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The growing pressure for sustainability, decarbonization, and digitalization is reshaping how Slovak enterprises in the wood-processing industry build competitiveness. The paper examines how digital technologies, sustainable innovations, and value chains drive the transition toward a circular and climate-neutral economy. It focuses on Smart Industry, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which enhance resource efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and enable transparent supply-chain management. Emphasis is placed on innovation ecosystems—cooperation among firms, start-ups, and regional actors—in applying ESG principles. The findings underline the need for digitally driven and sustainability-oriented supplier–customer integration that generates synergies within smart, green regions of Slovakia, while noting barriers such as low investment in green innovation, limited technological readiness, and insufficient green skills. Positive examples, such as the SmartHead platform, show that linking technology with sustainability enables transparent ESG reporting, builds trust, and creates value for people, the planet, and business.
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