On 30 September 2025, the Applied Research and Communications Fund (ARC Fund) held an information session dedicated to supporting SMEs through the SustainX Open Call — an initiative helping businesses advance in digitalisation, sustainability, and innovation management.
The event was organised jointly with the RTIT (Research and Technology Innovation Transfer) project and brought together representatives from business, academia, and innovation support organisations. It aimed to raise awareness of the opportunities under SustainX, which connects SMEs from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Latvia, and Spain (Canary Islands) to collaborate and grow within Europe’s smart specialisation framework.
During the session, Daniela Georgieva from ARC Fund and Hanna Kim from IMP³rove presented the objectives of the SustainX Open Call, explaining the selection criteria, eligibility requirements, and benefits for participating SMEs. They highlighted that SustainX offers free access to tailored advisory services, innovation diagnostics, and capacity-building support designed to help companies:
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Integrate sustainability and digital transformation into their business models;
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Develop strategies for innovation scaling and market readiness;
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Connect with partners across Europe’s innovation ecosystems;
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Prepare for participation in EU funding schemes such as Horizon Europe and Interreg.
The open call, running until 15 October 2025, invites SMEs that are aligned with regional Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) priorities — particularly in green and digital innovation. Selected companies will receive hands-on support from innovation experts within the SustainX consortium, contributing to the broader goal of strengthening interregional value chains and fostering sustainable competitiveness.
The event also showcased how SustainX builds upon ARC Fund’s ongoing efforts to enhance the Bulgarian innovation ecosystem, promote business–research collaboration, and integrate local SMEs into European innovation networks.
By combining expertise from projects like RTIT and SustainX, ARC Fund continues to promote cross-border cooperation and empower enterprises to lead the twin green and digital transitions.
Apply here: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/SustainX_SME_Training_Open_Call
