The GreenSET consortium successfully held its Third Steering Committee Meeting (SCOM3) on 20–21 May 2026 in Heraklion, Crete, hosted by Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH). Representatives from all partner organisations gathered to review the outcomes of the first round of pilot activities and coordinate the next steps in advancing sustainable tourism innovation across the Mediterranean region.
Following the completion of the first pilot phase involving nearly 30 tourism SMEs across nine partner regions, partners assessed the results and shared experiences from a diverse range of sustainable tourism initiatives. Pilot projects included a perfume experience inspired by the identity of Nicosia, a slow-travel pilgrimage route along the Croatian Camino, a circular economy initiative at a Cretan distillery, a walking tour in Venice inspired by flânerie, eco-tourism experiences around Skadar Lake, and several other innovative tourism concepts promoting sustainability and local value creation.
Building on feedback gathered from participating SMEs and stakeholders, the consortium agreed on refinements to the MED Sustainable Service Innovation Methodology (MEDSSIM) and its supporting tools. Discussions focused on the launch of the second piloting phase, which will expand the project’s impact by training Business Support Organisations across the Euro-MED region to apply and transfer the methodology within their local innovation ecosystems.
Partners also reviewed progress on the MEDSSIM certification scheme and the development of transfer strategies designed to ensure the long-term sustainability and uptake of project results beyond the project lifetime. Updates were provided on communication activities, stakeholder engagement, and preparations for upcoming dissemination events.
The next Steering Committee Meeting (SCOM4) will take place in November 2026 in Faro in Portugal, while the project’s final conference is scheduled for 2027 in Valencia in Spain. These milestones will support the finalisation of transfer mechanisms and expert certification frameworks, further strengthening sustainable tourism innovation throughout the Mediterranean region.
