Sustainable NI is proud to be a delivery partner in E-DATA (Enterprise Digitalisation And Transformation Alliance), an ambitious new project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The initiative will provide fully funded, bespoke digital transformation support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
E-DATA will help businesses overcome key challenges such as limited technical expertise, infrastructure constraints, and evolving workforce needs. With digitalisation now essential to business growth, sustainability and competitiveness, the project will support SMEs in adopting technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Working in partnership with Ulster University, Atlantic Technological University, Manufacturing NI, and Innovate-NI, Sustainable NI will play a key role in helping businesses harness digital tools to reduce carbon outputs, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen environmental performance.
Nichola Hughes, Director of Sustainable NI, said:
“We’re delighted to be part of this transformative initiative. E-DATA gives us a unique opportunity to work directly with businesses to show how digitalisation and sustainability go hand in hand. By helping companies measure, manage and reduce their energy use and carbon emissions, we can improve productivity, resilience and competitiveness — while supporting our shared transition to a low-carbon economy."
Through the E-DATA programme, Sustainable NI will:
- Help SMEs analyse their operations to identify opportunities for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions;
- Support the integration of smart and data-driven technologies that increase efficiency and reduce waste;
- Provide practical, hands-on guidance to embed sustainability and circular economy principles into business processes;
- Promote innovation and cross-border collaboration in building a greener, more competitive SME sector.
E-DATA’s co-design approach will ensure solutions are tailored to each business’s needs, empowering SME staff to continue their digital and environmental transformation long after the project concludes.
By bringing together partners from both sides of the border, the initiative aims to strengthen economic links, support shared learning, and build a more sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous future for all communities in the region.
