A Year in Review — What 2025 Meant for SMEs Seeking Innovation Partnerships and Digital Growth
In this article we are looking back at 2025, a year that challenged, inspired, and ultimately accelerated digital transformation. For SMEs and startups navigating a complex landscape tech innovation and policy changes, 2025 offered both milestones and lessons. At JOIST Marketplace, we’ve seen firsthand how these developments have reshaped the way organisations pursue innovation partnerships, access digital transformation services, and adopt future-proof solutions.
In 2025 Resilience and Innovation Took Centre Stage
This year marked a significant shift in the approach SMEs take towards business digitalisation strategies. With the European Commission placing greater emphasis on sustainability, inclusion, and digital maturity, more companies than ever turned to R&D outsourcing and innovation procurement to meet their goals.
We witnessed a surge in demand for tech and sustainability services, especially as businesses sought to integrate AI adoption for SMEs and automation solutions into their operations. Many of these companies were not just experimenting with tools but actively seeking service providers for advanced technology adoption, including cloud infrastructure, AI integration, and advanced analytics.
This Year Saw Policy Changes and Funding Momentum
One of the most impactful updates of the year came from ongoing EU research an innovation policy developments. With updated guidelines for Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme, SMEs gained better access to innovation funding mechanisms.
These shifts were accompanied by a louder conversation around European tech sovereignty. As digital infrastructure dependence on non-European providers raised concerns, the EU ramped up investment in localised tech ecosystems and platforms that promote trusted tech partnerships and reduce reliance on non-European digital infrastructure.
What this Year Meant for 2026
Looking back at 2025, the momentum built this year is setting the stage for what comes next. If this year has shown anything, it’s that both policymakers and the industry no longer see digital transformation as optional. It has rather become clear that what is needed is agile, secure, and impactful ways to solve innovation challenges online — and the platforms businesses and organisations choose to trust will play a defining role in their success.
If you’re planning your next move for 2026, JOIST Marketplace is ready to help you unlock innovation opportunities, identify the right partners, and scale transformation faster. For more information you can reach out to marketplace@joistpark.eu
