The three-year AI4SMEs project presented its outcomes and practical artificial intelligence (AI) applications developed by Hungarian small businesses at a closing conference held in Budapest on 4 November. The event was organised by the Hanza Parliament and the National Association of Industrial Associations (IPOSZ).
Funded by the European Union, the project ran from December 2023 until November 2026 and involved six partner organisations from five countries: Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Hungary. The consortium aimed to make the knowledge and tools needed to apply AI accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Outputs produced during the project
Based on needs assessments, the partnership developed training programmes, instructor and entrepreneur educational materials, and practical guides. The emphasis was on producing concrete, usable resources that SMEs can apply directly in everyday operations.
A distinctive element of the IPOSZ initiative was actively identifying artisans and small businesses in Hungary that are already applying AI successfully, and sharing their experiences as practical examples. A competition was organised to highlight these examples, and the winners were announced at the conference to draw attention to replicable approaches.
How SMEs use AI in practice
The practical use cases presented at the conference covered several areas, from preparing quotations and document processing to inventory planning. Speakers stressed that while AI can substantially speed up and support these tasks, professional human oversight remains necessary to verify results.
Németh László, President of the National Association of Industrial Associations (IPOSZ), underlined that even the smallest enterprises need accessible, practice-oriented knowledge and hands-on support. Max Hogeforster, President of the Hanza Parliament, outlined the international cooperation behind the project: the partnership connected chamber and training specialists abroad with domestic university experts and providers to demonstrate both the opportunities and pitfalls of the technology.
Knowledge sharing and dissemination
The project’s results will be shared through a network that covers 74 institutions across 13 countries. Hungarian-language guides and training modules have been prepared and are available through IPOSZ, providing additional resources and downloadable materials for SMEs.
The closing conference also allowed entrepreneurs to consult directly with AI service providers and project experts, facilitating the translation of pilot applications into everyday business use.
Why this matters
By packaging training and practical examples, the three-year programme helps smaller companies benefit from AI without having to embark on costly proprietary developments. The project prioritised hands-on training and real-world case studies so that SMEs can integrate AI into their processes more quickly and with greater confidence.
Further materials and Hungarian-language guides are available from IPOSZ: https://www.iposz.hu/palyazat/ai4smes-a-jovot-formalo-projekt/
