Transnational cooperation project supported by the ERASMUS+ programme. A consortium was formed by seven transnational organisations from Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy and Portugal, led by Italy’s CNA organisation to develop a project aimed at digitalising SMEs.
The project is entitled: ‘Strategic Mentalities and Redesigned Technological Environments Regenerate SMEs’ (S.M.A.R.T.E.R. SMEs) and began in November 2023 and will end in June 2026.
The project aims to address the digital transformation needs of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the EU. The SMEs form the backbone of the EU economy, but their progress in digitization is low and uneven across the EU. The project identifies several challenges that SMEs face in their digital transition, including a lack of awareness about the value of technological and green transformation, limitations in knowledge and skills to devise a digital transformation strategy, and difficulty in getting support from Digital Innovation Hubs.
The project proposes several innovative solutions to address these challenges:
- MOOC for “SME Digital Transformation Tutor”: This is aimed at updating SME Associations Operators to promote the development of skills for mentoring entrepreneurs in devising a strategy for digital transformation.
- SMEs’ Digital Transformation Tube Story: This is a “story told like a TV series,” which aims to raise awareness and educate entrepreneurs about digital transformation.
- Kit tutoring training of entrepreneurs: This kit will contain materials and tools used by tutors in in-person tutoring/learning activities directed to entrepreneurs.
The project’s overall objective is to contribute to the digital transformation contributing to the goal of the “EU Digital Decade.” Specific objectives include raising awareness in SME entrepreneurs about emerging technologies and the value and benefits of digital transformation, developing a digital transformation strategy by SME entrepreneurs, and upgrading the skills of SME Association Operators for managing digital transformation mentoring processes of their members.
The project targets two groups: SME association operators and SME entrepreneurs. To train these two groups in developing strategies for implementing a digitalization plan.