This document discusses collaboration between SMEs and key partners for eco-innovation in the tourism sector. It outlines the mutual benefits of eco-innovation, including economic benefits like reduced costs and increased revenues, social benefits like community awareness and quality of life, and ecological benefits such as reduced emissions and optimized land use. Effective partnerships require clear agreements, aligned expectations, and win-win solutions that benefit both partners and their clients. Channels for collaboration include strategic alliances, co-opetition, joint ventures, and buyer-supplier relationships.

1. Module 3 - Collaboration with key partners for Eco-innovation
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which solely reflect the views of the
authors. The Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained herein

2. Unit of Learning outcomes
3.2 Mutual benefits of Eco-innovation

3. Learning outcomes
The learner will be able to define the economic, ecologic and
social benefits of Eco-innovative ideas in SMEs in the tourism
industry.

4. Benefits of Eco-Innovation for SMEs
in Tourism Sector
Eco-Innovation in SMEs and mutual benefits
of key partners cover different areas of
supply chain for eco-innovation in SME,
tour-operators, tourists, natural
environment resources, resident population
living quality, public sector awareness and
government participation;
SMEs Benefits
in Eco
innovative
supply chain :
Public
sectorand
Government
tourists
Resident
Population
Green
Industry
Natural
resources
Tourism
Service

5. Benefits
Social
EconomicalEcological
Mutual Benefits of Eco-Innovative Ideas with Key Partners

6. Awareness for eco-innovation between partners, healthcare
policy, clean and eco - friendly environment, products/materials
are important; high authority on the market, revenues; well
organized relationship between the partners and neighborhood.
Economical
Less energy costs
Less expenditures
for products/
materials
less waste costs
Increasing
revenues
Social
Eco Awareness;
Shared facilities.
Safety, high
quality of life
Ecological
Reducing
emissions
Reducing Carbon
Reducing dust
Optimization of
land use,
Efficiency of
energy
Quality of air, water
soils and life in a
whole
MUTUAL BENEFITS
Benefits of Mutual Ideas for Eco-Innovation are

7. The Tool of Economical, Social and Ecological Benefits
Measurement for all the Partners is the Business Plan
It makes possible to measure and to estimate value of eco –
innovation in SME

8. Social Benefits are Presented by
Public participation quality
Science and education
Life quality standards
Technology innovation
Construction costs
Regional cultural impact
Aesthetic benefit
Coordination of relationships
Ecological Benefits Indicators
Energy saving rate
Thermal comfort
Indoor health
Emission reduction rate
Indoor environment impact
Outdoor environment impact
Coordination of nature protection actions
National green development policy standard
Regional development policy
Ecological protection policy

9. • Right partnership agreements: Whether your partnership is with a
business or an individual, it is important for all the relevant parties to
have clear partnership agreements drafted along with legal counsel.
• Defining expectations: Many times new businesses fail to establish
their expectations from the outset leading to much confusion and
conflict later. An entrepreneur needs to ensure that he has shared his
expectations openly with his partner and vice versa from the beginning.
For Eco-Innovation in SME you should Manage the Mutual
Benefits with key Partners on the Basis of

10. Benefits
Right
Partnership
Agreements
Defining
Expectati
ons
Win-Win
Solution
Impact on
your
clients
Key actions toward the Mutual Benefit

11. Impact on your clients: when forming a key partnership, it is
important to evaluate your value proposition and your key
resources and make sure your partner is filling any gaps in either.
This can only be done by also evaluating how the partnership will
translate to the customer.
Win-Win solution: For a partnership is necessary to be healthy and
sustainable, there need to be visible gains on both parts.

12. Channels of Collaboration for Mutual Benefit
• Strategic alliances: these types of alliances are between non-competitors. So if you are working through different channels, you
can use both of them.
• Co-opetition: there can also be strategic partnerships between partners. Such a partnership will help spread the risk both
companies may take. It may also help when both partners are trying to do something new; additionally it could mean a confirmed
supply stream
• Joint-ventures: develop a joint venture in a new business. All partners can have a mutual interest in developing new business,
possibly due to the emergence of a new market or access to a new geographic area. All these organizations should provide some
inputs into the business for Eco - Innovation.
• Buyer-supplier relationships: these are the most common type of partnerships for eco-innovation in SME which assures that you
have a reliable source of supplies coming in and for your supplier this means they have a steady confirmed buyer for their
product.

13. Project web-page: http://eco-mode-project.eu/
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