NEWS: REGIONAL ONLINE CONFERENCE: “BSOs for a Greener Adrion” BROUGHT TOGETHER EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE REGION

On December 4th, 2025, the GREENSMES project hosted the regional online conference “Business Support Organizations for a Greener Adrion: Powering SME Green Innovation and Transition”. The event gathered around 120 representatives of development agencies, chambers, innovation centres, ministries, and other BSOs from the Adrion region and beyond.
The conference provided a valuable opportunity to review current trends in green innovation, exchange practical experiences, and reflect on how BSOs can strengthen their role in supporting SMEs on their path towards greener and more competitive business models.

Conference Goals and Focus
The event explored how BSOs can integrate green innovation and technology transfer into their everyday support services, and how such approaches can contribute to shaping regional development policies.
The main aims of the conference were to:
• present the GREENSMES project and its forthcoming BSO Capacity Building Program
• encourage collaboration and knowledge exchange among BSOs
• highlight practical tools and approaches that can enhance support for SMEs during the green transition

Programme Highlights
Opening Session (CIDEA & TNO)
The conference opened with an overview of the GREENSMES project, its purpose, and the expected impact on the BSO ecosystem across the region.
State of Play: Green Economy and Innovation Overview (KEPA)
Participants were introduced to key findings on the current state of green innovation in the Adriatic area, including emerging trends and country-specific characteristics.
Showcasing Good Practices
Several organisations presented examples of support programmes that can inspire future BSO activities in the field of green transition:
• EBN European Business and Innovation Centre Network (Italy) – insights into successful incubation programmes and the experience of a large European BSO community.
• Slovenian Centre for Circular Economy (Slovenia) – a national initiative promoting circular and low-carbon business models.
• AGRRA (Croatia) – support measures implemented in Zadar County to help SMEs innovate and adopt sustainable technologies.
• DIH Onex (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – services and achievements of digital and green innovation hubs.
• CAROUSEL Project (North Macedonia) – engaging entrepreneurs and citizens in circular economy actions through reuse and upcycling.
• Biznis Info Centar Tivat (Montenegro) – the role of incubators in encouraging SMEs to develop green and innovative solutions.

Interactive Country Discussions
In the second part of the programme, participants joined country-specific breakout rooms to reflect on opportunities and challenges for BSOs in their local environments. Common topics included training needs, limited access to long-term financing, and the importance of raising SME awareness of green transition processes.
Introducing the BSO Capacity Building Program (CIDEA)
The conference concluded with a presentation of the upcoming training programme that will support BSOs in strengthening their services, building expertise, and improving cooperation across the region.

Key Insights
Throughout the event, several recurring themes emerged:
• BSOs recognise the need to further develop specialised green innovation skills.
• Funding stability remains a challenge for many organisations.
• SMEs still require stronger guidance and motivation to embrace green practices.
• Enhanced collaboration and communication among BSOs can significantly accelerate regional progress.

Next Steps
The conference confirmed the strong interest of BSOs in advancing sustainable development and working together toward a more innovative and environmentally responsible Adrion region.
In the coming months, the GREENSMES project will launch the BSO Capacity Building Program, transforming the insights gathered during the event into practical tools and training opportunities for BSOs across all partner countries.
The consortium extends its appreciation to all participants for their contribution and engagement.