02 Nov SmartGreenEcos Moves Forward: Strengthening SME Collaboration and Advancing Digital Platform Development

Project Progress Update | September–October 2026

The SmartGreenEcos project continues to advance its mission of supporting the digital and green transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the Mediterranean food industry, with a particular focus on the dairy sector.

Co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, SmartGreenEcos brings together partners from Cyprus, Greece, Tunisia, and Jordan to develop practical digital solutions, strengthen business capabilities, and encourage collaboration and innovation.

During September and October 2026, the project reached important milestones in SME engagement, collaborative service design, and the technical preparation of its integrated digital ecosystem.

Engaging SMEs in the Co-Design Process

A key focus of recent activities has been the active involvement of SMEs in shaping the digital services being developed under the project.

In Greece, a Working Conference held in Thessaloniki on 23 September 2026 brought together 38 participants, including 22 representatives from 18 enterprises. Discussions explored practical applications of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in improving production efficiency, environmental performance, supply chain management, and product innovation.

In Jordan, Investment World for Development and Technology (IWDT) advanced its engagement with dairy-sector SMEs through consultations and co-design activities. The Working Conference organised in Amman on 6 October 2026 provided a dedicated opportunity to address company needs, digital and green transformation priorities, and the proposed services of the SmartGreenEcos platforms.

In Tunisia, the University of Carthage (UCAR) continued its co-design activities with stakeholders across the dairy value chain. The fifth workshop, held on 15 October 2026, focused on refining platform priorities, including demand and price forecasting, digital training, collaborative procurement, and innovation opportunities.

These activities reflect the project’s participatory approach, ensuring that future solutions are informed by the needs and operational realities of Mediterranean SMEs.

Progress in Digital Platform Design

Alongside stakeholder engagement, SmartGreenEcos partners continued developing the functional and technical foundations of the project’s four interconnected digital platforms.

The proposed digital ecosystem covers four complementary areas:

• Benchmarking and AI Optimisation: Supporting digital maturity assessment, environmental performance monitoring, and data-driven improvement.
• Digital Learning and Capacity Building: Strengthening digital and green skills through sector-specific learning resources and AI-supported learning tools.
• Digital Procurement: Improving purchasing processes, supplier collaboration, and business-to-business transactions.
• Innovation and New Product Development: Encouraging collaborative product design, prototyping, and sustainable innovation.

During this period, technical preparation included refining service specifications, examining practical AI applications, and identifying the data and integration requirements needed to connect the platforms.

Work also progressed on the Main Admin Portal, intended to provide centralised administration, SME management, and coordinated access to the project’s digital ecosystem.

These developments are helping establish a clearer foundation for the next stages of platform development and implementation.

Turning Business Needs into Practical Solutions

An important aspect of SmartGreenEcos is translating the feedback collected from participating enterprises into clearly defined digital service requirements.

Through structured questionnaires, co-design workshops, and technical consultations, the project is identifying priority areas where digital tools and artificial intelligence could help companies improve their operations.

These include production planning, resource efficiency, inventory management, procurement, business decision-making, and product development.

By linking technology development with real business challenges, the project aims to create accessible and practical services that respond to the needs of participating enterprises.

Looking Ahead

As SmartGreenEcos enters its next phase, project partners will continue refining platform requirements, advancing technical development, strengthening integration planning, and preparing for future capacity-building and pilot activities.

Continued engagement with SMEs will remain central to ensuring that the developed solutions are relevant, accessible, and capable of supporting sustainable business improvements.

Through cross-border collaboration, applied innovation, and digital technologies, SmartGreenEcos is laying the foundations for a more connected, competitive, and environmentally responsible Mediterranean food industry.

SmartGreenEcos is co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. Project Reference: A_T_1.2_0526.