Between January 20 and 21, 2025, the kick-off meeting of the SustainX program took place in the premises of V7 Startup Studio Iași, marking the beginning of a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating innovation in less developed European regions.
About the program
The SustainX program supported by the European Commission’s I3 instrument is significant in facilitating Europe’s transition to a green and digital economy, aligning with the objective of supporting innovative SMEs, strengthening their capacities and promoting sustainable and digital solutions.
The program partners – DIZ (Romania), ARC Fund (Bulgaria), TUIASI (Romania), SANTA CRUZ (Spain – Canary Islands), iED (Greece), IMP3ROVE (Germany) and LTC (Latvia) – came together to establish directions and priorities of collaboration. Together, we aim to support innovative SMEs and contribute to Europe’s transition to a Green and Digital Economy.
The event benefited from the presence of Mrs. Valentina Pinna, Project Officer of the European Commission, who offered valuable perspectives and emphasized the importance of this program within the I3 instrument.
Objectives of the SustainX program:
- Developing the internal capacities of SMEs, giving them the necessary tools to become competitive at the European level;
- Promoting interregional collaboration in the field of innovation, creating a solid network of partnerships;
- Validation of pilot methods that provide concrete solutions for regional challenges;
- Creating a “one-stop-shop” type concept, which facilitates investment in innovation through customized solutions;
- The personalized approach, cross-sector collaborations and focus on multiplying impact position SustainX as a successful example of innovation-driven development.
