40,000 euro grants and digitalization and ESG support for SMEs through xGrow, the program launched by the Sustainability Academy and Pluxee Romania
The xGrow program aims at the long-term development of the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises in four key regions of Romania, through the infusion of know-how and through direct non-reimbursable grants.
xGrow's objective is to provide Romanian SMEs with the necessary tools to respond effectively and relevantly to any economic context, based on the principles of digitization and sustainability.
Sustainability Academy and Pluxee Romania: global expertise, local impact
The program is the result of a strategic partnership between two entities with complementary expertise, designed to maximize impact in local communities:
Sustainability Academy is the first educational digital hub dedicated to supporting SMEs through financing, certifications and the development of integrated sustainability knowledge and strategies. The platform is a key initiative of the Sustainable Futures program, initiated by Social Innovation Solutions together with the Coca-Cola Foundation, founding partner, Pluxee Romania, strategic partner and BCR, main partner, functioning as a cross-border know-how vector and currently active in five countries.
Social Innovation Solutions (SIS) is an organization active in Central and Eastern Europe, accelerating systemic change for a sustainable and competitive future. SIS' mission is to create a critical mass of leaders, organizations and initiatives capable of responding to global challenges through action and collaboration. SIS runs educational and support programs dedicated to sustainability, innovation and leadership, including the Sustainability Academy, Transformer, or ESG Lab.
Pluxee Romania, leader in extra-salary benefits and solutions for increasing employee engagement at work, has been present on the market for over 26 years. Pluxee supports companies in attracting, motivating and retaining talent by acting as a trusted partner in a highly interconnected Business-to-Business-to-Consumer ecosystem, dedicated to creating a positive impact in local communities, supporting employee well-being and protecting the environment.
xGrow: concrete support for the transformation of SMEs
The launch of xGrow comes as a response to the need of SMEs to integrate their modern requirements of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and to adopt strategies of DIGITIZATION and of talent retention. By bringing specialized knowledge directly to local communities, the partnership contributes to the economic development of the targeted regions.
The targeted counties are located in regions with significant potential for growth and transformation: NORTH EAST (Iasi, Botoșani, Suceava, Neamț, Bacău, Vaslui, Galati, Vrancea)Center (Sibiu, Brașov, Alba, Mureș, Harghita, Covasna, Bistrita-Năsăud), West (Oradea, Arad, Timisoara, Hunedoara, Caraș-Severin) and South (Mehedinți, Dolj, Gorj, Vâlcea, Olt, Teleorman, Dâmbovița).
“Digitalization and sustainability are already priorities for the survival and growth of Romanian SMEs, especially in regions in full development. The xGrow program, developed together with Pluxee, our strategic partner, allows us to offer them concrete support – from personalized plans and consultancy, to direct grants of 40,000 euros – thus bringing national expertise exactly where it is most needed, to build more resilient, more competitive and more responsible businesses social.” – Ciprian Stănescu, President of Social Innovation Solutions.
Concrete support and direct investments for SMEs
Participation in the program is free of charge and is structured on three main components:
- Online learning groups with 2 cohorts, each with 7 interactive digital sessions, focused on vital areas such as sustainability, efficient operations, strategic finance, leadership and digitization. Each participating SME from the 4 targeted regions will complete the process with a personalized Transformation Plan and Investment Plan.
- regional events, during which the selected SMEs will be invited to present their transformation plans, and 4 of them will each receive a grant worth 10,000 euros. The events will take place physically, in 4 cities, Iasi, Sibiu, Craiova, Timișoara, they will be open to the local public, with educational components for them.
- Boot camp for the 4 finalist companies, an intensive offline training with personalized consulting sessions to accelerate the implementation of transformation and investment plans.
“In every local economy, SMEs represent more than simple businesses – they are at the same time employers, innovators and pillars of economic resilience. Through the partnership with the Sustainability Academy, Pluxee Romania supports entrepreneurs throughout the country, offering them the necessary support to manage the transition to a sustainable business model, based on long-term vision and responsibility.
Today, sustainability and digitization are no longer options, but essential conditions for growth and responsible leadership. Through this program, we offer SMEs tools, know-how and concrete resources to build stronger, more inclusive and future-adapted organizations — for the benefit of employees, local communities and the Romanian economy as a whole” – Gabor Olajos, Country Managing Director, Pluxee Romania and Bulgaria.
Along with the transformation program components for SMEs, the Sustainability Academy and Pluxee will also launch in February 2026 an online educational module dedicated to key topics from the Social agenda (S in ESG), including retention strategies, benefit packages and employee well-being.
The x Grow program calendar
November 2025: start of registrations
February 2026: announcement of selected SMEs
May 2026: Designation of grant winners
June 2026: organization of the dedicated bootcamp
The stories and journeys of the participants will be documented through case studies throughout the year to inspire other companies nationwide. This program, validated by the experience and expertise of the two partners, represents a direct investment in the future of local businesses, intended to shape the next success stories of the Romanian economy.
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