EEPA 2023 National Winners - Supporting the Sustainable Transition

We have already introduced you to the national winners in Category 1, Category 2, Category 3 and Category 4 of this year’s European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA). Today it is the turn of the national winners in EEPA Category 5 – Supporting the Sustainable Transition. From 301 projects that entered the national competitions in 30 countries, a total of 55 projects will now advance to the European stage of the competition, including seven projects in Category 5.

Category 5 – Supporting the Sustainable Transition recognises initiatives that support the sustainable transition of companies and target environmental aspects such as the circular economy, climate neutrality, clean energy, resource efficiency and biodiversity. This year, the national winners come from seven different countries and these projects will now compete for a place on the final shortlist, to be selected by the EEPA 2023 European jury.

Let’s get to know the seven national winners in Category 5. These are presented in alphabetical order by country below.

• Croatia: Modernizacija i povećanje konkurentnosti poljoprivrednih gospodarstava, solves the challenges agricultural producers face in storing products at a good price.
• France: Greentech Procurement Accelerator aims to accelerate the ecological transition through public procurement of green innovations.
• Germany: Founders Bay Startup Accelerator offers a six-month full-time programme that provides individual support to start-up teams through workshops, weekly meetings and teamwork on the island of Rügen. 
• Montenegro: REACH - Raising Environmental Awareness on Circular economy and natural Habitats of Cetinje and Lovćen is a pilot project that embraces inclusivity by engaging stakeholders and beneficiaries from diverse sectors.
• Netherlands: CIRCO – Creating Business through Circular Design equips companies and designers to (re)design products, services and business models to do business in a circular manner.
• Romania: Sustainable Futures is an initiative aimed to support sustainable development in Romania, with a focus on ten Sustainable Development Goals.
• Slovenia: Green Star is the first certificate for the successful introduction of sustainable - ESG principles and climate action in the business of companies.

All the EEPA national winners will receive invitations to the Awards Ceremony at the annual SME Assembly in Bilbao in November, where the winners in each category will be announced. This year the event will be co-hosted by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. At the SME Assembly, the jury will also announce the winner of the Jury’s Grand Prize, which can be from any category - the Grand Prize goes to the entry that the jury consider to be the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurship initiative in Europe.

If you would like to find out more about the European Enterprise Promotion Awards, visit the Promoting Enterprise News Portal, where we will also publish news on the national winners in the other EEPA categories. To stay up to date on EEPA news, make sure to check in to the portal regularly, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.