PROJECT SUMMARY
The InovCluster Academy – ESG and Competitiveness in the Agricultural Sector project is a training-and-action initiative coordinated by InovCluster and co-funded by Portugal 2030, which aims to upskill entrepreneurs and employees from 17 small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural and agri-food sectors in the areas of competitiveness and ESG Criteria (Environmental, Social and Governance).
To develop and structure the project, a preliminary assessment was carried out to determine the companies’ needs, which enabled the identification of critical issues justifying the intervention in terms of environmental, social and governance practices (ESG Criteria) that have a direct impact on competitiveness and integration into value chains.
The InovCluster Academy aims to upskill companies and workers by strengthening their technical, digital and management skills, thereby contributing to the modernisation, competitiveness and sustainability of the sectors included in the project – objectives that are aligned with the Portugal 2030 Strategy.
Competitiveness Goals: strengthening strategic management, economic planning and operational efficiency.
- Specific Goals: Improve pricing and margin setting using data; promote sales planning and stock control; maximise the potential of digital channels; enhance critical analysis of the market and competition (benchmarking); reorganise processes to drive financial results and differentiation.
ESG Criteria Goals: enable SMEs to integrate ESG in a gradual and tailored manner, promoting environmental sustainability, social responsibility and governance.
- Specific Goals: Understand ESG principles and their implications; implement environmental practices to improve efficiency and reduce waste; value people, equity and the community; create simple mechanisms for ESG planning, management and reporting; communicate transparently with stakeholders.
How it works:
The InovCluster Academy project combines training-action methodologies, through which it aims to promote the internal reorganisation of SMEs, strengthen economic and financial planning, digitise management and marketing processes, and progressively integrate sustainable practices and social responsibility.
Accordingly, the project divides and structures its activities around its two key areas of focus: Competitiveness and ESG Criteria.
Key activities – Competitiveness
- Initial assessment;
- Development of an action plan;
- Inter-company classroom training;
- On-the-job implementation and monitoring;
- Final assessment.
Key activities – ESG Criteria
- On-the-job maturity assessment;
- Development of an action plan;
- Inter-company classroom training;
- On-the-job implementation and monitoring;
- Final assessment.
DETAILS:
PROJECT CODE
Proj. nº 26525
CALL
COMPETE2030-2025-7 – SIQRH – Training-Action
PROGRAMME
PITD – Innovation and Digital Transition Programme
FUND
FSE+ – European Social Fund Plus
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE
4.4 Promote the adaptation of workers, businesses and entrepreneurs to change, active and healthy ageing, and a healthy and well-adapted working environment capable of preventing health risks
TYPE OF INTERVENTION
Qualification of business owners and company employees
TYPE OF OPERATION
Joint business training and training-and-action
BENEFICIARY
InovCluster – Associação do Cluster Agro-Industrial do Centro
START DATE
2026/09/01
END DATE
2028/08/31
TOTAL ELIGIBLE PROJECT INVESTMENT
527.309,99€
FINANCING RATE / AMOUNT
90% / 474.578,99€
PRIVATE CONTRIBUTION
52.731,00€
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)
