The SustainX Open Call, dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their green and digital transitions, officially closed on October 17, 2025. Following the selection process, over 100 SMEs from across the participating regions have been selected to join the SustainX acceleration and upskilling programme.
The selected SMEs stood out for their strong commitment to sustainability, digital innovation, and regional impact potential, marking an important step forward in strengthening Europe’s capacity for interregional collaboration and innovation-driven growth.
Fostering innovation and resilience
The Open Call attracted a diverse range of applications from SMEs and stakeholders across Europe, demonstrating the growing momentum behind sustainable business transformation.
Each selected participant will benefit from:
- Learning journey dedicated to capacity building on sustainability, innovation management, and digitalisation;
- Peer-learning and interregional exchange opportunities within the SustainX community;
- Access to practical methodology and networks to strengthen their competitiveness and long-term sustainability.
These opportunities are designed to prepare SMEs for participation in the EU’s Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument, one of Europe’s most strategic mechanisms to support cross-regional innovation and investment projects.
A collaborative European effort
The selected SMEs represent a variety of sectors — from green manufacturing and agri-tech to AI and digital transformation — reflecting the diversity and creativity of Europe’s regional innovation ecosystems.
Their participation will contribute directly to SustainX’s mission of fostering interregional collaboration and embedding sustainable innovation into regional development policies across its partner regions: Nord-Est (Romania), Thessaly (Greece), Bulgaria, Canary Islands (Spain), and Latvia.
“The Open Call results show that Europe’s SMEs are ready to lead the way in sustainability and digital transformation,” said Cristina Baghiu, Project Coordinator of SustainX. “SustainX provides them with the tools, partnerships, and visibility to make that transformation lasting and impactful.”
What’s next
In the coming months, the selected SMEs will take part in a comprehensive journey supported by regional partners.
Phase 1 (November 2025 – April 2026) will focus on a learning journey dedicated to capacity building, helping SMEs strengthen their innovation and sustainability capabilities through local workshops and interregional sessions.
Phase 2 (March – September 2026) will offer tailored advisory services and consortium-building support for up to 20 of the most promising innovation projects — guiding them toward I3-ready proposals and cross-regional partnerships.
This process will culminate in the development of investment-ready innovation projects, ensuring that the results of the SustainX project have a lasting institutional and operational impact.
About SustainX
SustainX is a European initiative funded by the European Union, dedicated to driving innovation and strengthening SME capacities in Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Latvia, and the Canary Islands (Spain). Through tailored support in digital transformation and sustainable innovation, SustainX helps businesses address regional challenges and seize new opportunities aligned with Smart Specialisation (S3) priorities.
Stay tuned for updates and success stories from the SustainX participants as they drive sustainable change in their regions!
