The third transnational meeting of the A4Sustinno project was held at UDG
The University of Donja Gorica (UDG) hosted the third transnational meeting of the IPA ADRION A4Sustinno project – A distributed one stop shop FOR more SUstainable STartups and INNOvative SMEs – on 30–31 March 2026 in Podgorica. All project partners attended: Patras Science Park S.A. (Greece), Nuovo Circondario Imolese (Italy), Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region (Italy), Centre for Entrepreneurship (Croatia), Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia (Slovenia), University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Regional Agency for Economic Development of Šumadija and Pomoravlje (Serbia), and AULEDA – Agency for Local Economic Development, Vlora Region (Albania).
The two‑day meeting featured dynamic exchanges, strategic planning and hands‑on alignment of next steps for rapid implementation of project activities, with a core emphasis on launching the A4Sustinno acceleration programme. Partners shared best practices, harmonized methodologies and agreed on pilot actions designed to accelerate the growth of sustainable startups and competitive SMEs across the region.
The main objective of A4SUSTINNO is to strengthen innovation capacities in the ADRION region through:
- Formation of Distributed Local Networks (DLNs): creating collaborative frameworks that connect key stakeholders in partner territories and operate at an interregional level.
- Redesign of training programmes: updating accelerator training modules to embed sustainability and quality topics.
- Development of digital tools: building an innovative platform to identify specific training needs of startups and SMEs.
- Pilot testing of the One‑Stop‑Shop model: demonstrating local support mechanisms for sustainable innovation ecosystems.
The A4SUSTINNO – Acceleration for Sustainable Innovation project, co‑funded by the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme 2021–2027, aims to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems and support SMEs and start‑ups in their transition toward sustainable, competitive and innovation‑driven business models. The project connects regional development agencies, universities, business‑support organisations and innovation hubs from eight Adriatic–Ionian countries to design and implement acceleration programmes that mainstream sustainability, quality management and circular‑economy principles into entrepreneurial practice.
At the core of A4SUSTINNO are Distributed Local Networks (DLNs) – cooperation platforms that connect SMEs, mentors, researchers, clusters and local institutions, ensuring regional adaptation while maintaining a shared transnational methodology.
The meeting concluded with a clear roadmap: the establishment of working groups, scheduling of pilot tests, definition of evaluation criteria and intensified coordination through regular online and local sessions. Partners reaffirmed their commitment to fast‑tracking knowledge and resource transfer so that A4SUSTINNO becomes a recognised and effective support mechanism for innovative, sustainable business development across the ADRION region.
Categories
Others
