From July 2024 to August 2025, the APO Secretariat and COE on IT for Industry 4.0 at the National Productivity Council (NPC), India, implemented the hybrid project Development of Training Manual on Industry 4.0 and Responsible AI Adoption for SMEs. The project developed an APO framework, certified training manual, and practical toolkit to help SMEs assess digital readiness and adopt Industry 4.0 and responsible AI practices. It also strengthened the NPC’s role as an APO COE and promoted flexible national and regional delivery models for capacity building. The initiative created an ethically aligned framework and tools supporting SMEs in digital transformation. It advanced the APO Vision 2025 by enhancing workforce quality, smart transformation, and SME engagement while fostering innovation, responsible technology use, and sustainable growth across member economies.