With the goal of further enhancing the competitiveness of Business Support Organizations (BSOs) across the Adriatic–Ionian region, KEPA—an active partner in the GREENSMES project—participated in the online event “BSOs for a Greener Adrion: Powering SME Green Innovation and Transition,” which brought together more than 100 business consultants, green innovation experts, and professionals from nine Adriatic–Ionian countries.
Held on December 4th, 2025, the event featured distinguished specialists in green innovation, as well as highly skilled professionals from our stakeholder network. Ms. Laura Lecci, CEO of the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN), presented effective and transferable incubation practices that support the green transition. KEPA also showcased the current State of Play of Green Economy and Innovation in the Adriatic–Ionian Region, as part of the project’s ongoing outputs.
As participants explored the region’s path toward a greener transition, they engaged in breakout sessions to examine the key challenges faced by BSOs in helping SMEs embrace green innovation.
Key Challenges Identified
🧩 BSO Capacity: A strong need exists for BSOs to gain access to specialized expertise and structured training in order to effectively guide SMEs through the green transition.
🧩 Financial Sustainability: Even successful support programs and BSOs often operate with limited or unstable funding, making long-term impact and continuity difficult.
🧩 SME Awareness & Engagement: Many entrepreneurs remain unaware of the long-term value and available support for adopting green practices, creating an additional barrier for BSOs.
Unified Conclusions & Next Steps for the Regional BSO Community
✅ Specialized Training & Expertise: Dedicated capacity-building programs are essential to equip BSO staff with the advanced knowledge required to provide high-quality, specialized guidance to SMEs pursuing green innovation.
✅ Stable Funding: There is a clear need to promote and develop models that ensure consistent, long-term funding for green innovation support, reducing reliance on short project cycles.
✅ Collaboration & Communication: Strengthening collaboration platforms—such as the GREENSMES Network—is vital. This must be paired with improved communication tools and capabilities to translate complex green concepts into clear, actionable, and appealing opportunities for SMEs
