Three-day knowledge exchange study visit and Green Business Excellence event, organized within the GREENSMES project – Interreg IPA Adrion

Within the framework of the project “Advancing modernization, green innovation and transition of small and medium-sized enterprises towards sustainability through transnational cooperation, practices and tools – GREENSMES”, December 15-17. 2025, a  project meeting and study visit took place in Tirana, Albania. Albanian Development Fund hosted this event. This meeting was an opportunity to review the current status of the implementation of the pilot program and support measures for SME’s, as well as to discuss open issues.On the course of the first day, a project meeting was held, where partners discussed the progress of project activities and further steps. Special attention was paid to the issue of the upcoming pilot program and instructions for its preparation. Later on, “Strategy to facilitate successful transitional interaction between R&D and business community towards green innovation” was discussed, with the project promotion that is going to happen. Important next steps include launching a call for green innovation vouchers for SMEs and launching a local support program for business support organizations. During the second day, partners visited Mercedes-Benz company Tirana, governed by Auto Star Albania, where they had the opportunity to see one of the most advanced automotive facilities in Albania, toured a showroom with the latest Mercedes-Benz models – including electric and hybrid vehicles – and visited service and diagnostic facilities equipped with the latest technology. Discussions with the management team focused on sustainable mobility, workforce training, and the company’s role in aligning the Albanian automotive market with European standards.At Maccaferri Balkans, participants learned about the operations of a leading regional construction and environmental company. The visit highlighted innovative geotechnical solutions, such as gabions, geogrids and retention systems, which are being used in large infrastructure projects across Albania. The technical team presented sustainable engineering practices and demonstrated how global expertise can support local resilience and sustainable development.A conference and event of high importance for the project was held on the third day. On this occasion, the host presented the vision of the green transition in Albania. Representatives of the Ministry of Environment and the Government also spoke about the Strategy on Green Innovation and Circular Economy, as well as reducing the carbon emission.