Background Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up a large part of Europe’s economy. All but 1% of Europe's companies are SMEs, and SMEs generate 57% of economic activity in the EU. SMEs thus have a primary role to play in shifting the European economy to more sustainable production and consumption patterns. SMEs invest in innovation but their objectives often do not consider the environment or sustainability. The environmental impact of SMEs is hard to quantify, because SME activities are fragmented and useful data often does not exist. Initiatives are needed to improve the capacity of SMEs to develop and use environmental technologies. These initiatives are likely to be more successful if carried out on the basis of cooperation across particular territories, or 'ecologically equipped productive areas' (EEPAs), rather than if targeted at individual SMEs. Objectives The project will strengthen and promote the creation and development of EEPAs within the EU's economic system and regulatory framework, thus fostering sustainability. The project's main aims are to: Break down the information, technology and economic barriers that prevent SMEs from using environmental technologies as tools for environmental innovation; Develop instruments and environmental performance requirements that will promote the idea of EEPAs in Europe; Demonstrate good practice in EEPA management; Boost private and public demand for centralised environmental services in the EEPAs; Contribute to the development of a European Environmental Technology Verification system, through the creation of guidelines for measuring the performance and environmental benefits resulting from technologies used in EEPAs. Expected results: Comprehensive guidelines for an environmental technology evaluation scheme; An EEPA management model covering: i) working tools for EEPA managing authorities; ii) financial tools for supporting SME investment in green technology in EEPAs; iii) better good practice communication tools; The appointment of at least five EEPA managers (one for each area participating in the project); The testing of at least one environmental technology in the EEPAs.