Transformator, an innovative program dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) in achieving sustainable business transformation, was officially launched in early October. The program has been introduced in Serbia, Bulgaria, and Croatia, while in Romania, where it was initially developed, it is now running its fourth edition.
In Serbia, 39 SMEs and CSOs applied through a public call, out of which 12 were selected to participate in the two-month program. Through intensive courses, advisory sessions, and mentoring support, they will have the opportunity to transform their business models according to sustainability principles.
Transformator offers a combination of online sessions and live lectures, covering all key aspects of sustainable business practices. The first bootcamp, held at the beginning of October, lasted two days and enabled participants to define their ideas for sustainable transformation. The diversity of sectors represented by the participants enriches the program, enabling sustainable strategies to be viewed from different perspectives and providing space for experience sharing and future collaboration.
After two months of intensive training, selected participants with the most successful ideas will gather at the final event to conclude their experience and connect with participants from other countries. Two participants from Serbia, who developed the most successful ideas, will compete at this event with peers from Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania for the chance to receive financial support and additional consulting assistance provided by the program.
Transformator is part of the broader “Sustainable Futures” initiative, aimed at preparing SMEs for the challenges of the future. In addition to Transformator, participants have access to the Sustainability Academy, a free e-learning platform that offers fundamental knowledge on sustainable business practices and allows for self-paced learning.
The Transformator program was created with support from the Coca-Cola Foundation and was launched in 2021 in Romania by Social Innovation Solutions (SIS). Smart Kolektiv is the national partner for Serbia, and the program is implemented with expert support from the ESG Knowledge Hub.
