THE DECIDE PROJECT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND PARTNER MEETING IN NOVI SAD CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY

On 27th and 28th November 2024, Regional Agency for the Development of SMEs – Alma Mons from Novi Sad, Serbia, hosted two key events for the DECIDE project; DECIDE International Project Conference Circular economy & digitalization as tools for SME empowerment and drivers of development in the Danube Region and the project partner meeting.

The first day began with the conference, highlighting the intersection of circular economy and digital transformation. Milica Vračarić from Alma Mons and Severine Dommer together with Dr. Claus Hoffman from the lead partner organization, Centre for Digitalisation Böblingen District (ZD.BB), welcomed the participants.

Milica Vračarić welcomed the guests, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the event and announced the presentation of the strategic framework, past initiatives, projects and activities of the institutions that are the forerunners in the field of CE.

The concept of Circular Economy is not new in Serbia. The conference will have two parts, the first will be about the journey circular/bioeconomy in Serbia and the second presenting the use cases – best practices of circular economy. The Alma Mons participated in several projects focused on bioeconomy and circular economy from 2018, in the scope of Danube and Adria programmes. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina has been their partner – and technical and expert support.

Dr. Claus Hoffman set the tone for the conference, with his message:

The DECIDE project is focused on topics of current importance, the extreme weather conditions we witness in Europe and all over the world, motivate us to work harder on making our economy sustainable. INTERREG is a major flagship programme of the European Commission, fostering collaboration, mutual understanding and a shared spirit of unity. In these challenging economic and political times, a common approach is essential to safeguard our shared values—freedom and democracy. Dialogue, mutual respect, and collective problem-solving are hallmarks of INTERREG projects, promoting cross-border cooperation. We extend our gratitude to the hosts and DECIDE project partners for their active participation and commitment to this shared vision.

Mr Aleksandar Panovski, from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina that presents the Alma Mons strategic partner and is important stakeholder of the DECIDE project, expressed faith that the partner meeting and conference represent a great opportunity for the knowledge exchange about the CE, learning about best practices in CE in different sectors:

Today we gather with a clear purpose, to explore and exchange knowledge about CE and its application in business of SMEs. In the world facing the challenges of climate change and scarcity of resources, CE is not only an opportunity but also obligation. With innovation and sustainable practices, we can create more resilient, efficient and fair economy. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina has been dedicated to the development of entrepreneurship and supporting SMEs for a long time, they are vital for our economy. Their mission is to help companies grow, innovate and implement sustainable business models. The DECIDE project serves as excellent framework, improving business practices and empowering SMEs through digitalisation and circularity.

During the conference, presentations were given by important stakeholders and strategic partners of the project.

Dušanka Kalezić from the Centre for Circular Economy, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (Associated strategic partner of the DECIDE project) talked about the growing importance of clean and renewable energy, emphasizing the need for sustainable supply chains, traceability and sustainability reporting.

Nelli Amarfii-Railean from Alecu Russo Balti State University (USARB) and Martin Kinitzki (ZD.BB) presented work package results, including business model canvases, case studies and best practice showcases for Circular Economy Business Models.

Presentations were followed by a poster-style exhibition that showcased best practices in food, packaging, textile, smart city and battery area. Attendees had the opportunity to explore these success stories in a relaxed, exhibition-like format, encouraging dialogue and collaboration.

After the exhibition, hosts gave closing remarks and farewell to the external project guests. In the afternoon hours of the first day, DECIDE project partner meeting took place.

The meeting opened with a new tandem team approach aimed at enhancing collaboration and improving the quality of work package implementation. Partners then joined parallel sessions, one focused on toolbox and modelling and the other on innovative workshop methods to foster engagement and knowledge sharing.

The second day started with the Steering Committee Meeting aimed at assessing progress, refining strategies and planning future steps for the DECIDE project and continued with detailed sessions on work package progress and planning, with partners presenting key achievements and future plans.

The session highlighted important tools and resources, including the CE Value Chain Generator and the Service Catalogue, designed to support SMEs and streamline project implementation. Partners discussed their roles and contributions or the next phase, focusing on collaboration and strategic alignment.

Updates on quality assurance emphasized maintaining high standards, while insights into the communication strategy covered progress, future actions and audience engagement through social media analytics.

The day was concluded with two parallel workshops - one was the continuation of the Toolbox and modelling session from the previous day and in parallel the communication team from TICM led the workshop aimed at establishing best practices for content gathering for communication purposes, using the World café method. Both workshops were very productive.

The conference and the project meeting concluded with a heartfelt closing remarks and farewell session, led by Milica Vračarić from Alma Mons alongside Dr. Claus Hoffmann and Severine Dommer from ZD.BB. They expressed gratitude to all participants, partners and supporters, celebrating the successful exchange of ideas and reaffirming the collective commitment to the project’s goals. This marked a fitting end to a day of productive collaboration and future-oriented planning.

The DECIDE project—Digital Services for Circular Economy: A Toolbox for Regional Developers & SMEs—aims to identify and implement successful circular economy business models across the Danube Region. These models focus on sectors such as food, textiles, packaging, batteries, and smart cities, contributing to the EU’s Sustainable Development Goals. The project, led by Centre for Digitalisation Böblingen District (ZD.BB GmbH) from Germany, involves a transnational network covering seven EU member states and three neighbouring countries, with a total project budget of nearly 2.9 million euros.

The project remains committed to fostering a more competitive and innovative Danube Region by providing regional developers and SMEs with cutting-edge tools for implementing sustainable business models. The partner meeting in Novi Sad was a crucial step in this journey, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ideas that will drive future activities.