In January 2020, few people would have predicted that a virus would bring the world to a halt. Over two and a half years later, the world is only starting to recover from the devastation brought by COVID-19 with a greater appreciation for the need to build resilience. COVID-19 has shown that resilience matters and laid bare the ‘resilience divide’ between small and large firms. SMEs are less resilient to shocks because often they do not have key business fundamentals, necessary resources and are dependent to supply chain waves.

In this context, the SILEO project will focus on supporting the EU SMEs of the lighting-furniture sector to recover from the crisis, become more resilient to future shocks or crisis, be better prepared for disruptions in supply and value chains, more sustainable in their business operations and stronger connected to industrial and advanced technologies ecosystems. The project proposes direct financial voucher schemes, joint talent placement services and internationalization actions to accelerate the recovery of lighting and furniture SMEs, support them in becoming more resilient to future shocks, better prepared for disruptions in supply and value chains, greener in business operations and stronger connected to technology ecosystems through strategic partnering.

SILEO Eurocluster's mission is to support SMEs in identifying key suppliers and diversifying their supply chain, fully understand and capture the potential paybacks of advanced technologies, digitalization of processes and circular-led business models, as well as implement concrete financial support for knowledge building, advanced technologies uptake and partnering between lighting-furniture SMEs and the technology facilitators and suppliers.

SILEO project brings together 7 clusters from 5 different countries, with a total budget of 1.4 million of €, out of which 75% is targeted at lighting and furniture SMEs. SILEO is engaging partners from 5 countries: Italy, France, Spain, Austria and Romania, and also Poland and Belgium through ELCA (its PZPO & GLV members, Portugal Lighting Association and Czech Furniture Cluster – expressing interest to be addressed with letters of Support).

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.