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Description
The "ICT Greening Up Initiative" project is a dynamic endeavor with a primary mission to drive the transformation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Start-ups within the ICT sector, predominantly based in the Burgas region, towards a sustainable, climate-neutral, circular, and zero-pollution operational model. Its overarching aim is to bolster these targeted businesses, fostering innovation and enhancing their competitiveness.
To achieve this, the project offers a comprehensive support system that includes training and skill development in crucial areas such as sustainable business models, green innovation, circular economy principles, and resource and energy efficiency. The Green Up Initiative not only imparts knowledge but also facilitates networking opportunities, effectively harnessing the potential of these companies to drive innovation and improve their competitive edge. The project''s focus is on tangible steps that establish a strong foundation for the green transition. It accomplishes this through information dissemination, knowledge sharing, best practice implementation, innovation facilitation, and extensive networking.
Achieving these goals require a series of key activities. These include:
- Capacity Building for sustainable transition
- Project Management
- Project Publicity
- Awareness Raising and Motivation
Although this project does not have a donor programme partner, the cluster IKT-Norge is in close communication throughout the project. This cooperation that was established through the project promises to further develop in the frame of the new EEA and Norway Grants period.
Summary of project results
The rapid expansion of digital technologies increases the consumption of natural resources and energy, and generation of the GHG emissions and e-waste. According to the Eurostat, ICT sector accounts for 5-9% of electricity use and more than 2% of GHG emissions (as much as air traffic). The prognosis is that the ICT carbon footprint could increase to 14% of global emissions by 2040. The total stock of ICT hardware in operation is significantly growing, and this entails rapidly increasing amounts of raw materials consumed and waste generated by electric and electronic equipment (e-waste). According to the NSI, for the last ten years the quantity of generated e-waste in Bulgaria has doubled. At the same time only a small fraction of e-waste is properly recycled, and the principles of circularity are not well recognised and introduced in practice.
The transition to green, climate neutral, circular economy is a paradigm shift that requires fundamental changes in the way of functioning of the companies from the ICT sector. Today, in a period of combination of crises, serious obstacles stand in the way of greening up the ICT sector. Three main barriers identified by the project team that SMEs face when it comes to taking climate and circular economy action: access to technology; access to finance; and capacity/knowledge gap.
The Cluster of Information and Communication Technologies - Burgas (BG) conducted analysis which shows that companies from the ICT sector in Burgas region, and on national level, suffer negative consequences resulting from their high resources and energy intensity and unsustainable practices. However, most of the owners / managers of the ICT companies do not have information on the newly developed technological solutions for greening up the ICT sector, and do not recognise as priority for their companies the introduction of energy efficiency and waste prevention and reduction measures. There was a need to increase awareness, knowledge and technological skills, to enhance the transfer of good innovative practices to support companies to overcome the main sustainability challenges identified.
Overall, the project provided support, training and competence-building for companies from the ICT sector in Burgas region, on topics such as sustainable business models, green innovation, circular economy, and resource and energy efficiency. The key project activities have contributed to overcome the deficiencies identified at the project preparatory stage: need of awareness raising, lack of information, knowledge, and technological competence of SMEs and Startups from the ICT sector to transform the economy mode and introduce the principles of climate neutrality and circular economy.
An interactive and easy-to-follow Toolkit was elaborated and published on the website of the project – comprising methodologies and tools in a format that follows the different phases along the green transformation process and implementation of technological innovations. It provides a 7 practical tools assisting the ICT companies in their efforts to realize the transition to a circular, climate-neutral economy mode by increasing their competitiveness.
The study visit to Norway was one of the main activity within the project. It was organised in cooperation with the Norwegian partner - IKT Norge. The program was organized in a way to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and good practices from the Norwegian ICT companies, leaders in the green transformation, but also to give the opportunity of Bulgarian companies to share their achievements and to establish new business contacts and initiate business networks.
16 ICT companies officially signed the Greening Up Pledge and developed own environmental policies, focusing on circular economy and carbon neutrality;
The project has facilitated the networking and contributed to build upon the potential of the companies to innovate and to become more competitive.
The project provided support, training and competence-building on topics such as sustainable business models, green innovation, circular economy, and resource and energy efficiency. The Green Up Initiative has also facilitated the networking and build upon the potential of the companies to innovate and to become more competitive. The project proposed concrete steps to build a solid foundation for the green transition, through information, transfer of knowledge and good practices, facilitation of innovations, and networking. The key activities contributed to overcome the deficiencies identified at project preparatory stage: need of awareness raising, lack of information, knowledge, and technological competence of SMEs and Startups from the ICT sector to transform the economy mode and introduce the principles of climate neutrality and circular economy.
The Greening Up Initiative has contributed to the improved bilateral cooperation between Bulgarian and Norwegian business, researchers, institutions, and thus stimulates the business cooperation, networking, and transfer of innovative green practices and technological know-how between the Bulgarian and Norwegian ICT sector,
ICT Norway (IKT Norge) has also been involved in the project. IKT Norge prepared and organised the study tour in Norway as well as has identified and presented to the Bulgarian companies new green ICT products and technological innovations and solutions.