Industry 4.0 is completely transforming the manufacturing sector in EU imposing its principle of digitalization of industrial processes. As a result, the new cyber-physical production systems have a high impact on the labour force, especially on technicians and engineers. They require new hybrid “humans-machines” teams, where technicians and engineers should analyze big data, simulate production lines, coordinate robots, diagnose/repair complex automated systems. However, data show that industry employees are not ready to face the above new realities since they lack the “right” knowledge/skills demanded by the new industrial environment, i.e. appear underskilled, thus limiting their employability prospects and access to quality jobs. The Skills and Jobs Survey highlights that 43% of adult employees have recently experienced changes in technology they use at work and 47% have seen changes in their working methods. About 1 in 5 considers it very likely that several of their skills will become outdated in the next years.Taking into account the above needs, their relevance at European level and emergency at regional level, as well as the high demand of flexible continuous TVET on behalf of companies within the partner regions, a consortium of 4 universities, 4 Chambers of Commerce and Industry and a VET provider from BG, GR, PL and RS was established so as to develop an Active Learning Community for Upskilling Technicians and Engineers in the sector of Machine Building and Mechatronics.INTELLECTUAL OUTPUTS1.Elaboration of an on-line questionnaire and conducting a survey on the skills deficit of technical and engineering staff in the sector of Machine Building and Mechatronics 2.A Partnership Report based on the findings of the skills deficit survey 3.An Active Learning Community Platform and its mobile application as an Open educational resources database:•Course curriculum, course materials in the form of PP presentations, additional internet resources, industry-related problems to be used by both VET teachers and learners•Problem-based platform – industry-relevant problems to be used by VET teachers and learners as assignments for practicing in the Learning Factory•Tutor and peer-to-peer support in the form of a discussion forum•Assessment area for assessing the gained knowledge•Questionnaires to measure impact on target groups4.Curriculum for upskilling technicians and engineers in the sector of Machine Building and Mechatronics. 5.14 course materials (PP presentations, industry-related problems, additional internet resources and teacher’s guidelines for each course) as open educational resources for technical and engineering staff employed in the sector of Machine Building and Mechatronics, based on blended and active learning.6.A Partnership Report based on the findings after the pilot testing 7.Webinar on Active Learning for VET purposes so as to boost VET teachers’ competenceMETHODOLOGY- Follow the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) guide, in particular the management loop “initiate and plan, execute, control and close”- Quality planned, incl monitoring and evaluation- Pilot testing for validating IOs- Sharing experience and responsibilities within partnership- Joint development of IOs based on teamworkIMPACTTechnicians and engineers•Upskilled STEM, in particular in particular technology and engineering skills •Improved generic skills such as analytical/critical thinking, problem-solving, communication•Easier access to TVET learning platforms (Internet-based and mobile) that best match their learning styles•Easier access to educational resources to be used for upskilling•Ability to quickly and adequately respond to Industry 4.0 fast technological changes in the respective industrial sector •Opportunity for securing their positions within the company and future career development •Opportunity for building a “culture of learnability” in the long runVET trainers•Improved teaching competence by mastering active learning techniques and strategically using ICT •Ability to better motivate learners•Easier access to TVET resourcesCompanies in the sector •Better awareness of the specific TVET needs of their engineer•Upskilled technicians and engineers ready to respond to the fast technological changes in the sector•Opportunity to adequately meet the demands of Industry 4.0 in the long run•Potential of higher economic growth in the long runVET providers, including universities and Chambers•Better awareness of the specific TVET needs of the engineering and technical staff employed in the sector •Access to TVET learning platforms that best match learning styles of end-users•Access to educational resources to be used for upskilling•Opportunity to train their VET teachers on active learning tools•Opportunity to provide TVET to companies that matches the demands of Industry 4.0 and the specific learning needs of their employees.

According to official data, 99.9% of the enterprises in Serbia are SMEs. SMEs in Serbia contribute a share of roughly 60% of employment and less than 50% of value added, compared with the respective EU averages of 67% and 57%. Micro-firms make a particularly small contribution, providing only 10% of value added, 11 percentage points lower than in the EU . Regarding the movement of the total innovation index (SII-Summary Innovation Index), it can be concluded that the innovative performance of the Republic of Serbia indicates a certain increase, since SII for the Republic of Serbia in 2016 was 64,2 compared to 46,8 in 2010. Also, the innovative performance in Serbia is still below the average of EU-28 (102 for the same year). However, regarding SII index for the period of 2010–2016 in the neighbouring countries, it can be concluded that the situation in Serbia is more favourable compared to Bulgaria, Macedonia (FYROM), Romania and Croatia, but less favourable compared to Slovenia or Hungary . Taking into account all this, the Enterprise Europe Network could play a crucial role in bridging the gaps of knowledge, resources and skills that could be essential for increasing the innovation capacity of SMEs, especially in experience and knowledge sharing, training and consultation EEN could provide assistance to managers and entrepreneurs in all phases of the development of new products and services, from concept to commercialization. The overall objective of EEN InnoS Journey is to increase Summary Innovation Index of Serbia providing services that will help to foster innovation and drive a fast growth of Serbian economy.

OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE: Enriching the well-established EUREM European EnergyManager trainig program, making it available in new countries to allow more persons to become qualified/accredited experts or upgrade their knowledge and skills, and adding ancillary implementation support activities. Thereby contribute to increasing the quality of energy audit results, the probability of implementation of the recommendations, and ultimately the energy efficiency and competitiveness of the businesses. ACTIVITIES & OUTPUTS: 1) Enrich the training with: 4 new modules in e-learning format on mobility, Industry 4.0, energy audit standards and process, company energy culture, 1 enhanced module with stronger focus on financial topics, 1 new practice module working with the Energy Audit Support Tool to evaluate more complex measures in industry. Test the new training format in 6 countries, where EUREM is already established: AT, CZ, DE, ES, FI, GR. 2) Transfer the training to 6 new countries where it is difficult to establish without support for preparatory work; run the pilot courses and achieve national accreditation/recognition: AL, BA, EE, LV, RS, TR. 3) Develop and test add-on implementation support activities for trainees and other energy managers who need coaching/support beyond the training scope or want to practice more, eg. workshops on energy audits, on convincingly presenting energy measures to decision makers, follow-up on implementation of measures, networking/awareness raising activities including financial sector. 4) Conduct communication & dissemination activities including: • 6 good practice videos of participants' sustainable energy measures, • 2 conferences to enable exchange of experience of energy managers and auditors, financial sector representatives, trainers, and other experts, • 2 international EnergyManager Award competitions and national ones in new countries, • Press releases, classical and social media, newsletters, personal contacts, events.

It is expected that at least 30 SMEs with high innovation potential and SME Instrument beneficiaries will be included in the project. The action of this Project Proposal aims at stimulating innovation in SMEs by capacity building and has the main objective to Identify the capacity to receive the innovation support service in at least 26 innovating SMEs and 4 beneficiaries of the SME instrument. Implementing partners in consortia are : Institute “Mihajlo Puipin” who is managing this project, Innovation Center of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Business Incubator Novi Sad. Coordinator is Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Each of three implementing partners will work with 10 SMEs in the course of two years project period. Since ICMF and BINS are involved in both services, the division of the companies per service will be as following: 8 companies will be provided with the EIMC while 2 will receive KAM service, each. IMP is providing only EIMC and it will served 10 companies. Innovation management assessment tools will be different for two package services. As to assessment of the innovation capacity of the beneficiaries of SME instrument, different methodology should be applied. It will be existing methodology designed to assess the company’s strengths and growth barriers as well as any innovation bottlenecks. The tool shall specifically address step 1 and step 2 of the Key Account Management process like (but not limited to) SME Power. For the companies with significant innovation activities to whom EIMC service will be delivered, IMP³rove tool will be applied. Alternatively, other assessment tools which are in accordance with the CEN/TS 16555-1 standard and better match to the concrete SME capacity and innovation performance will be also applied. Therefore, the final selection of the appropriate assessment tool will be made case by case.

The project develops capacity building cooperation within a diverse, robust and multilateral partnership, meaning four organisations active in the field of VET in Hungary, Greece, Slovenia and two Chamber of Commerce from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, three VET providers from Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo.