Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa (JDU) is a leading Polish public academic institution with a strong commitment to research, higher education, and international cooperation. Established in 1971, it offers over 50 fields of study across six faculties, including Humanities, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, Art, Law and Economics, and Medicine. The university educates approximately 5,500 students with the support of 500 academic staff.

JDU is an active member of European academic alliances, such as the COLOURS Alliance - European Universities Initiative, and participates in the Deep Tech Talent Initiative. The institution is recognized for managing numerous EU-co-funded projects and has a modern artificial intelligence laboratory. JDU’s experience spans vocational training, digital transformation, and sustainability. 

Role in the project: JDU, in its role as project coordinator, is responsible for developing the digital and sustainability competence model. The university oversees the collaboration involved in designing and integrating educational materials driven by Gen AI. JDU manages the validation and pilot testing processes across the consortium. The university ensures effective collaboration across various sectors and facilitates the integration of project results into vocational training systems.

The Research Center for the Global Economy (RCGE), located in Poznań, is a private SME established by academics to advance research on the global economy, digitalization, and entrepreneurship. The organization offers consultancy, business simulations, and edutainment-based training, with a focus on supporting SMEs and driving innovation. 

RCGE collaborates with universities, chambers of commerce, and local governments. Its staff includes experts in project management, economics, entrepreneurship, and business automation.

Role in the project: RCGE leads research on skill gaps among SMEs, supports the creation of practical training tools, including business simulations, and organizes pilot activities with local businesses. The center analyzes pilot results and offers recommendations for improving the model and educational resources.

CONFORM is an Italian consultancy and training organization based in Avellino, offering advanced training, research, and management consultancy services to enterprises and public bodies. The organization specializes in digital innovation, sustainability, and vocational training, and has experience in developing e-learning solutions and managing EU-funded projects. CONFORM’s activities also include supporting entrepreneurship and fostering partnerships between academia and industry.

Role in the project: CONFORM contributes to the integration of management and digital skills within the competence model, co-develops educational content for SME leaders, and coordinates validation activities in Italy. CONFORM also supports the finalization of recommendations to ensure effective adoption in business education and training.

The Institute for Business Education (CPU), based in Ljubljana, is a key provider of adult education and professional training in Slovenia. Closely linked to the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CPU offers a wide range of seminars, training courses, workshops, and certification programs tailored to the evolving needs of the economy. 

The institute is renowned for its focus on applicable knowledge and skills, and it collaborates with both domestic and international partners on EU-funded projects. The CPU employs eight full-time staff and has a tradition of fostering productivity and quality in its business practices.

Role in the project: CPU contributes its expertise in vocational skills by identifying training needs and integrating relevant Slovenian platforms and resources. CPU supports the adaptation and piloting of educational materials for SMEs, organizes local training workshops, and gathers feedback from national participants to support validation and implementation.

PIMEC is the leading employers’ confederation for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Catalonia, representing over 100,000 SMEs. Based in Barcelona, PIMEC advocates for the interests of businesses, participates in shaping public policy, and supports the training and professional development of SMEs. 

The organization is experienced in EU-funded projects that address digitalization, sustainability, and labor market needs. PIMEC operates specialized commissions on sustainability and trade, collaborating with a range of stakeholders. 

Role in the project: PIMEC represents the interests of SMEs by ensuring their needs are reflected in the project’s competence model and educational materials. PIMEC pilots and validates the training content among its member companies, collects feedback to ensure industry relevance, and supports wide-scale dissemination of project outcomes.

TREBAG is a Hungarian private SME specializing in intellectual property, project management, and adult education. The company operates the Nagykovácsi Innovation Lodge and Wellbeing Living Lab, promoting open innovation, sustainability, and community education. Trebag develops digital training materials, gamified learning tools, and implements EU and national projects, especially in non-formal education, entrepreneurship, and digital skills. 

Role in the project: Trebag brings expertise in digital training and gamification, supporting the development and testing of interactive learning modules. Trebag engages with local communities and SMEs through living labs, collects user feedback from diverse participant groups, and supports continuous refinement of the project’s results.

Marche Polytechnic University (UNIVPM) is a prominent Italian higher education institution located in Ancona. Founded in 1969, it comprises five faculties: Engineering, Economics, Agriculture, Medicine, and Science. The university is recognized for integrating academic excellence with practical industry needs, hosting 17,500 students and over 1,200 staff. 

UNIVPM is highly experienced in EU-co-funded projects focused on SME training, sustainability, and digitalization. Its research addresses business management, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and circular economy practices. UNIVPM is a member of the SUNRISE Alliance - European Universities Initiative. 

Role in the project: UNIVPM offers its experience in SME development, sustainability, and digitalization by helping to shape the competence model, co-developing interactive business-oriented learning materials, and coordinating the validation process with Italian SMEs and learners. The university also ensures that the training content reflects current European trends and industry needs.

The University of Primorska (UP), established in 2003 and located in Koper, is a major Slovenian institution dedicated to research, innovation, and sustainable regional development. Its Faculty of Management specializes in social sciences, management, economics, and business law, while the Faculty of Tourism Studies covers the tourism sector. UP has extensive experience in national and EU-co-funded projects, particularly in entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and sustainability for SMEs.

Role in the project: UP plays a key role in research and design, providing input on entrepreneurship and digital education, and ensuring the model's relevance to regional business needs. The university co-creates educational modules, pilots training with SMEs, and facilitates the collection of feedback to refine project outcomes.