Project SUSTAIN aims to strengthen joint collaboration between three innovation support agencies through peer learning, and raise their competences to support SMEs in adaptation to EU standards. Project will exploit the “Twinning advanced” approach to motivate and strengthen a learning process between project partners based on their experiences in working with SMEs improving their processes of adaptation to EU standards. Peer learning partners will develop practical and innovative procedure in support to successful adaptation of SMEs to EU standards. Special attention will be dedicated to implementation of regional pilot actions through the following activities: development of self-audit tool in energy, circular economy and digitalization for SMEs; trainings tailored to needs of SMEs; knowledge exchange and transfer of best practices between regions; coaching/mentoring for specific skills related to “standardization” process. Peer learning partners will specifically focus on EU standards related to energy, circular economy and digitalization. These areas are of critical importance for competitiveness of SMEs. SMEs should be empowered to better manage energy consumption, increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases emissions and exploit waste recycling whenever possible. Technological capabilities are constantly improving and to keep up, SMEs must be agile and innovative as they integrate new digital technologies into their business practices. Impact of SUSTAIN project will be evident in raising awareness and knowledge of SMEs on benefits of adoption and use of EU standards, specially related to absorption of know-how incorporated within standards and resulting potentials for innovation development. Innovation support agencies will increase their knowledge and capacities to efficiently support SMEs on their path to adoption of EU standards.

The objective of the INNO GREEN is to boost joint collaboration between the innovation support agencies through peer learning, raise their competences in offering practical and innovative tools as a support to SMEs in innovative “green” entrepreneurship. The “Twinning advanced” methodology will be used as a basis for development of joint learning process between the project partners and increase of their competences in provision of efficient support to SMEs in “green” entrepreneurship. This project will focus to upgrade existing competences and practices of innovation support agencies and develop innovative coaching/mentoring or other kinds of suitable programs in support of SMEs on their path to generation and development of green jobs. The special attention of the project will be focused to implementation of the pilot actions on green entrepreneurship in order to test the programs prepared: assessment of green jobs potential, interviews of SMEs, bottom-up work with “green” entrepreneurs, workshops, knowledge exchange, adaptation to local context and transfer of practical knowledge from one region to another, coaching/mentoring for specific skills related to “green” employment. The final result of the project will be the Design Option Paper (DOP) to serve as a practical guide for design and implementing of coaching/mentoring for SMEs on green entrepreneurship. The DOP will address the development of an innovative program to support SMEs on their path to generation of “green” jobs.