Project context/background:The COVID-19 crisis accelerated the need for modernisation and digital transformation of training systems in Europe. CIRCULAR SME SCAN (CSS) connects this with a circular economy which is a strategic approach to a more green economy in support of European economic recovery.Circular, sustainable, environment-climate friendly operation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) results in their competitive advantage over their rivals. However the over 25 million European SMEs encounter challenges in grasping these opportunities, as they do not have the knowledge, matching financial, non-financial resources that large companies have to make the due changes. As these enterprises constitute the main body of the business ecosystem in participating countries, a strategic alliance between them and circular economy experts has to be forged. This, especially in the COVID pandemic, generates awareness on and illustrates that outstanding quality, inclusive, digital vocational education tools on circular skills and competences are beneficial for this group.Project objectives:Main goal of CSS, in support of innovative practices in digital era, aims at creating a self-scan and learning platform that develops SME circular economy skills-competences by focusing on four main areas of entire SME circularity value chain (supply-acquisition, operation-production, retail, waste stream analysis).For the delivery of the main goal, specific objectives are strongly linked with Intellectual Outputs and are:1. Framing competence & skills of SME circularity context.2. Elaborating self-scan solution in support of SME circularity. 3. Creating learning content & platform.4. Deriving stakeholder guides to take full advantage of self-scan & learning contents-platform independently, as SME ecosystem stakeholders are drivers of the change process.Making available the digital self-scan, vocational education-training contents, curricula, and online learning platform are the novelties of CSS.Number and profile of participants:Project consortium of four partners represents HU, NL, ES and GR. CSS is led by a HU regional innovation agency (STRIA) with proven record of SME skills-competence mapping and development. NL partner (BDL) from one of the first Dutch circular regions, is a professional in person and digital vocational education and training (VET) organisation. ES partner (EOLAS) is an SME innovation and management consultant company that connects business, education and government, supports organisations. Tech partner comes from GR (AVACA), responsible for self-scan, learning platform solutions, IT developments of project communication-dissemination.Description of activities:CSS starts with collecting best practices and methodologies, applying focus group interviews to illustrate SME circularity skills, knowledge-competences. Following that setting up of circularity indicators, their measurement-evaluation is done with direct SME participation via validated self-scan tool. As result of these two main preceding activities, SME circularity digital learning content, online learning platform are elaborated and pilot validated. To conclude, all relevant project outputs are summarised in stakeholder guides that aim to sustain project results by impacting professional, political actors for strengthening VET activities in service of SME circularity.Project methodology to be used in implementation:CSS project methodology is available to partners and thus EU Member States, with efficient digital, online tools-materials promotes sustainable, circular and innovative behaviours within target groups. As a result SME professional profiles and, ultimately, productivity of EU Member States increases. Methodology builds on online solutions as in lifelong learning online approach is one of key competences included in EU legislation on digital competence. Methodology is “learning to learn” characterised (another of lifelong learning competence). It also provides for customization of the learning process itself.Short description of the results and impact envisaged:Direct project target group (SMEs) intends to improve their competitiveness through increased circularity, lay foundations for new (incl. online) business opportunities, innovative initiatives, cooperation among SMEs-entrepreneurs-circular experts.Indirect target groups or stakeholders of dissemination activities are those with whom SME owners-staff and entrepreneurs will cooperate when making their business more circular in a digital era. They are impacted by awareness raising, dissemination, engagement.The potential longer term benefits:Project dissemination activities increase awareness on circular operation of SMEs, build brand and identity within target groups and their audiences. By providing targeted, digital, online information on SME circularity, CSS creates deeper understanding, latter being the other longer term benefit for target groups.