KEPA actively participated in the 7th Transnational Meeting of the GREENSMES project, held in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 30 June and 1 July 2026, and organised by project partner CIDEA – City Development Agency Banja Luka.
The event commenced with the regular project partners’ meeting, attended online by Mr Ivan Delchev, Project Officer from the Programme Joint Secretariat. During the first part of the meeting, the partners raised key questions concerning the project’s implementation and discussed potential proposals and amendments, where appropriate. The second part of the meeting focused on coordinating the forthcoming project activities and planning the work for the coming months, with the aim of ensuring the successful completion of the project.
As part of the meeting, a study visit dedicated to the exchange of knowledge and good practices was also organised, showcasing innovative initiatives that contribute to the green transition and enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). More specifically, the partners visited Telemax LLC, which was presented as a good practice example in the fields of innovation and green entrepreneurship. The company’s co-owner, Arijana Maksimčuk, presented the evolution of the family business since its establishment in 2002 into one of the leading companies in the communications technology sector, specialising in the design and installation of smart systems and fibre-optic networks. She highlighted how continuous investment in innovation has driven the company’s growth. Particular emphasis was placed on the development of City Gecko, the company’s innovative brand of smart urban furniture, including smart benches and bus shelters equipped with intelligent data-monitoring systems and powered by solar energy.
The second day focused on presenting good practices and successful examples of collaboration between academia, businesses and business support organisations. Participants visited the Development and Research Support Centre of the University of Banja Luka, where the Centre’s activities aimed at strengthening research, facilitating knowledge transfer and promoting innovation were presented. The partners were also introduced to the European project BEAMING – Bioeconomy Excellence Alliance for Stimulating Innovative and Inclusive Green Transition – which promotes cooperation among universities and research organisations to foster the development of the green bioeconomy.
The Smart Village Knežica initiative was subsequently presented as a good practice example of green innovation in the agri-food sector. The organisation’s Director, Đorđe Grujčić, described the initiative’s evolution from an experimental vineyard and an agricultural cooperative into a modern innovation ecosystem. The partners were informed about the application of robotics in agriculture, initiatives for the development of energy-efficient greenhouses, activities promoting sustainable agri-food systems and agri-tech innovation, as well as the organisation’s participation in European projects. Of particular interest was the presentation of the FENESTRAE project – Fostering ENergy Efficiency by means of Smart Technologies to Retrofit Apertures and Building Envelope – which belongs to the same INTERREG IPA ADRION Programme project cluster as GREENSMES. Potential opportunities for future cooperation between the two projects were also explored.
The programme continued with a guided visit to the Institute of Genetic Resources and the Botanical Garden of the University of Banja Luka, where participants learned about the Institute’s activities in biodiversity conservation, the protection of plant genetic resources and the sustainable management of the natural environment. The visit concluded at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where participants were introduced to good practices in designing and implementing support programmes for SMEs in the fields of digital and green transition. The Chamber also presented its experience in developing organisational structures that integrate such services into the permanent operations of business support organisations. Finally, Vladimir Ćorda, representing Starter / Virtuo d.o.o., presented the Mtel Playground initiative as an outstanding example of an innovation ecosystem. Operating as both a physical and digital innovation hub, it provides mentoring, resources and funding to technology start-ups, while also supporting university students by connecting them with large companies and business support organisations to foster innovative solutions and strengthen entrepreneurship.
The 7th Transnational Meeting of the GREENSMES project provided yet another valuable opportunity for project partners to exchange knowledge, experience and good practices. It further strengthened transnational cooperation and contributed to promoting the green transition, innovation and the sustainable development of SMEs across the ADRION area.
