Acronym: SMARTFORM

Project Title: Accelerating EU mission on net-zero transition through community-led innovation

Duration: 48 months (01 May 2025 – 30 April 2029)

Description:

The SMARTFORM project embarks on an ambitious journey to accelerate the EU’s Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, uniting eight diverse regions across Europe in a shared commitment to sustainability. By fostering community-led innovation and policy instrument improvements, SMARTFORM aims to transform local and regional policies to effectively steer the transition toward net-zero emissions. The project brings together a coalition of partners from the Region of Western Macedonia (GR), Sligo County (IE), Bucharest (RO), Berane (ME), Edinet (MD), Trebinje (BA), Daugavpils (LV), and Beekdaelen (NL). At its core, SMARTFORM is a capacity-building and knowledge-exchange initiative that enhances regional readiness for climate neutrality through systemic innovation, cross-sectoral collaboration, and research-driven solutions.

SMARTFORM focuses on optimizing policy instruments by integrating the latest research and innovative solutions, enhancing local and regional capacities for climate neutrality through City-to-City Mentoring and Learning Programs, encouraging cross-sectoral cooperation by leveraging best practices across energy, mobility, tourism, circular economy, and agriculture, and empowering local stakeholders and communities by engaging them in decision-making through Living Labs and participatory governance models. To achieve these goals, the project leverages the Climate Transition Map framework of NetZeroCities, ensuring alignment with the EU Green Deal, Cohesion Policy, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The project embraces a holistic, cross-sectoral approach to climate neutrality by optimizing energy systems, promoting renewables, and enhancing energy efficiency; revolutionizing transport through the integration of sustainable urban mobility solutions; implementing circular economy models to reduce waste and promote resource efficiency; promoting green tourism by aligning local economic development with sustainability; integrating green infrastructure and nature-based solutions to foster climate resilience; and enhancing industrial processes and agriculture to ensure sustainable production.

HIT key role and responsibilities: CERTH/HIT is the horizontal mentor and advisory lead partner of SMARTFORM. It guides the 8 SMARTFORM cities on how to improve their climate neutrality policy instruments based on innovative solutions adoption while learning from each other.

https://www.interregeurope.eu/

https://www.interregeurope.eu/smartform

Contact persons:

Dr. Georgia Ayfantopoulou
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+30 2310 498451

Dr. Myrovali Glykeria
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+30 2310 498462