Project Green and Digital Transformation in Textile (short for GDT Textile) aims to form the 1st roadmap of digital transition for the Textile industry of Ukraine. The project is part of the 2nd phase of the program “Strengthening Micro and SME business associations in Ukraine” from UNDP, which includes 27 members business associations. Among them are the main participants of the GDT Textile project – the APPAU association, Ukrlegprom (national textile association) and the Ivano-Frankivsk CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry). The project period is 4 months, the budget is 28,000 euros.

The project’s problem concerns the low penetration of modern Industry 4.0 technologies into the production segments of Ukrainian industries, particularly the light industry. According to APPAU, this level is much lower than that of EU countries, and this gap is increasing. At the same time, companies are mostly unaware of this, and managers do not plan investments in digital and green transformations. Therefore, the project methodology is based on classical approaches to transformation and, in the context of very short period for implementation, considers 3 key tasks

1. Development and provision of digital maturity self-diagnosis tools for two categories of manufacturing enterprises – separately for Micro and separately for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and which will be integrated into the Action.Business portal.
2. Formation of the Roadmap for digital transformation of light industry (DC CT). Within the framework of this task, separate measures will also be carried out regarding the clearance of the green transition.
3. Conducting an information campaign on the implementation of digital and green transformation of industrial enterprises.

To fulfill these tasks, the participants plan the following actions

1. Selection and integration of self-diagnosis tools in Diya.Business portal. For this purpose, the tools already used by the EU countries will be used. For micro enterprise, this is the DMA tool recommended by the European Commission for all Digital Innovation Hubs. For SMEs, this is ADMA – a broader questionnaire that takes into account the specifics of manufacturing enterprises of larger scale than micro.
2. Widespread announcement of the prepared tools and distribution through the channels of participants and partners of the project.
3. Survey of enterprises, collection and analysis of data from Ukrainian enterprises (industry + region), comparison with EU countries – release of an analytical report. Conducting a mini-campaign among Ukrainian enterprises – increasing awareness of the real situation and main challenges through a series of publications and conducting online webinars.
4. Formation of a working group (WG) of leading representatives of the consortium partners and light industry for the formation of the 1st version of the Roadmap for digital transformation of the light industry of Ukraine. Holding of 3 strategic sessions – release of the 1st version of DK CT for light industry.
5. Conducting final events, including 2 mini-conferences with a presentation of the DC CT of the lung.

In the context of Industry 4.0-5.0 approaches, DC CT is a classic tool for accelerating digital transformation, which dozens of countries have already used. APPAU has been offering similar approaches in Ukraine since 2016, and in 2018, this tool was included in the National Strategy for the Development of Industry 4.0. However, there was no funding for such proposals during many years. Thus, this project and its results should become a reference point for all production sectors of Ukraine. 

The project is characterized by the unification of 2 leading national associations and a regional association of SMEs, and the participation of a key partner from the state – the Office for the Development of Exports and Entrepreneurship, which is also responsible for the Diya.Business portal. The appearance of a self-diagnosis tool on the portal will allow thousands of Ukrainian Micro and SMEs to quickly determine their level of digital maturity, and this is the first step towards their conscious, systemic transformation.

There are also partners of the project:

• The European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH Kyiv Hitech) is ready to provide consulting support to project beneficiaries regarding applied solutions for the digital transformation of SMEs.
• Clusters of the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance, namely the Podillya fashion cluster, which also has the dual transition issue for the Khmelnytskyi region on its agenda, and the circular economy cluster, which offers systemic solutions for the green transition for light industry.

Considering the strategic significance of the project for light industry, but also for other branches of Ukraine, the project is open to other partners. If you wish to become a partner, please fill out the registration form

This publication has been produced within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Project “Strengthening Business Associations of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Ukraine”, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine (UNDP) in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and with the support of Switzerland.

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the author. The views of the author(s) do not necessarily reflect the views of the donor.