As part of the Interreg Europe project DESICE, an interregional meeting took place in Tartu, Estonia, on 18 February.The GREENSMARTMED project took part in the event, contributing to the exchange of experiences among partners.
The Development Company ANATOLIKI S.A., Lead Partner of DESICE, invited our Partner CERTH to showcase the GREENSMARTMED Methodology as a good practice that bridges the gap between SMEs and green funding opportunities.
DESICE (Designing for Sustainable Innovation and Capacity Enhancement) is an Interreg Europe project focused on improving regional policy instruments by strengthening innovation ecosystems and enhancing public authorities’ capacity to support sustainable growth. Through interregional cooperation and peer learning, the project promotes the exchange of policy solutions that help regions better address innovation gaps, green transition challenges, and SME competitiveness.
Representing CERTH, Agapi Teftiki (Research Associate at the CPERI/Ptolemaida Branch) presented how the GREENSMARTMED project has successfully empowered SMEs in Western Macedonia to navigate the complexities of Research and Innovation Smart Specialization Strategies and access critical financial tools.
Addressing the Innovation Gap
SMEs often represent the economic backbone of a region, yet they frequently struggle due to limited organizational structures and insufficient financial capacity to invest in green Research and Innovation (R&I).
Mrs. Teftiki explained how the GREENSMARTMED Methodology addresses these challenges by fostering resilient regional ecosystems through the application of the 4-helix collaboration model. This approach shifts the focus from fragmented, individual efforts to a coordinated ecosystem approach, enabling stronger cooperation among key stakeholders. By supporting SMEs in aligning their strategic objectives with RIS3 priorities, the methodology facilitates the definition of clear R&I pathways. At the same time, it provides a structured framework that transforms green ideas into mature, investment-ready projects capable of accessing funding opportunities.
Impact in Western Macedonia
CERTH emphasized that the Methodology has already delivered tangible results in the region of Western Macedonia, particularly within the agri-food sector. Through a direct funding support approach, 26 SMEs were guided and informed about specific funding opportunities relevant to their needs.
The implementation of the Methodology also fostered the development of circular economy solutions, such as the establishment of composting units designed to valorize bio-waste generated by wineries. In addition, it strengthened interregional cooperation by promoting collaboration with other regions, further enhancing knowledge exchange and joint innovation efforts.
A Ready-to-Use Toolkit for Europe
One of the key messages shared with the DESICE partners and other stakeholders in Estonia was the Methodology’s high transferability. It was highlighted that it offers a low entry barrier, as adopting regions can leverage an already designed and fully tested Toolkit to establish Regional Core Groups that ensure the impact continues long after the project’s official lifespan.
The presentation of the GREENSMARTMED methodology within the DESICE framework highlighted the power of knowledge exchange, as it serves as a vital blueprint for other regions to bridge the gap between high-level policy goals and the everyday financial realities of SMEs in the green transition. It also provided a further opportunity to reaffirm the importance of strengthening synergies among the solutions developed by Interreg in order to enhance their impact and contribute to reinforcing the innovation ecosystem across the Mediterranean.
CHECK the Interreg Europe Programme website here.
CHECK the DESICE Project website here.
