SmartGreenEcos’ next steps: Supporting Dairy SMEs in the Transition to Digital and Green Excellence

An open call for 100 SMEs in Cyprus, Greece, Jordan and Tunisia is about to be launched. Stay tuned!

Publication Date
21/01/2026
Reading Time
3 minutes

SmartGreenEcos project will select through an open tender process a total of 100 SMEs from Cyprus, Greece, Jordan and Tunisia to participate in the project. 25 SMEs from each country will be independently selected by each country partner following the same transparent criteria.

The SmartGreenEcos project is offering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing of dairy products sector a unique opportunity to strengthen their competitiveness through digitalisation, sustainability, and innovation. The initiative combines advanced analytical tools, capacity building, and collaborative platforms, while requiring participating SMEs to actively contribute data, feedback, and engagement to ensure meaningful and lasting results.

Concrete Benefits for Participating SMEs

Selected SMEs will gain access to a comprehensive set of services delivered through four integrated Platforms:

  1. Benchmarking and Optimisation
    SMEs can benchmark their digital and green performance against peers and develop actionable improvement plans to reduce costs, waste, energy use, and lead times.
  2. Capacity Building for Smart and Green Practices
    Targeted learning activities strengthen capabilities in smart production systems, energy efficiency, and environmental management.
  3. Digital Procurement
    E-commerce and digital B2B procurement tools enable joint purchasing of raw materials, packaging, and energy, leading to lower input costs.
  4. Collaborative New Product Development
    SMEs benefit from shared innovation tools, pilot facilities, and expert support to accelerate sustainable and functional product development while reducing risk.

 

Through these services, participating SMEs are expected to improve operational efficiency, increase profit margins, strengthen their environmental footprint, and enhance brand value. They also gain access to a growing network of peers and partners, enabling collaboration, knowledge exchange, and faster adoption of proven practices. To ensure long-term impact, SMEs will be offered a highly reduced subscription for the year after Project completion, allowing continued use of the Platforms and ongoing support within a transnational ecosystem of dairy enterprises.

 

Eligibility and Selection

The Project invitation for participation will apply for SMEs operating in the dairy industry (NACE Rev.2 Code 10.5) that meet small or medium enterprise criteria and have a going-concern status. SMEs from the upstream and downstream supply chain will be also welcome to participate, although fewer numbers are expected to be selected.

 

Clear Obligations, Meaningful Engagement

Participation in the Project is based on a structured set of obligations designed to create a reliable and representative picture of each SME and of the wider dairy ecosystem.

Data Collection Obligations

Selected SMEs will provide financial and operational data to the project. In addition, they will submit information on industry structural burdens and solutions applied, strategic marketing practices, and their current efforts in digitalisation, environmental sustainability, and innovation, together with planned next steps. All information will be used in an anonymised format.

Feedback Obligations

SMEs will review and provide feedback on the Project’s analytical findings to refine results and ensure accuracy. They will also comment on draft services specifications for the four Project services offering Platforms, helping to adapt tools and services to real industry needs.

Engagement Obligations

All selected SMEs will attend a Working Conference immediately after selection, participating in focus groups, questionnaires, and expert discussions. Tailored actions may follow, including capacity-building activities, benchmarking and optimisation measures, joint procurement initiatives, or collaborative new product development. Finally, SMEs will participate in a National Conference at the end of the project.

Publicity Obligations

Participating SMEs will hit the news by publicising their involvement in the Project. This visibility will benefit both the project and the SMEs by highlighting commitment to innovation and sustainability.

By combining clear obligations with tangible benefits, SmartGreenEcos will empower dairy products SMEs to benchmark their performance, adopt smarter and greener practices, and strengthen their position in an increasingly competitive market.

Last Update

21/01/2026