The Green Industry Innovation Accelerator (GIIA) project, implemented by the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST), celebrated the successful conclusion of its project with a final conference in Sarajevo on March 24, 2026. Supported by the Czech-UNDP Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals through the Challenge Fund and funded by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, GIIA has demonstrated how collaboration among academia, industry, and young innovators can accelerate Bosnia and Herzegovina’s green industrial transition.
The final event gathered over 100 participants, including representatives from industry, the academic community, the innovation ecosystem, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Attending the conference were Renaud Meyer, UNDP Resident Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Czech Embassy in Sarajevo, represented by Her Excellency Mrs. Ambassador Jana K. Lolić Šindelková. The conference highlighted the project’s results and opened a platform for dialogue on sustainable industrial transformation and the development of green value chains.
Practical Tools for Industry Transformation
Throughout the project, GIIA focused on translating EU sustainability and climate requirements into actionable strategies for local industries. The centerpiece of this effort was the development and pilot-testing of the Greening Value Chain (GVC) Readiness Assessment Methodology, the first practical framework of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tested in collaboration with Heidelberg Materials Cement BiH, the methodology allowed companies to evaluate their sustainability performance, identify gaps, and plan concrete steps toward decarbonisation, digitalisation, and circular economy practices.
Youth and Innovation in Action
A highlight of the conference was the presentation of winning solutions from the GIIA Hackathon. Mobilizing 118 innovators, the hackathon produced three structured solution concepts with potential for further development and commercialization. Participants addressed pressing industrial challenges, including emissions tracking, circular use of construction materials, and strategies to enhance SME engagement in green value chains.
The showcase emphasized the role of young innovators as key drivers of sustainable development and industrial modernization, demonstrating how practical solutions can emerge from close collaboration between talent, industry, and academia.
Industry and SME Readiness
The conference featured a panel discussion examining SMEs’ readiness to implement green value chains. Experts shared insights on challenges such as access to finance, technical capacity, and regulatory adaptation, while also highlighting opportunities in digitalisation, innovation, and collaborative partnerships that can help SMEs strengthen competitiveness in European markets.
Partnerships Driving Sustainable Development
Speakers stressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration. Representatives from UNDP and the Czech Embassy highlighted how international development support, combined with local expertise and leadership, can foster innovation, improve competitiveness, and help align Bosnia and Herzegovina’s industries with EU sustainability standards.
Looking Forward
While the GIIA project has formally concluded, its impact is expected to continue through the partnerships, methodologies, and innovation pipelines it has established. By linking assessment, innovation, and collaboration, the project sets a model for sustainable industrial transformation, demonstrating that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s green transition can be both practical and opportunity-driven.
