
SMART
Creating a smarter Europe means promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity.
Our programme helps local, regional and national governments across Europe to develop and deliver better regional development policies in this field.
We create opportunities for sharing solutions to regional development issues, for exchanging good practices and for policy learning via our two pillars: our interregional cooperation projects and our Policy Learning Platform.
Scroll below to capitalise on the knowledge they've gained, take part in upcoming capacity building opportunities or apply for your own project proposal.
Discover the SMART sub-topics we address and click on the link to find all related resources on our website.
Projects and project ideas
Get inspired by our approved projects or explore one of these SMART project ideas. Then, discover how you can get involved in interregional cooperation by preparing your own project proposal.
Policy solutions
Explore all the policy solutions our projects and policy experts have identified on the topic of SMART. Read through our policy briefs and good practices. Watch our webinar recordings. Download the conclusions for past workshops and peer reviews.
Good practices
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Operational Groups
Innovation is essential to promote a sector that is efficient from the point of view of the resources used, productive and with a low level of emissions, which guarantees a sustainable development of...

Food Vision 2030: Ireland’s integrated systems approach for a sustainable agri-food sector
Food Vision 2030 is a stakeholder-led, mission-oriented strategy which recognises the interconnectedness of policies for food, health, climate and environment.

The success stories of the Green Hydrogen Booster project
The Green Hydrogen Booster project aims at development of an ecosystem for green H2 applications by SMEs in three provinces: Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland.

COVID CALL 2020
In a time of global health emergency connected to the Covid-19, in March 2020, the Lombardy Region intended to contribute to the implementation of innovative solutions proposed by intersectoral and...

Tartu – testbed of good thoughts
To move faster towards being a smart and sustainable city, Tartu promotes itself as a professional and start-up minded testbed of novel smart city solutions.

INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY PROGRAMME: CONNECTING TALENT INTERNSHIPS
International mobility program: young people with university degree that can stay in leading organizations abroad for 6 months

Simulate your business
The business development organization - ALMI re-developed a business simulation tool in respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

WTC podcast to stimulate export during COVID-19
Webinar and podcast series to stimulate exports of SMEs has lead to a interesting series of podcasts and suscces stories.

Mazowiecka Liquidity Loan
Polish National Development Bank in cooperation with the Marshal's Office of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship launched the Mazowiecka Liquidity Loan for SMEs facing problems related to the COVID-19...

EKIN+: Support program for creation, growth & consolidation of innovative start-ups in San Sebastián
EKIN+ is a program created in 2014 to promote and consolidate innovative business projects in San Sebastian.

Guimarães Marca Fashion Festival
Fashion Film Festival, the Parade & Showcase of Guimarães Marca companies, the Young Creators and the Guimarães Marca Fashion Festival Talks

BLUE GROWTH PIRAEUS
Blue Growth Piraeus (BGP) is an initiative to support start-ups and sustainable entrepreneurship in the maritime economy

Support to arts, entertainment and recreation sector businesses | Covid-19
Support to culture sector enterprises by offering working capital loans and grants for organisation of art, entertainment, or recreation events.

Quality standards and individualised approach of local incubation programme within ERDF by Leszno Business Centre
Quality incubation programme for local start-ups including both business support services and investment (first being pre-condition for the latter).

Support program: "Ris3mur COVID-19 for reactivation business through technological innovation"
Financial support for companies framed within sectors included in the Research & Innovation Smart Specialization Strategy whose results were affected by Covid19
SMART policy solutions
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Gender equality: fixing the practices for a rapid transformation
Current trends in society acknowledge the urgent need to boost awareness of the role of women and more generally of gender equality in all spheres. Take a look at EU objectives and local initiatives.
Circular transition in SMEs
Explore the Interreg Europe community's experience regarding regional circular economy strategies and roadmaps, circular economy hubs and collaborative frameworks in this policy brief!
Emergency grants for micro and small businesses
Discover how local and regional authorities can react and support local businesses in times of crises.Regional missions
Explore five policy recommendations in this policy brief, deriving from the experience of Interreg Europe projects, that inspire policymakers to better design and deliver challenge-driven innovation policies.
Better governance for Cultural and Creative industries
Explore the recommendations from the peer review that took place in Marseille on creative economy issues.
European Innovation Ecosystems: Key learnings
On 20 June 2023, the Policy Learning Platform held a webinar on the topic of European Innovation Ecosystems. Access the key learnings, presentations and recording here.
Integrated territorial development to fight depopulation
Explore the policy recommendations from the peer review for the Intermunicipal Community of Coimbra Region on integrated territorial development to fight depopulation.
From S3 priority selection to actions
On 1 June 2023, the Policy Learning Platform organised a matchmaking on S3 priority selections and actions <
Rethinking local policies: Spaces for entrepreneurship
Explore the key learnings of our workshop on spaces for entrepreneurship that took place in Ghent.
Rethinking local policies: Spaces for innovation
Explore the key learnings of our workshop on spaces for innovation that took place in Ghent.
Creating spaces for innovation
Read through the key insights discussed during the matchmaking on spaces for innovation.
Smart city testbeds
On 26 and 27 April 2023, the Policy Learning Platform organised a hybrid peer review for the benefit of the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, on the topic of smart city testbeds.Pre-commercial public procurement: Key learnings
On 6 June 2023, the Policy Learning Platform held a webinar on the topic of Pre-Commercial Public Procurement. Access the key learnings, presentations and recording here.
Hackathons and challenge prizes: key learnings
On 17 May 2023, the Policy Learning Platform held a webinar on the topic of Hackathons and Challenges Prizes.
Open innovation to foster SME growth
In this policy brief, you can find approaches for increasing the innovation capacities of businesses building on the open innovation paradigm.
Get policy advice
Are you looking for help on a regional policy-making challenge or simply have a question? Make use of our Platform services.
News and events
Explore the latest news and upcoming events on SMART topics.

SKYLA presented to European project partners in Tuscany
The SKYLA project was presented in Tuscany to the consortium of a European project seeking to identify local skills ecosystems
ENAIBLER participates in the Project Training Days
ENAIBLER is excited to share its recent participation in Interreg Europe's Project Training Days held in Lille, France.
Q&A session about financial reporting
An online Question and Answer session about financial reporting for Interreg Europe project partners.
Project partners attended Interreg Europe Project Training
Wrap up of the inspiring Interreg Europe Project Training
Värmland spreading the word on improving gender equality
Region Värmland is spreading the word on the importance of gender equality in SMEs' competitiveness on many fronts: by hosting the first regional stakeholder group meeting of Värmland and presenting DEBUTING at a local business fair.
SKYLA GOES ONE STEP AHEAD THANKS TO INTERREG TRAINING DAYS
On 26-28 September 2023, SKYLA - Smart Specialisation Skills Ecosystems for the Twin Transition- partners participated in the Interreg Europe Programme training days in Lille (France).
Czech & Slovak Sustainability Summit
The summit brought together the business and scientific communities working on sustainability to meet and to share information with participants from other organizations to help promote sustainability on the local markets.
Unveiling Partners and Regions - West Region Romania
A compelling series of articles presenting BEST DIH project partners and the vibrant regions they represent. Today we continue with our partners in West Region Romania.
RAW4RES Kick-off Meeting in Chalkida, Greece
The kick-off meeting of the RAW4RES project was hosted by the Region of Central Greece (Lead Partner) on the 6th and 7th of July 2023 in Chalkida, with the participation of all project partners.
UnicornQUest | Online 'Harvard Case Method' training
Online training session to learn about Harvard Case Method.