IDEALIST

IDEALIST’s primary goal is to empower Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in three key industrial sectors: Energy-intensive industries, Aerospace and Defence, and Mobility, Transport & Automotive. These sectors are crucial to the European economy and face shared challenges, such as transitioning to sustainable practices, competitiveness in a context of limited raw materials and rising energy costs, and adapting to changing consumer habits. IDEALIST represents a strategic initiative aimed at bolstering the resilience and technological adaptability of SMEs within the European Union.  The project indeed aims to transform SMEs from passive observers to active participants in these changes, especially in response to global events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict initiated by Russia in Ukraine. IDEALIST focuses on three main areas:

1. Strategic Foresight: Developing tools and approaches to help SMEs anticipate and systematically prepare for change.
2. Technology Uptake: Addressing barriers to adopting advanced technologies and fostering collaborations between tech-forward and traditional SMEs.
3. Supply Chain Resilience: Identifying and mitigating critical dependencies and weaknesses to reduce the impact of disruptions on value chains.

The project will implement pilot projects to encourage collaboration across these ecosystems, using the Hack&Match method. It will also leverage the AGORA platform, led by EIT Manufacturing, to facilitate matchmaking and community building.