What Works for SMEs in Circular Transition? A Multi-Country Comparative Analysis of Development Tool Effectiveness
Author : Campean Emilia Maria, Ștefan Bodi, Grigore Pop
Abstract : This paper presents a multi-criteria comparative analysis of six categories of development tools deployed within the Circular Innovation Hub project (CI-Hub), an Interreg Danube initiative engaging 13 implementing partners and 74 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across 13 countries. Drawing on empirical data from the program’s piloting phase, we evaluate solution providers, B2GreenHub/Green Path Academy tools, free online tools, in-house/advisory approaches, grants and funding support mechanisms, and software tools across five performance dimensions: adoption speed, real and perceived productivity, cost-benefit ratio, ease of use, and scalability. Our findings reveal that no single tool dominates across all dimensions, but that a phased, precision-matched deployment strategy – beginning with free digital tools for universal engagement and advancing toward targeted expert interventions and software solutions for higher-maturity SMEs – consistently outperforms generic or multi-tool approaches. Free online tools achieve the highest composite score when cost is factored in, while B2GreenHub/GPA tools deliver the most consistent program-wide productivity and the broadest sectoral coverage. Software tools generate the highest individual KPI gains when precisely matched to a specific operational gap. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.74) between ease of use and KPI improvement is identified, reinforcing the centrality of facilitator skill in tool deployment. Sector specific patterns are documented across seven industrial sectors, and three partner typologies are shown to systematically favor different tool strategies. Recommendations for future large-scale circular transition project design are provided. Index Terms Circular Economy, SME Support Tools, Multi-Country Study, Development Tool Effectiveness
Keywords : Circular economy, Circular Innovation Hub, SME support tools, multi-criteria analysis, development tool effectiveness, digital transformation, business innovation, productivity improvement, scalability, Interreg Danube.+
Conference Name : International Conference on Circular Materials Management and Recycling (ICCMMR-26)
Conference Place : Virtual, Florence, Italy
Conference Date : 23rd Jun 2026
