A Regional Network of Knowledge and Collaboration for More Sustainable Business
After two years of program development in Serbia and strong interest from small and medium-sized enterprises in sustainability topics, the Sustainability Academy is expanding its activities to the Montenegrin market this year. Through cooperation with the Montenegrin Employers Federation (UPCG), the program now brings together lecturers and participants from Montenegro as well, further strengthening regional exchange of knowledge, experience, and practical solutions for more sustainable and resilient business practices.
The Sustainability Academy is a free educational platform designed for small and medium-sized enterprises that want to improve their operations through sustainability principles, corporate social responsibility, and ESG standards. The program was launched in 2023 in Romania as part of the regional “Sustainable Futures” initiative, with the support of The Coca-Cola Foundation, and is currently implemented in five countries across Central and Eastern Europe.
“From the beginning, the Sustainability Academy was designed as a regional platform that connects organizations, experts, and SMEs around a shared goal: building more sustainable and resilient businesses. Our role at Social Innovation Solutions is to create the partnerships and regional cooperation needed for this exchange to happen in a practical and accessible way across Central and Eastern Europe,” said Andrei Georgescu, Head of International Programs at Social Innovation Solutions.
As sustainability becomes increasingly important for companies’ competitiveness, market access, and cooperation with large systems and international partners, the need for practical knowledge and tools in this field among SMEs is also growing. This is precisely why the Sustainability Academy develops content tailored to the real-life challenges companies face in their day-to-day operations.
“The Sustainability Academy in Serbia has significantly developed its programs, and through the expansion to Montenegro, the program has been further enriched with new regional perspectives and experts. We are especially pleased to see the strong interest of the SME sector in sustainability topics and the continuously growing number of satisfied users, which made the regional expansion of the program a natural next step,” said Neven Marinović, Director of Smart Kolektiv, the organization implementing the program in Serbia.
As the program partner in Montenegro, the Montenegrin Employers Federation has for years promoted corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, and social entrepreneurship through projects, cooperation with companies, and the “UPCG CSR Awards” initiative.
“Through my work with businesses, I have recognized the importance of corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable development as practical tools for improving business performance and competitiveness. Initiatives such as the Sustainability Academy represent a valuable opportunity for companies to gain further insight into these topics, exchange experiences, and explore concrete possibilities for their implementation in practice,” said Đorđo Borović, Head of Business Development at UPCG.
The program currently brings together experts from various business fields, company representatives, and entrepreneurs who, through courses, case studies, and practical tools, help small and medium-sized enterprises respond more effectively to modern business challenges and develop more sustainable and resilient business models.
Applications are currently open for full scholarships for TRANSFORMATOR 2026, an intensive two-month program within the Sustainability Academy designed for SMEs and civil society organizations that want to integrate sustainable practices into their operations and develop more resilient business models. Applications are open until 28 June 2026 via website.
The Sustainability Academy is available on the akademijaodrzivosti.rs and akademijaodrzivosti.me platform, where users can register and access educational content free of charge, developed in cooperation with local and regional experts.
About Smart Kolektiv
Smart Kolektiv is a civil society organization founded in 2003 and a pioneer in promoting corporate social responsibility and social entrepreneurship in Serbia. Since 2008, Smart Kolektiv has managed the Responsible Business Forum, the first network of socially responsible companies in Serbia, bringing together 30 large companies. The organization actively promotes social responsibility and the implementation of ESG principles in the business sector, while also fostering partnerships between social enterprises and key market players, including SMEs and large corporations. Smart Kolektiv provides direct financial and non-financial support and focuses on advocacy, partnership-building, access to finance and markets, and capacity building.
About the Montenegrin Employers Federation
The Montenegrin Employers Federation continuously promotes corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable development principles as key elements of modern business. A particularly significant contribution comes through the long-standing “UPCG CSR Awards” initiative, implemented since 2014 with the goal of recognizing and promoting companies that apply responsible business practices. Through projects and cooperation with businesses, the organization develops practical solutions that connect business success with social impact—from inclusive employment to the implementation of green and circular economy principles.
About Social Innovation Solutions
Social Innovation Solutions supports SMEs and NGOs across six Central and Eastern European countries by providing resources, opportunities, and tools for sustainable transformation strategies and technology transfer projects. Over the past eight years, SIS has supported more than 30,000 SMEs and 7,500 young people through educational programs, awarded grants totaling €450,000, and collaborated with over 150 organizations across more than 10 countries.
About The Coca-Cola Foundation
The Coca-Cola Foundation’s mission is to make a difference in communities around the world where The Coca-Cola Company operates and where our employees live and work. We support transformative ideas and institutions that address complex global challenges and leave a measurable and lasting impact. Our giving is focused on sustainable access to safe water, climate resilience and disaster risk preparedness and response, the circular economy, economic empowerment, and causes impacting our hometown community. Since its inception in 1984, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded grants of more than $1.5 billion in support of its mission to strengthen communities around the world.
