Digitalisation for sustainable development of SMEs

The DiSuDeSME project was initiated in response to the rapid and uneven digital transformation impacting SMEs across Europe. With digitalisation accelerating, particularly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become crucial to address its systemic role in driving sustainable transitions. The project aims to enhance SMEs' understanding and implementation of digital technologies to foster environmentally sustainable practices and processes. Despite the potential for digitalisation to support circular economies and reduce environmental impacts, many SMEs view eco-innovations as burdensome unless mandated by legislation. Our project specifically addresses the need for a comprehensive training scheme that not only increases awareness about the benefits of digital technologies for green purposes but also demonstrates tangible cost reductions through improved process efficiency, product design, waste management, and resource utilization. By doing so, the project supports SMEs in developing and developed contexts to realize the commercial and environmental benefits of sustainable digital practices, contributing significantly to the protection of the climate, environment, and biodiversity through smarter business operations.

The DiSuDeSME project aimed to empower SME employees for the digital era, focusing on sustainable transformation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The project's main objective was to enhance the skills and competencies necessary for driving digital changes that benefit the economy, society, and environment. Specifically, it sought to define a profile for experts in sustainable digital transformation, shift entrepreneurial mindsets towards sustainable practices, and promote the adoption of sustainable digital technologies. Additional goals included improving the understanding of digital transformation's impact on business operations and social relationships, developing both soft and hard skills for managing innovation, and increasing business efficiency through sustainable methods. Innovative educational approaches such as edutainment and simulations were introduced to foster critical thinking and holistic problem-solving among SME employees, ultimately aiming for a substantial contribution towards climate awareness and sustainable development.