The 4th Transnational Meeting of the GREENSMES project, organised by NCDIEL was successfully held in Skopje on September 16-18, bringing together partners and stakeholders from the Adriatic – Ionian region to exchange knowledge and advance the green transition of SMEs. The event was carefully structured to maximize learning, networking, and collaboration.
The first day focused on study visits leveraging NCDIEL’s strong partnerships with innovative local businesses. Project partners toured in Johnson Matthey, producer of automotive emission control catalysts. The guided visit offered insights into the factory’s production processes and highlighted the company’s advanced sustainability initiatives, including a zero-waste packaging strategy, energy consumption reductions, CO₂ emissions minimization, and wastewater recycling. Johnson Matthey also shared its strong commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.
Later that day, the group visited Rade Koncar TEP, a metal processing and electrical industry. Rade Koncar TEP demonstrated its energy efficiency efforts and ESG strategy, with a significant investment in solar panels covering nearly all rooftop space. This initiative enables the company to generate surplus energy, which feeds back to the local grid. Recent investments in battery storage and electric vehicles for production underscore the company’s goal of achieving full energy self-sufficiency through solar power.
Both the above-mentioned companies emphasized the vital role of collaboration with local academic institutions, especially engineering faculties, as catalysts for innovation.
The second day was dedicated to the High-Level Event, moderated by Professor Radmil Polenakovikj, that was immersed in networking, ideas exchange, and exploring collaborative opportunities. Mr. Ivan Delchev from the IPA ADRION Joint Secretariat joined online to present INTERREG programmes that support transnational cooperation. Mrs. Elizabeta Todorovska from the Ministry of Economy and Labour opened the session with remarks on the importance of SMEs’ green transition for sustainable development. Mrs. Annamaria Annicchiarico from Tecnopolis PST provided an overview of the GREENSMEs project.
In addition, SMEs’ supporting structures from Skopje were also represented, with Ms. Irena Gjorgievska from INOVA Agency and Mr. Betim Lamallari from the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning highlighting synergies between the project and Skopje’s SME Strategy 2025–2030. After partners’ short presentations of their organizations and a networking break, the day culminated in an interactive workshop on Design Thinking facilitated by Mr. Giancarlo La Pietra. Groups of stakeholders and project partners were challenged to think creatively to co-develop innovative project ideas, fostering cross-sector collaboration.
The third and final day showcased good practices at a local level and ended with the project partners’ meeting. Mr. Gorjan Jovanovski, founder of earthcare.ai, presented two platforms—getaircare.com and hylosense.com—that provide real-time global environmental data to support emergency responses and optimize investments in renewable energy. Mr. Filip Ivanovski presented PAKOMAK, a local initiative on waste management, emphasizing the importance of proper procedures, equipment, and continuous stakeholder engagement to ensure success.
Following these presentations, partners visited the laboratories of the Faculty of Engineering, where students gain hands-on experience in real industrial environments, and businesses collaborate on developing and testing prototypes. The event concluded with the project meeting led by work package leaders KEPA, CIDEA, and lead partner TNO, as well as communication leader, AGRRA. They provided updates on the implementation of project activities, stressed the importance of partners’ contributions, and addressed key points to ensure timeline alignment.
The three-day meeting in Skopje marked a significant step forward for the GREENSMEs project, reinforcing the commitment to supporting SMEs in their green transformation journey and fostering stronger regional cooperation for a sustainable future.