How blockchain can boost resilience, transparency, and growth for SMEs

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lie at the heart of Europe's economy. Yet in the face of technological disruption, global supply chain volatility, and growing sustainability demands, these businesses often lack the digital infrastructure and skills to keep pace.

Recognising this gap, the Erasmus+ Block4SME project brings together a transnational consortium of academic institutions, private sector experts, and vocational training providers to equip SMEs with blockchain-based tools and skills. Through targeted training, open educational resources, and interactive simulations, the project helps SMEs unlock the potential of blockchain technology to modernise supply chains, improve trust, and boost long-term resilience.

Why blockchain – and why now?

Blockchain technology, best known for powering cryptocurrencies, offers secure, transparent, and tamper-proof digital records. But its potential extends far beyond finance. For instance, for sectors like agri-food and tourism, blockchain can enable:

• Traceable and transparent supply chains, crucial for food safety and provenance
• Streamlined transactions and trust, particularly in multi-stakeholder environments like hotels or logistics
• Ethical compliance, sustainability monitoring, and certification
• Improved customer engagement and data security

Despite its promise, the uptake of blockchain by SMEs remains low. A core barrier is the lack of accessible, sector-specific training - and that’s exactly what Block4SME project is designed to solve.

What is Block4SME?

Block4SME is an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership in VET (Vocational Education and Training) focused on designing and delivering a complete, open-access training framework that introduces SME professionals (initially in tourism and agri-food) to the practical use of blockchain in their sectors.

The initiative responds to EU priorities for digital skills, SME innovation, and green growth. It is aligned with the European Digital Strategy’s call to integrate edge technologies, including blockchain, into the business practice.

Who is the project for?

Block4SME’s training program and tools are designed for a wide audience, with an emphasis on the real-world application of blockchain in SMEs:

Target groups:

• SME owners, managers, professionals in the tourism and agri-food sectors
• Self-employed individuals and micro-enterprises seeking supply chain innovation
• VET trainers and vocational training centres looking to update curricula and delivery tools

In addition, Block4SME delivers value to the below groups, ensuring that blockchain adoption becomes not only technically possible but strategically meaningful:

• Policy makers and public bodies involved in SME support, digitalisation, or vocational education
• Professional networks (e.g., chambers of commerce, sector associations, trade unions)
• Tertiary education institutions, especially in business, ICT, or engineering fields
• The wider society, which benefits from more sustainable, efficient, and transparent local businesses

What does the project deliver?

The project includes the development and free public release of a comprehensive suite of open educational resources (OERs), available through the project’s online learning platform:
👉 https://elearning.blockchain4sme.training

• A number of valuable results have been already delivered, such as:
• A complete training curriculum, fully aligned with ECVET and ECTS frameworks
  Interactive e-learning modules using the H5P technology, enabling multimedia-rich, learner-driven experiences
• A functional cloud-based learning management system (LMS) based on Opigno, ensuring modern, scalable access
• Preliminary deployment of blockchain scenarios and simulation environments, which allow learners to explore business use cases in a safe setting

All materials are available in multiple languages and designed to be reused, adapted, and integrated into broader training or business development strategies.

The training curriculum: skills that matter

The training covers both foundational understanding and practical implementation, with sector-specific applications for agri-food and tourism. The structure is divided into six Units of Learning Outcomes (ULOs):

The Block4SME Consortium

Block4SME unites six organisations from five countries (Cyprus, Serbia, Turkiye, Belgium and Greece), bringing together academic expertise, technical know-how, and sectoral insight. Each partner brings both local reach and European perspective, ensuring the project’s content is both context-relevant and transferable.

What’s next? Free 5-day blockchain trainings in all partner countries

As the digital training content is now live, the next phase of the project includes the organisation of face-to-face training workshops in all partner countries. These will be 5-day intensive courses offering:

• Guided walkthrough of the online platform
• Live expert presentations and case study discussions
• Hands-on exploration of blockchain use cases
• Peer exchange and support
• Certification of participation and skills gained

The training events are ideal for:

• SME owners looking to future-proof their operations
• VET professionals updating their teaching portfolio
• Local authorities and policymakers seeking SME development tools
• Trainers and consultants in digital transformation

Want to participate?

📩Contact your local partner to register your interest.

Or reach us via our website and learning management platform:

🌐https://blockchain4sme.training/
📚 https://elearning.blockchain4sme.training

Let’s build blockchain capacity from the ground up, together. Let’s make our SMEs stronger, smarter, and more resilient. 

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 the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.