Ljubljana Hub Highlights: SMEs at the Heart of Europe’s Sustainable Transformation
The Climate Change Summit – Ljubljana Hub, held on 20 October 2025 at the Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF), brought together business leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can shape global impact through local action.
Organized as part of the global Climate Change Summit initiative, which connects over 225 experts, 60 events, and 2.9 million participants worldwide, the Ljubljana Hub was co-organized by Circular Change, GoodPlace, Infinite Pure Solutions and the Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF), in cooperation with international partners of the global Climate Change Summit network.
SMEs at the Core of the Transition
In Slovenia, SMEs represent 99.8% of all companies, making them indispensable in achieving climate neutrality and energy efficiency goals. The discussions emphasized that sustainability is not only for large corporations, but a strategic opportunity for all businesses seeking competitiveness, innovation, and resilience.
While current efforts are mainly driven by national incentives and supply chain pressures, Slovenian SMEs are already implementing energy efficiency measures, small-scale renewables, and electrification projects. Speakers highlighted the need for a mindset shift — to view sustainability not as a cost, but as a long-term investment in resilience.
From Data to Action
Panelists and workshop participants underlined that the smart use of data can transform sustainability goals into measurable results — improving transparency, optimizing operations, and facilitating access to green financing.
Knowledge and competencies in sustainable and circular thinking were identified as critical. Importantly, as emphasized during the discussions, this does not mean acquiring entirely new expertise, but reframing existing skills through a sustainable lens.
Incentives and Collaboration
Real and tangible incentives — such as cost reduction, financing options, price stability, market access, and enhanced reputation — remain key motivators for SMEs.
Participants stressed that collaboration across value chains and multi-stakeholder partnerships are essential to accelerate decarbonization and foster innovation.
The Ljubljana Hub concluded with a clear message: the cost of inaction is higher than the cost of transformation.
By combining knowledge, policy support, and collaborative effort, SMEs can become true enablers of Europe’s sustainable transition.
The event “The Future-Proof SME: Shaping Global Impact from Ljubljana” was organized under the global Climate Change Summit framework by Circular Change, GoodPlace, Infinite Pure Solutions and the Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF), in cooperation with international partners of the global Climate Change Summit network.
