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Under the patronage of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, the Science and Technology Park Niš (STP Niš)
in cooperation with the Startup Center Niš and the Regional Innovation Center Zubin Potok announces the

PUBLIC CALL

for startups to participate in international conferences
within the “STARTUP QUEST: Going Global” program

1. Goal of the call

The goal of this Public Call is to provide comprehensive (expert, financial, and logistical) support to startups for participation in significant international conferences and fairs, in order to strengthen their position on the global market. Through the Startup Quest program, startups get the opportunity to:

• strengthen their international visibility by presenting at global events that bring together leading companies, investors, and experts.
• expand their business network through direct contacts with potential partners, clients, and mentors.
• exchange knowledge and experience with startup communities from different countries, gaining insight into the latest trends and best practices in their industry.
• enhance their growth potential through access to new markets, partnerships, and financing opportunities.
• strengthen their presentation and business positioning skills, preparing for international investment and market challenges.

The ultimate goal of this call is to provide promising startups from Serbia with support for internationalization, facilitate access to global markets, and pave the way for sustainable growth and development.

2. Who can apply?

This initiative is intended for startups in various stages of development, including:

•  early-stage startups, who are in the process of developing a minimum viable product (MVP), market testing and business model validation, as well as
• startups in later stages, who have already validated their business model, have a certain user base, and are preparing to scale and expand into new markets.

Micro or small companies in the form of a limited liability company (LLC) can apply to the Public Call, provided they are:

•  founded in the Republic of Serbia;
• not older than 10 years at the time of application;
• in private and Serbian majority ownership;
• developing an innovative product, service, or technology with potential for application on the international market;
• interested in scaling to the global market.

3. What does the program enable?

Selected startups will be provided with financial, logistical, and expert support through this program, so that they can fully prepare and successfully present at selected international conferences.
The program allows startups to:

• Coverage of direct participation costs*:
  Registration fee for participation in the selected conference.
  – Travel expenses (airfare or other mode of transportation, excluding local transportation).
  – Accommodation for the startup representative.
  *according to the conditions and standards defined by the organizer.

• Preparatory program for startups:

A preparatory program will be organized for the selected startups, with the aim of enabling them to better prepare for participation in the conferences. The program will focus on key aspects that can contribute to a more successful presentation of the startups, their positioning, and the utilization of the opportunities that these events provide.

4. Conference selection and participation conditions

Within the Public Call, each startup can apply for one of three international conferences, tailored to different stages of startup development:

1. How to Web (Bucharest, Romania; October 1-2, 2025) – intended for startups in the early stages of development.
2. Slush (Helsinki, Finland; November 19-20, 2025) – intended for startups in the early and more mature stages of development.
3. Web Summit (Lisbon, Portugal; November 10-13, 2025) – intended for startups in later stages.

Startups applying for the program are required to indicate one international conference they wish to attend in their application. The selected event should be aligned with their business goals and stage of development, in order to provide them with the greatest benefit in terms of networking, showcasing innovations, and accessing markets.
Each startup can receive support for the participation of one representative, who will be involved in all relevant event activities. The selected representative should be a team member who can competently present the startup, its product or service, and establish strategic contacts with potential partners and investors.

Important: The event selection is final and cannot be changed after registration. The selected representative will, upon returning from the event, be required to submit a report on the results of the participation and potential business opportunities that arose from the participation.

4. Selection criteria

The selection of startups that meet the requirements from point 2 will be carried out based on the following criteria:

•  Team quality and relevance
• Traction and market validation
• Size and attractiveness of the target market
• Growth and scaling strategy
• The strategic importance of participating in the conference

Additional priority in the selection process will be given to:

• startups from the ecosystem of regional innovation startup centers and innovation incubators that includes the Southern and Eastern Serbia Region, the Šumadija and Western Serbia Region, which are STP Niš partners (minimum 20% of selected startups);
• startups from the territory of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (minimum 10% of selected startups);
• startups that are STP Niš members (minimum 50% of selected startups).

These criteria ensure balanced regional representation and encourage the development of the innovation ecosystem in different parts of Serbia.

5. How to apply

Interested startups are to fill out the online application form located at the LINK.
Application deadline: April 9, 2025 at midnight.

6. Selection procedure

After the call closes, all applications received will be subject to an administrative check to determine whether they meet the formal requirements of the contest and whether all required documentation has been submitted. Applications that are incomplete or do not meet the basic criteria will not be considered.
All correct and complete applications will be forwarded to the Commission which will conduct a detailed analysis and assessment according to the established criteria. The total number of startups that will be selected to participate in the program is 10 at most, based on their potential for internationalization and the results of the evaluation.
If necessary, the Commission may organize additional interviews with the registered startups in order to gain better insight into their capacities and potential for participation in international events.

On the basis of the final assessment, a list of selected startups will be drawn up, and they will be notified by email by April 15, 2025. The selected startups will receive detailed information about further steps and obligations within the program. If any of the selected startups withdraw, the organizers reserve the right to invite the next highest-ranked candidate.

7. Additional information
All information about the Public Call can be obtained by email at info@ntp.rs.

The project “Startup Quest: Going Global” is being implemented with the support and patronage of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation.