Piloting Phase of the Circular Transition Accelerator Begins Across the Danube Region

We are excited to announce the official start of the Piloting and Testing Phase of the CI-Hub Circular Transition Accelerator, a major milestone in our joint effort to support SMEs in their digital and green transformation across the Danube region.

What is the Piloting About?

The piloting phase marks the practical implementation of the Circular Transition Accelerator Program, a structured support scheme developed to help SMEs transition towards circular and sustainable business models using digital and green innovations.

Over the coming months (July to December 2025), all 13 project partners will be working with 5–6 SMEs each—the same companies that previously took part in the User Acceptance Model (UAM) testing earlier this spring. These SMEs represent seven priority sectors:

Food & Beverage
Electronics
Pharmaceutical & Chemical
Metal
Plastics & Rubber
Machinery & Equipment
Building Materials & Furniture

What Will Happen During Piloting?

During the pilot, SMEs will undergo detailed assessments using the same DATAMENSIO software and a set of four validated tools:

Circular Transition Indicators
Smart Supply Chain Readiness
Circular Value Creation
Technology Transfer Readiness

These tools will help identify gaps, opportunities, and tailored solutions that can boost their efficiency, reduce waste, and accelerate their digital and circular maturity.

Facilitators trained earlier this year will guide the companies through the entire process, including:

Maturity and needs assessment
Identification of best-fit digital and circular solutions
Preparation of individualized action plans
Matching with solution providers across the CI-Hub network

All activities will be supported through the B2GreenHub platform, our central ecosystem for tools, matchmaking, and solution sharing.

Why This Matters

SMEs often struggle to answer how to create circular value within their value chains. This pilot program provides hands-on support, real solutions, and tested methodologies to help them do just that—backed by the collective strength of a transnational accelerator network.

Moreover, the program's services and tools are designed for long-term use beyond the project’s duration, ensuring sustainable impact for the future.

Stay tuned as we begin testing, learning, and scaling impactful circular solutions—region by region, SME by SME.