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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Challenges & Competencies
Mobilize local higher education students to provide innovative ideas for the development of local SMEs and to support mutual knowledge between students & SMEs
Geo-Infrastructure platform of Prešov region
The Geo-Infrastructure Platform of the Prešov Region aims to centralize spatial data for effective exchange among institutions and the public.
South Savo Food Cluster
South Savo Food Cluster aims to increase the competence, networking and internationalisation of the food sector and to create conditions for food innovations.
RuralCat platform
RuralCat is a digital platform, launched in 2003, that provides support for rural development in the agri-food, forestry, and fishing sectors.
Remote lab - a distance working co-creation knowledge hub in Region of Jämtland Härjedalen
The Remote Lab is a global knowledge and development node who stimulates knowledge through collaborations with researchers and by running coworking places.
Regional Development Monitor
The Regional Development Monitor is a national mapping and data visualisation online tool designed to provide an up-to-date evidence base for policy-making.
The Gender Academy
GA offers tools to improve innovation, competence supply, organizational structure and culture for companies in order to become more attractive and competitive.
The Woman Entrepreneur Programme
The Woman Entrepreneur Programme supports women who own a business by providing financial assistance
Basic Start Your Own Business Course for Ukrainians.
Start Your Own Business Programme for Ukrainian TPAs based on community integration and business services and support their entrepreneurial endeavours.
Digital for Business - Using Digital Vouchers to assist SME's to build a pathway for Support
Digital for Business provides support to allow micro-businesses obtain digital strategy, technical and/or advisory services to progress their digital journey.
Digital girls ER
“Digital Girls ER” is an initiative to reduce the gender digital divide by promoting women in STEAM in Emilia-Romagna (ER) region
GED - Gender Equality and Diversity Award
Emilia-Romagna Region (RER) launched the GED - Gender Equality and Diversity prize to enhance the companies’ most relevant experiences.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine Funders' club for organic operators
The Funders Club operates in the development of operators of organic sector by strengthening the links between project leaders and public and private funders.
Self-assessment tool for digital sustainability communication
The self-assessment tool for digital sustainability communication is a low threshold way for MSMEs to improve their online communication on sustainability.
SMART policy solutions
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Open Data: Spotlight on Veneto Region
“Open data is data that anyone can access, use or share.” (Open Data Institute)Business incubation: from startup to scaleup
Business incubation programmes are specialised programmes designed to nurture and support the development of early-sDigital transformation of public services
This policy brief provides a general overview of the most relevant initiatives, regulations, and strategies of the European Union, which are shaping Europe’s digital future.Research valorisation
In this policy brief, you will find policy recommendations to inspire policymakers in designing and delivering effective policies for research valorisation.Entrepreneurial Universities: Key learnings
On 14 March 2024, the Policy Learning Platform organised a webinar on the topic of Entrepreneurial Universities: spinoffs and technology transfer.Challenge-driven innovation to promote university-industry collaboration
The Policy Learning Platform conducted a peer review for the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Portugal, held on 30-31 January 2024. The Azores government sought inspiration to promote challenge-driven innovation policies for university-industry collaboration.Twin transition for SMEs: Key learnings
On 30 January 2024, the Policy Learning Platform organised a webinar on the topic of the twin transition for SMEs.Cultural and Creative Industries
In this policy brief, you will find policies to promote strategic development of CCIs, to facilitate access to funding, and to foster innovation-friendly infrastructure and environments.New financial instruments to support development of enterprises in Usti Region
On 14-15 November 2023, the Policy Learning Platform held an on-site peer review for the Innovation Center Ústí nad Labem (ICUK), which requested advice regarding their policy challenge on the set up of financial instruments in support of local entreprises in Usti nad Labem.Business opportunities from the ‘green economy’ shift
As the (EEA) pointed out, the term “green economy” is not consistently defined as it is still an emerging concept.Regions as laboratories of policy experimentation: key learnings
On 12 december 2023, the Policy Learning Platform hosted a webinar on Regions as laboratories of policy experimentation. Access the recording, presentations and the key learnings here.Setting up regional funds with the European Investment Fund: key learnings
On 21 November 2023, the Policy Learning Platform hosted a webinar on setting up regional funds with the European Investment Fund. Access the recording, presentations and the key learnings here.European Value Chains for the green transition
The Policy Learning Platform hosted a peer review for the Regional Council of Jämtland-Härjedalen, in Östersund, Sweden, on 14-15 November 2023. The Region was looking for inspiration on how to build European value chains for the green industrial transition.AI for local authorities and policymakers: Key learnings
On 7 November 2023, the Policy Learning Platform hosted a webinar on the topic of AI for local authorities and policymakers. Access the recording, presentations and the key learnings here.Improve regional branding for attracting tech-savvy visitors: key learnings
The Policy Learning Platform organised a peer review for the Põlva County Development Centre, Estonia. The peer review was held in Carrick-On-Shannon, Leitrim County, Ireland on the 17th and 18th of October 2023. Discover the key learnings.
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.
embrAIsme kick-off event in Vienna held on May 14-15
On 14 and 15 of May Austria Wirtschaftsservice has held in Vienna the official kick-off event and the first transnational seminar to start the project3rd CDR EUROPE Project Meeting in Ireland
Cork County Council hosts the 3rd CDR Europe project meeting in Cork, Ireland on April, 3rd and 4th. Partecipative sessions on understanding challenges and seeking answers for CDR uptake in SMES.Stakeholder meetings Semester 2
The stakeholder activity continues in Semester 2. The debate addresses on territorial analysis of challenges focusing on the factors that can influence the adoption of CDR in SMEs.VIADUCT partners prepare for Tampere visit
The latest interregional thematic workshop organised by Viaduct is coming up soon in Tampere, Finland, 11 and 12 June 2024.CDREurope PODCAST -Part 2
Second CDREurope Podcast in collaboration with the International CDR ManifestoBarcelona – Catalonia: The hub for tech in Europe
Companies worldwide are choosing Barcelona - Catalonia to establish their digital centers for the European market. Three examples of that.PLASTKO 2024
The PLASTKO 2024 conference is a traditional meeting bringing together academia and private sector. This year's event focused on polymers and technologies in the context of sustainable development.Ready, Set, COMMIT: Kick-Off Meeting Rallies for Impact
[Glasgow, 16-17 April 2024] – The COMMIT project, a second call Interreg Europe project with its official start on 1 April 2024, organised a kick-off meeting with its consortium to lay the foundatiIncentives & Innovation Services to Attract & Retain Talent
At CODIL, we are organizing the Third Inter-regional Thematic seminar on "Incentives and Innovation Services to Attract and Retain Talent", on 12-13 June 2024 in Timișoara, Romania.Co-creating to improve SME access to funding opportunities
Representatives from SME support organizations, academia and public administration met to seek fresh ideas to overcome obstacles SMEs encounter in applying for public funding.embrAIsme kick-off event in Vienna to be held on May 14-15
We will be kicking off the embrAIsme project with our first partner meeting and a transnational workshop on May 14-15 in ViennaIdentifying Best Practices in Open Data in Seville
The OD4GROWTH project will visit Seville, Spain to assess Open Data initiatives and identify best practices to improve data quality, public services, and business opportunities.Three Interreg Europe projects nominated for RegioStars Awards 2024
Three Interreg Europe projects will be competing for a spot in the finals at the RegioStars Awards in the 2024 edition: CRAFTS CODE, MATCH-UP, and ThreeT.TOURBO stakeholder interviews: Insights from Bremerhaven
Stakeholders play a vital role in Interreg Europe projects such as TOURBO. Our partners from Bremerhaven made a video with Bremerhaven Economic Development.Support for the development and growth of local companies
The development of innovation and technology in Latvia, the increase in productivity can be achieved with targeted investment of resources for the creation and sale of higher added value in the global market.
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