind energy, combined heat and power, smart grids, and large-scale solar, within business clusters. The objective was to reduce carbon emissions and enhance the competitiveness of the 2 Seas area. BISEPS tackled barriers—technical, financial, and organizational—to create energetic synergies between businesses, integrating sustainable energy solutions into tailored packages. The project reorganized the supply side on a cluster level, optimizing low-carbon technologies for business parks and similar settings. BISEPS developed a model tool to identify optimal low-carbon solutions, tested it in 5 living labs, and created pilot business cases to facilitate investment in sustainable energy. The project also provided a guidance tool for rolling out the BISEPS model beyond the initial labs, ensuring broader adoption and impact across the region.
(EN) | The synergy between BISEPS and ECOBoost lies in their shared goal of advancing energy efficiency and sustainability within business clusters, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro and small enterprises (MSEs). BISEPS focused on promoting the adoption of mid-scale sustainable energy technologies in business clusters, such as heat exchange, wind energy, and smart grids, by overcoming technical, financial, and organizational barriers. ECOBoost builds on this approach by targeting MSEs within these clusters, aiming to enhance their energy efficiency through tailored solutions provided by the Energy Transition Navigator (ETN) (WP2).
BISEPS' development of the BISEPS-model tool, which determines the optimal low-carbon technology solutions for business clusters, directly complements ECOBoost's ETN. PP02 as partner on BISEPS can integrate insights from the BISEPS model into ETN to offer MSEs tailored guidance on adopting appropriate energy technologies within their business environments. This collaboration ensures that the benefits of mid-scale sustainable energy technologies are extended to MSEs, which might otherwise struggle to navigate the complexities of energy transition on their own.
(EN), TERTS (2018 –2022) (Interreg Flanders – The Netherlands)
TERTS was a project on energy transition in the tertiary sector. The objective of the project was to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in tertiary sector SMEs by testing and demonstrating innovative techniques and measures and by implementing an unburdening trajectory for the SMEs.
(EN) | The synergy between TERTS and ECOBoost lies in their shared goal of advancing energy efficiency, with TERTS focusing on the tertiary sector and ECOBoost on MSEs across various sectors. TERTS aimed to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy use in tertiary SMEs by testing innovative techniques and implementing an unburdening trajectory for SMEs. ECOBoost builds on this approach by refining and expanding these methods for broader application. PP04, a partner in TERTS, brings valuable experience to ECOBoost, particularly in testing and demonstrating energy efficiency measures (WP2). The unburdening trajectory from TERTS, which simplifies the adoption of energy-efficient practices for SMEs, is integrated into ECOBoost's Energy Transition Navigator. This synergy enhances ECOBoost’s ability to support MSEs in overcoming barriers, ensuring practical and scalable solutions for energy efficiency across sectors, while leveraging the tested strategies and lessons learned from TERTS. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 4 999 448.23

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 999 668.93

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 60.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 999 668.93. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Preliminary Data Collection Report
SWOT table analysis for the adoption of energy-efficient solutions in the target sector report
Action plan based on currently available and feasible solutions/activities report
Mapping of existing regulatory frameworks within Pilot regions
Comparative regulatory analysis on energy efficiency policies
Interim Report: Legal Analysis of Combining Public and Private Funding
Final Report: Legal Analysis of Combining Public and Private Funding
Funding Scheme Map
Analysis existing business models in pilot regions report
Innovative business models by combining public and private fundings report
Joint Action Strategy (JAS) Framework
Energy Transition Navigator framework
Local Action Plans (LAPs)
Joint Communication strategy plan
Leaflet, brochure, roll-up, and other materials
Communication campaign on success cases
Social media platforms use
Guideline application process
Support Assistance Agreements
Report selection process
Framework pilot testing report
Interim Report on Phase 1 Implementation
Tailor expanded pilot for phase 2 report
Implementation of ETN Solutions in Phase 2
Validation of Business Models
Final Report on Testing and Implementation
KPI Monitoring Report
Outcome Assessment Report
Process Refinement Report
Replicability Guide
Training Modules for MSEs in ETN Pilot Regions
Recruitment Strategy report for MSE Training in Pilot Regions
Workshop Materials for Upskilling Professionals on Energy Efficiency
Training Feedback and Workshop Outcome Reports
Local Communication Plans
Stakeholder Engagement Summary Report
Transnational Knowledge Exchange Report
Comprehensive Pilot Impact Evaluation Report.
Sector-Specific Implementation Insights Report
Roll Out the Pilot Action to All Sector's guideline
Regional Adoption and Scalability Plan
Upscale the Pilot Action to Different Regions in NWE report
Engagement Activity Report
Online Collaborative Network platform
Replication and Scalability Roadmap report
Network engagement report
Communication Materials in Multiple Languages
Public Events Execution
Project Outcome Presentation at Conferences
Cross-Border Media Campaign

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 085 - Participations in joint training schemes, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 081 - Completions of joint training schemes, 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:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR 1: Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders, Measurement unit: Organisations

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

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

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

2025-05-12

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)

739 / 739 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Advancing SMEs Towards Net Zero through COmprehensive Energy Efficiency Integration

Description

Thematic information

Partners (8)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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

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