Project overview
Smart and green innovation approaches for scaling up digital transformation opportunities in CE
The manufacturing industry in central Europe is challenged by change. Global supply chains are increasingly disrupted and the green transition demands more sustainable, smarter value chains. The GREENE 4.0 project supported manufacturing companies in piloting such new value chains. The project also helped to co-design new products and services through open innovation approaches. In these they brought together the business sector with the education and research sectors and decision makers.
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2,25m €
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Project Budget
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80%
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of the Budget is funded by ERDF
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7
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Countries
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8
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Regions
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9
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Partners
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2
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Pilots
Duration
Start date
End date
Project progress
About the project
Project partnership
Project partners
Lead partner
Pomurje Technology Pak
Project partner
Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty of Social and Economic Studies
Roadmap
Challenge: Barriers to Green and Digital Transition
The GREENE 4.0 project addressed the challenges faced by regions with intensive manufacturing ecosystems that were under increasing pressure from global disruptions. Broken supply and value chains had negatively impacted production processes, product quality, and product design. While innovative solutions were already available, a significant gap remained in deploying these developments within existing manufacturing operations. At the same time, many SMEs in Central Europe lacked the tools, collaborations, and strategic direction needed to embrace digitalisation and transition towards more sustainable and resilient forms of production. Through its activities, the GREENE 4.0 project supported SMEs in overcoming these barriers by fostering collaboration, promoting the adoption of advanced manufacturing solutions, and strengthening the transition towards more digital, sustainable, and resilient industrial ecosystems.
Idea: Enabling the Transformation
The project aimed to overcome barriers to digital and green transformation in the manufacturing industry by strengthening the innovation capacities of SMEs. Through transnational collaboration, shared infrastructures, and open innovation, it helped bridge the gap between manufacturers and solution providers, enabling the co-development of sustainable products, services, and value chains.
Solution: Pathways to Sustainable Manufacturing
Addressing the low innovation capacity of manufacturing SMEs across Central Europe (Slovenia, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Austria, Italy, and Germany), the project supported their transition towards smart and sustainable production through four key approaches: the User Acceptance Model (UAM), Transnational Digital Transformation Sites, the B2GreenHub Platform, and the Innovation Ecosystem & Policy Learning Centre.
How it worked: Turning Readiness into Action
SMEs began by assessing their digital and green maturity using the User Acceptance Model. They were then connected with technology providers through pilot actions, where they co-developed and tested innovative solutions tailored to their needs. The B2GreenHub platform facilitated these collaborations, while the Policy Learning Centre supported regions in adopting policies that could help scale and sustain the project’s impact.
Results: Adoption & Lasting Impact
The project resulted in the adoption of joint strategies and action plans by participating organisations, fostering a long-term commitment to innovation. Several solutions developed during the project were adopted or further scaled by SMEs. Importantly, the cross-border cooperation established through GREENE 4.0 continues beyond the project’s lifetime, strengthening regional collaboration and creating lasting impact.
News
Events
Pilot actions
Outputs
Transnational Strategy for Deploying GREENE 4.0 Innovation Platform
Regional Action Plans
Transnational Open Knowledge Box
GREENE 4.0 Innovation Platform - B2GreenHub
User Acceptance Model
Smart and Green Manufacturing New Value Chains Models
Project videos
Project documents
Greene 4.0 Newsletters
Project images
GREENE 4.0
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