From ideas to concrete results: small and medium-sized enterprises in Italy, Croatia and Slovenia take centre stage in the energy transition
European project REFINEE promotes innovative financial instruments to stimulate private investment in energy efficiency in SMEs, with initiatives inFriuli Venezia Giulia and Istria.
As part of the LIFE-REFINEE programme, “PMI Best Practice” competition promotes sustainable business models and rewards concrete energy efficiency projects developed by small and medium-sized enterprises.
What is the REFINEE “SME Best Practice” competition?
In each of the countries involved, Slovenia, Croatia and Italy, two SMEs will be selected that have distinguished themselves for having implemented innovative projects, products, services or processes capable of effectively promoting energy efficiency and sustainability.
The competition aims to:
- promote best practices and success stories in the field of energy efficiency;
- connecting companies with partners, associations and sustainability networks,
- raise awareness of the importance of sustainable and efficient energy use;
- increase the visibility of SMEs as ambassadors of sustainability, inspiring others with their achievements;
How does it work?
The selection process involves the applications of participating SMEs being assessed by panels of local experts, who will analyse the projects according to criteria of innovation, impact and sustainability.
At the end of the evaluation, two companies per country will be chosen as ambassadors for sustainable energy efficiency.
At the beginning of 2026, the selected companies will have the opportunity to feature in promotional videos produced as part of the LIFE-REFINEE project, thereby increasing their visibility and the impact of their initiatives at European level.
Why participate?
Participating in the competition offers SMEs the opportunity to gain recognition at both national and European level, highlighting their sustainable practices and successful projects.
It is also an opportunity to build new partnerships and collaborations with other companies and organisations committed to sustainability.
Furthermore, by participating, SMEs make a concrete contribution to the shared goal of accelerating the green transition in Europe.
How to apply?
- Download the registration form
Fill in the form with details about your company, your energy efficiency project/product/service and its impact. - Prepara i documenti giustificativi
Include relevant evidence such as energy saving data, carbon footprint calculations, photos/videos, certifications, or testimonials. - Submit your application
Send the completed questionnaire and supporting documents by 6 p.m. on 24/10/2005 to the email addressalessia.porcellini@regione.fvg.it - Assessment of the application
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of national experts based on predefined criteria (innovation, impact, scalability, sustainability). - Selection of winners
Two SMEs per country (Slovenia, Croatia, Italy) will be awarded as REFINEE Best Practice Ambassadors and featured in promotional videos. - The results of the selection process will be announced on 1 November 2025.
The energy transition is crucial, and this is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of your company, promote your energy efficiency projects and become a concrete example of sustainability at European level.
