The 5th Transnational Meeting of the GREENSMES project, organized by ADF was successfully held in Tirana on December 15-17, 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 event began with the meeting among project partners, led by those responsible for the project activities and deliverables, namely the Lead Partner TNO, KEPA and CIDEA, as well as the partner responsible for communication and dissemination, AGRRA. During the meeting, the progress of the project activities was presented, the partners’ contribution was highlighted, and critical issues related to ensuring the timely implementation of the project were discussed.
The second day focused on good practices through on-site visits to innovative companies in Tirana, aiming to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience regarding modern practices in sustainable development and innovation within the business sector.
Specifically, the partners visited the facilities of Mercedes-Benz Albania, where they were informed about the development and promotion of electric vehicles, as well as the strategies implemented to reduce environmental impact. In addition, practices related to energy autonomy and on-site energy generation at the company’s facilities were presented.
This was followed by a visit to Maccaferri Albania, during which the technical solutions developed by the company in the field of infrastructure and environmental engineering were presented, with a particular emphasis on soil stabilization and environmental protection.
Finally, the networking, idea-exchange and partnership-exploration event—the 3rd High Level Event (HLE) within the framework of the project—was held on the third day of the transnational meeting, with the participation of representatives of institutional bodies, business support organizations and other stakeholders, under the coordination of the partner Albanian Development Fund.
Within the context of the event, presentations were delivered on green innovation, the circular economy and the reduction of carbon emissions. Ms Elvana Ramaj, Director of the Integrated Waste Management Directorate, presented the Albanian government’s strategies for green innovation and the circular economy; Ms Bleona Zela, Communications Specialist and Project Manager for glass recycling at RecycAL, presented the Circular Economy Park; and Mr Meivis Struga, founder of the Environmental & Territorial Management Institute, analyzed examples of good practices for reducing carbon emissions in Albanian cities.
The three-day meeting in Tirana marked an important milestone for the GREENSMES project, strengthening commitment to the green transition of SMEs and promoting more dynamic transnational cooperation towards a sustainable future.
