1. Povećati institucionalnu moć i kapacitete na području Tuzlanskog kantona i Brodsko-posavske županije za poticanje energetske tranzicije lokalne ekonomije. Pripremljeni strateški okvir omogućit će veći značaj zelenih investicija u dekarbonizaciji malih i srednjih preduzeća (MSP). Ovaj cilj će biti postignut zajedničkom prekograničnom akcijom koja će kreirati strateški, planski i implementacijski okvir za TK i BPŽ. Strateški okvir će se sastojati od preporuka, akcionog plana i finansijskih mehanizama za energetsku tranziciju malih i srednjih preduzeća na području TK i BPŽ.
2. Provesti prekogranično znanstveno istraživanje kako bi se precizno utvrdila trenutna potrošnja energije MSP-a na projektnom području, kao i ključni parametri njihove energetske efikasnosti. Ovo će poslužiti kao temelj za uspostavu klasifikacije energetske efikasnosti (energetski razredi A-G) koja će važiti za sve analizirane sektore u BiH i RH. Klasifikacija će se temeljiti na detaljnim energetskim profilima MSP-a, uz stvaranje bogate baze podataka o potrošnji energije, što će omogućiti bolje planiranje i implementaciju mjera za povećanje energetske efikasnosti.
3. Uspostaviti funkcionalne istraživačke centre zasnovane na znanju o energetskoj tranziciji preduzeća u BPŽ i TK. Centri za energetsku tranziciju pri Univerzitetu u Tuzli i Sveučilištu u Slavonskom Brodu će stvoriti inovativno istraživačko okruženje za studente i osoblje univerziteta, te potaknuti saradnju s lokalnim kompanijama za primjenu naprednih tehnologija energetske efikasnosti i obnovljivih izvora energije.

„SMART SoluTions in Energy transition of Productive businesses“ or abbreviated „SMART STEP“ is the 4.5 million KM worth cross-border project. The project is financed within the Interreg VI-A IPA cross-border cooperation program Croatia - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Montenegro 2021-2027 and belongs to the projects of the program priority "Green investments in environmental protection and efficient risk management", and specific goal 2.1 "Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions".

Project description:

The project is an efficient response to key obstacles for the urgently needed decarbonisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the project area, which have so far been neglected in the energy efficiency policies of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the Republic of Croatia (RO). SMEs have great potential for increasing energy efficiency in their business processes, but due to various obstacles, this potential has not yet been used.

The project will contribute to a smart, competitive, energy-efficient and carbon-neutral economy of the project area, which includes Tuzla Canton (TK) in BiH and Brod-Posavina County (BPŽ) in the Republic of Croatia. Through cross-border cooperation, key prerequisites for the decarbonisation of SMEs will be established, including a unique classification of energy efficiency for all analysed sectors of SMEs, determination of current energy consumption and potential for savings, as well as development of action plans and financial support mechanisms. Functional Energy Transition Centres will be established in Tuzla and Slavonski Brod, which will support the decarbonisation efforts of SMEs and enable them to apply advanced energy efficiency technologies.

The main beneficiaries of the project results will be SMEs, their organizations, universities, research institutions, local and regional authorities, and the general public.

Project objectives:

1. To increase the institutional power and capacities in the area of Tuzla Canton and Brod-Posavina County to encourage the energy transition of the local economy. The prepared strategic framework will enable greater importance of green investments in the decarbonisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This goal will be achieved by a joint cross-border action that will create a strategic, planning and implementation framework for TC and BPC. The strategic framework will consist of recommendations, an action plan and financial mechanisms for the energy transition of small and medium-sized enterprises in the area of TC and BPC.
2. Conduct cross-border scientific research in order to accurately determine the current energy consumption of SMEs in the project area, as well as the key parameters of their energy efficiency. This will be used as the basis for the establishment of the classification of energy efficiency (energy classes A-G) which will apply to all analysed sectors in BiH and the Republic of Croatia. The classification will be based on detailed energy profiles of SMEs, along with the creation of a comprehensive database on energy consumption, which will enable better planning and implementation of measures to increase energy efficiency.
3. Establish functional research centres based on knowledge about the energy transition of enterprises in BPC and TC. The Energy Transition Centres at the University of Tuzla and the University of Slavonski Brod will make an innovative research environment for students and university staff, and encourage cooperation with local companies for the application of advanced energy efficiency technologies and renewable energy sources.           

Project results:

A unique classification of energy efficiency (energy classes A-G) applicable to all analysed sectors in BiH and the Republic of Croatia. This classification is used to calculate the energy consumption of SMEs, determine the potential for increasing energy efficiency and set goals for reducing energy consumption. It also serves as a basis for recommendations on the implementation of measures to improve energy efficiency. The classification and databases will be accepted by the authorities and key actors in TCK and BPC as key tools for the development of action plans to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and as a mandatory tool for future planning of SME decarbonisation. The project results (classification, databases, etc.) will be taken over by the two universities for application and extension in their future scientific researches.