The study visit in Spain, 17 - 19.11.2021, was yet another rare and great opportunity to meet in person. The meeting was organised by the Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER).

The visit started with the meeting of the SMEPlus steering group to discus the draft action plans and next steps in the project implementation. Furthermore, the SMEPlus partners met and had a fruitful exchange with Spanish stakeholders: the good practices were presented and action plans discussed. The participants enjoyed the presentations of stakeholders General Directorate of Reindustrialisation, Innovation and Internationalisation as well as General Directorate of Ecological Transition and Climate Change.

The next on the agenda were visits to Conservas Franco-Riojanas (an example of a beneficiary industrial SME from the energy efficiency grant lines), Grafometal (an example of a beneficiary industrial SME from the energy efficiency grant lines) as well as RODA winery (an example of sustainable innovation project including energy efficiency measures).