The project will support vulnerable mothers in Germany, Türkiye, Greece, and Bulgaria – offering flexible, gender-informed training and digital upskilling to boost employability and inclusion in vocational education.
Key objectives:
- To strengthen participation and engagement of vulnerable mothers in VET programs, and to promote gender-based training, adaptable and relevant to the skills and gaps of the beneficiaries.
- To support innovative, personalised and flexible training in VET in Digital Upskilling specific for vulnerable mothers.
- To strengthen support in VET dedicated to the empowerment, employability and inclusion of vulnerable mothers.
- To contribute to professional development of VET trainers and engage all beneficiaries in the experimentation.
- To promote innovative pedagogies in VET for Vulnerable Mothers and encourage integration at policy-level.
The FutureProofTextiles project aims to support 40 SMEs in the textile industry as they navigate the twin transitions toward digital transformation and green sustainability. The textile sector, vital to Europe’s economy, faces significant challenges in adopting advanced technologies and sustainable practices, especially among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with limited resources. This project provides direct financial support, capacity building, and collaborative opportunities to empower SMEs and enhance their resilience, competitiveness, and innovation potential.
The project will offer €50,000 cascade funding grants to 40 SMEs—20 focusing on digital innovation (e.g., automation, AI, and data analytics) and 20 on green initiatives (e.g., circular economy practices, waste reduction, and sustainable material use). In addition to financial assistance, SMEs will benefit from training programs, mentoring, and access to a collaborative innovation space to foster idea generation and knowledge sharing.
Key objectives:
– Facilitate the adoption of digital tools and technologies to improve efficiency and productivity in the textile sector.
– Promote sustainable practices by integrating circular economy principles, reducing waste, and enhancing resource efficiency.
– Build capacity among SMEs through tailored training, mentoring, and technical support.
– Strengthen cross-border collaboration to create a connected and innovative ecosystem for textile SMEs.
Led by UNIWA and supported by a strong consortium of partners, including CS-POINTEX (Italy), GREMI Textiles (Spain), AECIM (Spain), Bulgarian Digital Cluster (Bulgaria), BCCI (Turkey), GW LLC (Ukraine), CCE (Ukraine), and BUTEKOM (Turkey), the project brings together technical expertise, regional engagement, and a shared commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Bulgarian Digital Cluster has developed a platform for a local producer of made-to-measure shirts. Through the platform the user can completely customize and order their shirt – selecting fabric, type of collars, cuffs, front part, pockets, back part, shirt bottom, sleeve placket, monogram, collar bones, measurement.
In 2022 Bulgarian Digital Cluster was an associated partner of the MPowerBIO project – a 30-month project (May 2020 to October 2022) receiving funding from the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme.
MPowerBIO has deployed a Cluster Capacity Building Programme for SME clusters, along with an integrated SME Business Support Programme for 350 selected SMEs from these cluster’s networks.
In September 2022 Bulgarian Digital Cluster participated in a physical exchange in Denmark in the project EXXTRA (EXcellence EXchange and Teaming-up between Railway clusters and ecosystems).
Bulgarian Digital Cluster took part in EU-Taiwan ECCP Matchmaking Event 2025
Bulgarian Digital Cluster took part in EU-Canada ECCP Matchmaking Event 2024
Bulgarian Digital Cluster took part in EU-Singapore ECCP Matchmaking Event 2024
