A few words about SBA….

Slovak Business Agency (SBA) is the oldest specialized non-profit organization for the support of SMEs in Slovakia. SBA was founded in 1993 by a common initiative of the EU and the Slovak Government. It is the unique platform of public and private sectors supporting the growth of Slovak SMEs for more than 25 years. Currently SBA is employing more than 250 staff members located in all 8 geographic regions in Slovakia and offer various non-financial and financial services. SBA is also very active in international projects aimed on the SME support under the authority of the EU. Thanks to the membership in Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), SBA helps SMEs to make the most of the European marketplace.

Question 1. Tell us something about yourself and your role in the organization

Katarína Gavalcová

Katarína has been working at SBA for 5 years as a Manager of International Activities and since May 2021 as the Head of the International Projects Department. Katarína has been managing international projects funded by EU programs on different topics but her main focus is on the field of sustainability, social enterprises, digital transformation and female entrepreneurship.

Veronika Blizman Servilová

Veronika is a member of the International Projects Department team at SBA. She is performing activities related to the preparation and implementation of international projects co-founded by EU including project planning and monitoring, cooperation with the project team and foreign partners. She has experience with Erasmus+ projects and also with a research project funded by EEA and Norway Grants, while she has participated in projects focused mainly on social issues. Currently, she is part of the project team within the EU ECO-TANDEM PROGRAMME project.

Rastislav Amrich

Rastislav has a role of an expert in the field of sustainable tourism. As an expert in this field, he works for the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Slovakia, the Association of Tourism of the Slovak Republic, as an advisor to the State Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic. He is also the founder of the Institute of Climate Neutrality, within which they initiated, in cooperation with partners, the introduction of a national system of voluntary sustainability commitments for companies and municipalities - the Green Slovakia initiative.

Question 2. In which ways is your organisation committed to sustainability?

SBA recognizes the importance of the circular economy and sustainable behaviour. SBA strives to set up its processes and behave more sustainably at multiple levels. Internally, the International Projects Department initiated "SBA on the Road to Zero Waste", which brought together an ever-growing group of enthusiasts who are trying to prevent waste and save resources in their daily operations. SBA also sorts various types of waste for which it regularly receives green certificates.

SBA is also constantly initiating projects aimed at educating entrepreneurs in the field of green transformation and sustainability. Based on one of the international projects on this topic, SBA, as a co-founder, initiated the creation of the Circular Slovakia Platform - a private-public platform in which the public, private and third sectors work together to exchange knowledge and stimulate business in the circular economy.

SBA also signed a memorandum under the Green Slovakia initiative and joined the national system of voluntary sustainability commitments for companies and municipalities.

Question 3. Which are your personal motivations to join the team of EU ECO-TANDEM?

Small steps can add up to big results. In SBA we feel responsible for the environment and we are trying to do small steps to help the environment through our personal attitude and also participating in the projects related to the topic of sustainability and circular economy thanks to which we can raise awareness about its importance and support the green transformation of our local businesses and all society mindset. It is important to bring a solution that makes it possible to act and realize the vision of green tourism with concrete solutions and financial support, not only in the form of visions - and this is a big added value that EU ECO-TANDEM offers.

Question 4. Why do you think sustainability represents a big potential for the tourism industry?

Tourism has a great impact on the development of the local economy, it is strongly linked to other sectors of the economy with a large multiplier effect, so we personally consider it a very important sector for the decarbonisation of the economy.

Tourism sector has been very marked during recent years. We believe that implementing sustainable solutions can help get it up and running again.

Question 5. Why should a tourism SME join the EU ECO-TANDEM programme?

The EU ECO-TANDEM programme offers a great opportunity for tourism SMEs. It could be the first step in their way on their journey to become more sustainable or support their already existing initiatives. It allows to learn more about the tourism industry and its future through the ECO-TANDEM Academy and also to cooperate at the European level. Taking part in the project enables to expand the network of contacts for all participants and it also allows international cooperation of European SMEs and startups. Furthermore, the EU ECO-TANDEM Biz Programme offers financial support for tourism SMEs to finance their green transition and achieve more sustainable approach. Tourism SME has the opportunity to gain the solution and partner for the implementation of green innovation, including funding of up to EUR 13,000 per project.

Question 6. Describe the EU ECO-TANDEM programme in three words.
supportive, educational, transformative

Question 7. A last question! Which is your favourite type of sustainable vacation?

There are many possibilities for spending a sustainable holiday. Personally, we always like to try some of them and incorporate some sustainable aspects to our vacation e.g. buy local products, consume local food, hiking, using bikes. We also take into account the way of transport and when it comes to air travel, we try to stay longer and do not do it often. Rastislav's ideal vacation is at an eco -sea resort or eco-friendly hotel by the sea, where he is able to travel by electric car.