On March 28th 2025, TRUSTFOOD and DEDEP.eu joined forces to host a dynamic online workshop focused on two essential pillars of EU project success: effective communication and the active involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With a shared commitment to strengthening the European innovation ecosystem, the event highlighted practical strategies for empowering SMEs—particularly those in the agri-food sector—to engage more fully in EU-funded initiatives.
The session addressed a growing challenge in European project implementation: how to ensure that SMEs not only benefit from but also meaningfully contribute to research, innovation, and digital transformation efforts. In particular, the workshop emphasized the role of digital skills development, tailored outreach, and strategic dissemination in breaking down participation barriers.
TRUSTFOOD, an initiative under the Digital Europe Programme, is dedicated to equipping agri-food professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate and implement emerging technologies, especially blockchain. Through short-term, highly practical training courses, TRUSTFOOD aims to upskill and reskill SME owners, managers, and employees, enhancing their capacity to compete in a digitally driven marketplace.
DEDEP.eu (Digital Education and Dissemination for European Projects) complements this mission by offering expert insights into best practices for communication and stakeholder engagement in EU-funded projects. By leveraging both digital tools and human-centered strategies, DEDEP.eu works to make complex project outcomes more accessible and impactful for wider audiences—including SMEs that often lack the internal resources to navigate the EU project landscape.
Workshop participants had the opportunity to learn from real-world examples, explore actionable outreach tactics, and engage in meaningful dialogue about the importance of inclusive project design. From increasing transparency with blockchain solutions to designing communication strategies that resonate with non-technical stakeholders, the session delivered valuable takeaways for project coordinators, SMEs, and policy advocates alike.
Missed the workshop? You can watch the full session here: Watch on YouTube
By continuing to foster collaboration between projects like TRUSTFOOD and DEDEP.eu, the European innovation community moves closer to building a more inclusive, digitally empowered, and impact-driven future.
