Periodic Reporting for period 1 - STAGE (Sustainable Transition to the Agile and Green Enterprise)
Reporting period: 2022-06-01 to 2023-11-30
Sustainability and the transition to a low-carbon, more resource-efficient and circular economy are key in ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the EU economy. Sustainability has long been at the heart of the European Union programmes and the EU Treaties give recognition to its social and environmental dimensions. Advanced industrial technologies are at the heart of the Industrial Revolution, shaping the future of production and value chains, opening opportunities for companies to shape a new wave of economic growth. More than 75% of European Industrial SMEs indicate that the main barrier for the implementation of Advanced Technologies is the lack of financial resources and access to investment opportunities. The STAGE project will attempt to answer this emerging demand by creating the sustainability transition ecosystem needed for the European SMEs to become competitive and sustainable leaders of the European industrial economy. This will be achieved through several activities, designed in such a manner that will allow SMEs to be selected and prepared in order to address gaps and undergo substantial changes towards sustainability. The STAGE project will offer innovation and sustainability assessments to more than 2000 SMEs to support them in creating roadmaps with action steps to achieve sustainability objectives. In parallel, Sustainability Advisors will be engaged and trained, who will in turn support shortlisted SMEs in developing their sustainability transition plans, while also receiving in-depth industrial training. SMEs will also be given financial incentives (grants) to access customized advisory services and financial support for carrying out their plans. Ultimately, the project will facilitate investments to those with the greatest potential, positioning them as the leaders of the European industrial economy.
The initial phase of the STAGE project was dedicated to establishing the necessary infrastructure to achieve its main objectives. In this regard, sustainability and innovation assessment tools were developed to estimate the potential of engaged SMEs. Furthermore, a sustainability transition introductory course was delivered, serving as a valuable asset for the early identification of potential STAGE beneficiaries. An elaborate business needs assessment was conducted to pinpoint the real-life needs of European SMEs and guide their outreach strategy. Lastly, the first version of the STAGE platform, serving as the single-entry point for potential STAGE users, was released. This included the presentation of the system architecture and the main user flows.
Following these activities, STAGE partners diligently focused on refining the sustainability transition methodology while concurrently building the necessary infrastructure for the STAGE ecosystem. Progress was driven by a detailed assessment of the business needs of SMEs as they embarked on the path towards sustainability transition. Based on this assessment, STAGE partners fine-tuned the sustainability transition methodology, developed specific support services and tools (innovation and sustainability assessments, decentralized training courses, sustainability planning and investment tools) and meticulously designed the journey for SMEs and Sustainability Advisors (SAs) within the STAGE ecosystem.
The operational model for the STAGE ecosystem was decided, and the IT infrastructure to support it, the STAGE platform, was finalized to facilitate the onboarding of SMEs and SAs. Simultaneously, the required documentation for the recruitment of SMEs was successfully completed, and the STAGE incentives plan was agreed upon within the partnership. These crucial steps were taken with the explicit intent to streamline and expedite the onboarding of beneficiaries in the period that followed.
The recruitment of the key actors of STAGE ecosystem started with a focus on Sustainability Advisors (SAs), taking into account that the network of SAs can attract SMEs to the ecosystem and facilitate the use of developed STAGE services and tools by them. A total of 232 SAs have been registered during this period, covering 31 countries across Europe. The recruitment of SMEs has also started with 46 enterprises registered on the platform and receiving STAGE services. The assessment framework of the STAGE sustainability transition process has been also developed during this period, in order to take feedback from end-users and to improve the developed services and tools, accordingly. Finally, the first STAGE Grants Call has been released, to provide financial incentives to the SMEs & SAs.
Following these activities, STAGE partners diligently focused on refining the sustainability transition methodology while concurrently building the necessary infrastructure for the STAGE ecosystem. Progress was driven by a detailed assessment of the business needs of SMEs as they embarked on the path towards sustainability transition. Based on this assessment, STAGE partners fine-tuned the sustainability transition methodology, developed specific support services and tools (innovation and sustainability assessments, decentralized training courses, sustainability planning and investment tools) and meticulously designed the journey for SMEs and Sustainability Advisors (SAs) within the STAGE ecosystem.
The operational model for the STAGE ecosystem was decided, and the IT infrastructure to support it, the STAGE platform, was finalized to facilitate the onboarding of SMEs and SAs. Simultaneously, the required documentation for the recruitment of SMEs was successfully completed, and the STAGE incentives plan was agreed upon within the partnership. These crucial steps were taken with the explicit intent to streamline and expedite the onboarding of beneficiaries in the period that followed.
The recruitment of the key actors of STAGE ecosystem started with a focus on Sustainability Advisors (SAs), taking into account that the network of SAs can attract SMEs to the ecosystem and facilitate the use of developed STAGE services and tools by them. A total of 232 SAs have been registered during this period, covering 31 countries across Europe. The recruitment of SMEs has also started with 46 enterprises registered on the platform and receiving STAGE services. The assessment framework of the STAGE sustainability transition process has been also developed during this period, in order to take feedback from end-users and to improve the developed services and tools, accordingly. Finally, the first STAGE Grants Call has been released, to provide financial incentives to the SMEs & SAs.
STAGE has achieved 4 Key Exploitable Results with significant uptake potential, within this Reporting Period.
Innovation and Sustainability assessment tools: SMEs can freely benefit from different assessment tools provided on the STAGE platform. The assessments indicate the status of each SME, its needs and the areas for improvements.
Decentralized sustainability training courses: Totally 36 Sustainability Training Courses for SMEs and SAs are available on the STAGE Platform. An intro-course into the topic of sustainability for SMEs and SAs also including two introductory teasers – one for SMEs and one for SAs. Upon successful completion of the learning assessment quiz, the trainees are awarded certificates of completion.
Sustainability Transition and Ιnvestment planning tools: Sustainability Transition Planning enables enterprises to create strategic transition implementation plans that identify which advanced technologies SMEs should invest in, define processes and timelines for integrating the technology on the shopfloor based on long-term business plans and needs and align with corporate strategy.
STAGE Platform: An EU-wide hub, where sustainability advisors, enterprises, investors come together. It hosts user data, assessment templates, training materials, and database of enterprises, advisors and investors. On the STAGE platform, SMEs will be able to register and manage their profiles, carry out assessments (ESG, carbon footprint, EU Taxonomy), take sustainability trainings and participate in workshops, match with SAs and receive various advisory support, develop sustainability roadmaps, transition, investment, and financial plans apply for financial support, access documents and financial support tools.
Possible upgrades of each assessment tool based on end-user feedback, a business plan (including IPR management) and access to funding beyond the project period are key needs to ensure the further uptake of these results
Innovation and Sustainability assessment tools: SMEs can freely benefit from different assessment tools provided on the STAGE platform. The assessments indicate the status of each SME, its needs and the areas for improvements.
Decentralized sustainability training courses: Totally 36 Sustainability Training Courses for SMEs and SAs are available on the STAGE Platform. An intro-course into the topic of sustainability for SMEs and SAs also including two introductory teasers – one for SMEs and one for SAs. Upon successful completion of the learning assessment quiz, the trainees are awarded certificates of completion.
Sustainability Transition and Ιnvestment planning tools: Sustainability Transition Planning enables enterprises to create strategic transition implementation plans that identify which advanced technologies SMEs should invest in, define processes and timelines for integrating the technology on the shopfloor based on long-term business plans and needs and align with corporate strategy.
STAGE Platform: An EU-wide hub, where sustainability advisors, enterprises, investors come together. It hosts user data, assessment templates, training materials, and database of enterprises, advisors and investors. On the STAGE platform, SMEs will be able to register and manage their profiles, carry out assessments (ESG, carbon footprint, EU Taxonomy), take sustainability trainings and participate in workshops, match with SAs and receive various advisory support, develop sustainability roadmaps, transition, investment, and financial plans apply for financial support, access documents and financial support tools.
Possible upgrades of each assessment tool based on end-user feedback, a business plan (including IPR management) and access to funding beyond the project period are key needs to ensure the further uptake of these results