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REUSE
Title
IMPROVING THE COMPETENCES OF SME'S WITH THE MODEL OF CASCADE USE OF WASTE MATERIALS UPTAKE IN CROSSBORDER MENTORING PROGRAM
Project acronym
REUSE
Program
INTERREG DANUBE REGION 2021-2027
Program priority
2 - A MORE COMPETENT AND COMPETITIVE REGION
Specific Objective
2.1 - IMPROVING EQUAL ACCESS TO INCLUSIVE AND QUALITY SERVICES IN EDUCATION, TRAINING AND LIFELONG LEARNING THROUGH DEVELOPING ACCESSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING BY FOSTERING RESILIENCE FOR DISTANCE AND ONLINE EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Duration
11.2023 - 10.2026
Project ID
SIAT00086
Lead Partner
POMURJE TECHNOLOGY PARK
Project Budget
1.107.496,08 EUR
Interreg Funding
885.996,86 EUR (80%)
PROJECT PARTNERS
Green Tech Valley Cluster (Austria, AT)
https://www.greentech.at/Research Burgenland ltd. (Austria, AT)
PROJECT SUMMARY
The European Commission’s circular economy plan promotes sustainable development and circular business models, emphasizing recycled and renewable materials. SMEs face challenges like limited knowledge, financial resources, and weak institutional support, with regional disparities in innovation capacity and user acceptance. This project introduces a cross-border mentoring program to support SMEs in adopting circular solutions, focusing on waste reuse and green transitions. Outputs include mentor training, SME readiness tools, an upgraded e-database, and pilot testing with 50 SMEs through workshops and tailored mentoring. The program’s innovative, phased approach will test circular business models and provide SMEs with specialized solutions and international expertise, marking the first EU-level cross-border initiative of its kind.
PROJECT RESULT
During the project preparation phase, a partnership was established with institutions from more developed regions (Austrian Styria, Austrian Carinthia, and the Central Slovenia region) that contribute knowledge on new materials and technological solutions as key components of circular business models. Partners from the business support environment will integrate the developed tools and solutions into their services even after the project ends, with significant potential for their expansion to new target groups and regions. The goal of the project is to develop cross-border mentoring services to support the circular transition of SMEs, supported by an e-platform (a database of mentors, solution providers, funding opportunities, etc.), which will remain freely accessible to mentors after the project concludes. The project will also develop a "Cross-Border Sustainability Strategy for the Mentoring Program," which will include commitments from institutions to integrate the services into their business models and will cover three key areas: new technologies for the circular transition, recycled and renewable materials, and circular business models.