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.
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
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.
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.
Hiilikuri CO2 calculator for tourism industry
Hiilikuri is free of charge carbon footprint calculator for tourism businesses in Finland enabling to calculate CO2 and map biggest emission sources.
Sustainable Travel Finland (STF)
STF programme provides companies and destinations in Finland with a concrete toolkit for systematically adapting sustainable practices in developing tourism.
Digitalization Master Class, a development program aimed at manufacturing companies
Digitalization Master Class is a development program aimed at manufacturing companies that want to make their production processes more efficient.
“Mature Your PhD”: a challenge for testing potential R&D tech transfer project
Created by SATT Conectus, the “Mature your PhD” challenge aims to help PhD students turn their thesis into an R&D tech transfer project.
SMART policy solutions
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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.Regional innovation governance: key learnings
The Policy Learning Platform organised a peer review for the Regional Council of Päijät-Häme in Lahti, Finland, held on 17-18 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.
Identifying 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.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.Watch the interview of the director of Fomento San Sebastián
The interview was conducted in the framework of the 3 Pillar Analysis - survey to policy authority, and we used the guide and template provided by the lead partner.Study visit and follow-up meeting in San Sebastian
On 23 and 24 April, Fomento San Sebastian hosted the follow-up meeting of the NOTRE project as well as a study visit of their ecosystem.Job Opportunity Financial Officer
The Interreg Europe Secretariat is currently looking for one Financial Officer (temp contract) with a focus on eventsFUND-MATCHING GOOD PRACTICES & ANALYSIS OF KEY BARRIES
Updated version of “A GUIDEBOOK OF EXISTING FUND-MATCHING GOOD PRACTICES & ANALYSIS OF KEY FUND-MATCHING BARRIES”Lapland hosts a workshop in sustainability for TOURBO
TOURBO partners and stakeholders from all 8 partner regions travelled to Rovaniemi on the April 9th for a program packed visit, with the goal of assessing obstacles and models the regions have for green transition and MSME support.Join our thematic workshops
The Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform is organising four workshops on various topics. It is a great opportunity to meet organisations from other European countries involved in Interreg Europe project.Exploring Cantabria: A Journey with LOTTI Project
The third interregional gathering of the LOTTI project was held in April 2024 in Cantabria.UNLOCK presents methodology on regional situation analysis
Dr Beata Kviatek (UNLOCK Advisory Lead Partner Expertise Centre of Energy - ENTRANCE / HANZE) has developed a methodology that aids local and regional governments in analyzing partners situation and diagnosis of existent good practices.ENAIBLER site visit: AI & collaboration in Buncrana
Insightful discussions, cutting-edge AI expertise, and valuable insights were exchanged during the ENAIBLER site visit held on April 16th and 17th in Buncrana, County DonAI and environment: study, opportunity and risk
On Tuesday, April 9, ENAIBLER project partner Region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté organised another online session “AI and envANATOLIKI, S.A. holds their 2nd RSG meeting
ANATOLIKI held this past 27th of February their 2nd RGS meetings in Thessaloniki.UnicornQuest | Exploring innovation in Slovakia DAY 2
March 22. 2024: Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency hosted the third UnicornQuest meeting, uniting project partners and local stakeholders. Day two featured insightful presentations about the local ecosystem.
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