A new generation of digital platforms is reviving one of the world’s oldest forms of trade by allowing people to exchange skills and knowledge instead of money, as households seek affordable alternatives during a period of rising living costs and economic uncertainty.

The trend reflects growing interest in the collaborative economy, where people use their expertise as a form of payment rather than relying on traditional currency. Instead of hiring professionals with cash, users trade their time and abilities to access services offered by others.

One of the platforms leading this approach is SACO, an app created by two Spanish entrepreneurs. Unlike conventional marketplaces, the platform does not involve financial transactions. Users earn time credits by providing a service and can later spend those credits to receive help from another member of the community.

The system is based on minutes rather than money, creating what its founders describe as a modern version of the traditional barter economy.

“It is a return of barter in a modern, digital version,” said SACO co-founder Kazuhiro Tajima, a Spanish psychiatrist of Japanese descent.

The app connects users with a wide range of skills and services. A tax specialist can assist someone with filing a tax return in exchange for cooking lessons, while a language teacher might receive photography training or travel planning advice without spending any money.

Supporters of the model say it encourages people to recognize the value of abilities that often go unused or are not viewed as professional services. Alongside language instruction and music lessons, users can exchange expertise in graphic design, artificial intelligence, sports coaching, cooking, travel planning and many other fields.

Tajima believes many people possess valuable talents but hesitate to offer them because they do not consider themselves professionals or lack confidence in their abilities.

“Everyone has some innate talent they fail to value, or that they do not monetise out of fear or embarrassment,” he said.

Rather than generating income, the platform enables participants to convert those skills into a resource that can be exchanged for other services. Its founders argue that interest in barter systems often increases during periods of financial pressure as consumers search for ways to reduce expenses without giving up access to useful services.

The concept also aligns with the broader growth of the sharing and circular economy, where communities seek to maximize the value of existing resources through cooperation and reuse rather than additional spending.

Beyond the financial benefits, developers say the platforms respond to another growing concern: maintaining meaningful human interaction in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. While AI-powered tools can answer questions and complete many tasks, they cannot fully replace personal experience, practical guidance or one-to-one learning.

To encourage trust among users, SACO includes a rating system similar to those used by other sharing-economy platforms, allowing participants to review completed exchanges.

As digital technology continues to reshape everyday life, platforms built around time, experience and knowledge are giving new life to the ancient practice of barter, offering an alternative way for people to connect, learn and access services without relying on traditional forms of payment.

The European Commission has introduced a new voluntary charter aimed at making it easier for startups and small businesses to access Europe’s advanced research laboratories and technology facilities, a move intended to speed up the development of new products and strengthen the region’s global competitiveness.

Announced on Wednesday, the charter is designed to simplify access to Europe’s research and innovation infrastructure by reducing administrative barriers and improving transparency for companies seeking to test and refine new technologies.

The Commission said the initiative would help startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) move innovative ideas from the development stage to the marketplace more quickly by providing easier access to world-class laboratories, testing centers and pilot facilities.

European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva said innovative businesses require access to advanced infrastructure to develop products and bring them to market at a faster pace.

She encouraged research and technology organizations across Europe to adopt the charter and support its principles, saying broader participation would strengthen the innovation ecosystem across the European Union.

The new framework comes as the EU continues efforts to improve its competitiveness against major global technology leaders, including the United States and China. European policymakers have increasingly focused on creating conditions that encourage innovation and help emerging companies expand within the bloc.

According to the Commission, one of the biggest challenges facing startups and SMEs is the difficulty in identifying available research services and understanding the costs and conditions for using them. Smaller businesses often lack the financial and legal resources needed to negotiate complicated agreements, placing them at a disadvantage compared with larger corporations.

The charter outlines six guiding principles intended to improve cooperation between research organizations and businesses. These include increasing the visibility and availability of research services, improving transparency and quality standards, simplifying contractual arrangements, ensuring secure management of intellectual property rights, providing support tailored to the needs of companies and promoting closer cooperation between research infrastructures through data sharing.

Research institutions and technology facilities that wish to participate can formally endorse the charter through an online registration process.

To support implementation, the European Commission said it will organize webinars and industry events while also creating a shared repository where participating organizations can exchange examples of successful practices and collaboration models.

The charter forms part of the European Union’s broader Startup and Scaleup Strategy, which aims to make Europe a leading destination for launching and expanding technology-driven businesses. The strategy focuses on improving access to finance, talent, research capabilities and innovation networks to help European companies compete internationally.

The initiative also complements the EU’s wider strategy for research and technology infrastructure and works alongside the existing European Charter for Access to Research Infrastructures. Officials said the combined measures are intended to create a more connected and accessible innovation environment, giving smaller companies greater opportunities to develop new technologies and bring them to market more efficiently.