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Six companies from Niš, five of which are STP Niš member companies, are recipients of the StarTech grant for 2022!

The designated fund of 1,000,000 USD will be directed towards supporting startups with innovative ideas, the development of concepts and prototypes, implementation and commercialization of innovative products and services.

Who are the StarTech stars from the STP Niš community?

Nais Robotics – the innovative solution “Koško” which combines physical activity – basketball training, with an app that encourages competition among a wider group of players (www.kosko.rs)

Just Start – works on developing the City&Ме app which enables the communication between the city and the citizens, encourages activism and actions by citizens in the fields of recycling, bicycling, cleaning up spaces…

Core – nZEBrick – an innovative technical solution embodied in a heterogeneous asymmetric clay block for buildings of near-zero energy consumption.

Syncit Group – Athena AI – BI business platform that increases the efficiency of eCommerce stores

COMING-Computer Engineering will be working on improving the universal agriculture autonomous robot – AgAR.

These companies will continue to actively develop their innovative products thanks to the funding provided by the company Philip Morris.

The StarTech program for supporting the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises is a part of a three-year project for promoting innovations and technology development in Serbia conducted by NALED and financed by the company Philip Morris. The goal of the project is to accelerate the growth of Serbian companies, the transformation of the traditional economy into digital, and to provide support by means of funds and expertise, by working on improving conditions for encouraging innovations, and by promoting domestic innovative businesses.

As a public media service, the Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) has recognized the importance of innovations and formed the RTS Media Innovations (RMI), and as seen by its decision to have its representatives in Niš as well, it also recognized the significance of supporting innovative solutions, products, and services that STP Niš provides to its members, as well as those who are starting the development of their own innovative business.

A delegation of the Radio Television of Serbia headed by director Dragan Bujošević visited the Science and Technology Park Niš. The goal of the visit was the signing of the Agreement on Cooperation between RTS and STP Niš, and the Agreement includes the establishment of cooperation in the field of research, development, and innovations in digital media through the joint development of technology, programming and media application design, and the application of artificial intelligence in creating media tools.

The opening of an RMI division in STP Niš will enable:

• Better information for the public on the activities of STP Niš and other related or connected institutions, education institutions and projects in Niš and the region,
• More efficient cooperation forming in creating, promoting, and planning innovative media projects with the possibility of joint development in the function of a public media service,
• Integration of the Niš division into the RMI innovation center of creative industry and communication technology,
• The development of digital television, audio, media, and communications technology through the realization of new innovative programs and projects,
• The realization of joint education programs, conferences, and workshops, with the goal of affirming innovativeness and creativity, and improving media literacy.

This cooperation will be of great significance to young people attending study programs in the fields of journalism and communication science, art, information technologies, as well as media and production houses, IT companies focused on video game development, and also companies whose solutions are based on applying artificial intelligence.

Until November 15, innovative enterprises and teams can apply for the Early Development Program and the Innovation Co-financing Program intended for developing new products, services, or technologies that have a strong innovative potential and for which there is a need on the market.

The Innovation Fund has dedicated a sum of up to 3.2 million euros, and depending on the program, between 80,000 and 300,000 euros per individual project will be granted. For implementing the project, the enterprises are obligated to provide part of the funding from other, private sources as well. That way, the Fund participates together with the enterprises in research and the development of innovative solutions, which have a positive influence on the national economy as a consequence.

Project applications in all fields of science and technology and all industrial sectors are to be submitted via the portal, and you can check for the necessary documentation for application and detailed information about the public call on the Innovation Fund’s website.

During this week, we have hosted a delegation of the USAID Serbia Mission led by the director, Ms. Brooke Isham, in the Science and Technology Park Niš. We used the opportunity to present the work done by STP Niš so far, the results achieved during the previous two years, and the plans for further growth and development.

The main goal of the visit was the discussion on the topic of cooperation and the projects of pilot superclusters conducted by USAID Serbia, where the Science and Technology Park Niš is a partner. We introduced the delegation to the “Health Tech Lab” in the field of medicine and biotechnology, within which STP Niš had gathered a consortium and representatives of Southern Serbia.

The delegation also had a tour of STP Niš and visited some of the members, who presented the products they are working on, as well as their business with the American market.

Aside from the Med&BioTech supercluster, together with some of its companies, STP Niš is also a member of two more pilot superclusters (Web3&Blockchain and Gaming&VR), which are conducted by ICT Hub through the “Serbia Innovates” project, financed by USAID Serbia.

As a regional center of this part of Serbia, the City of Niš has recognized the significance of developing the innovation ecosystem and knowledge-based economy as its key opportunity and has, in cooperation with the Science and Technology Park Niš, prepared a support program for co-financing innovations.

Within the support program, the City of Niš has dedicated five million dinars, with a maximum amount of one million dinars per user for developing the innovative idea, with the obligation of employing unemployed personnel.

The Science and Technology Park Niš, which has been recognized as an example of good practice in promoting technology entrepreneurship and new innovative technological solutions, products and services in only two business years, will strive to provide the recipients of the funds with expert and infrastructural support in the process of developing their own innovative idea and business.

With their 55 member companies, STP Niš represents an innovative community which, by networking and providing expert and infrastructural support, will contribute to the accomplishment of goals and the positive results of potential winners of this Public Call’s funds.

The application for this Public Call can be submitted by startup teams of at least two members, as well as by micro enterprises registered and headquartered on the territory of the City of Niš, and were in business for less than three years at the time of submitting the application.

The expenses being financed are the expenses necessary for developing innovations (proof of concept and/or the commercialization of the innovation), which are:

• Expenses for salaries and/or expenses for compensation, including all relevant taxes and contributions,
• Expenses regarding the procurement of the equipment and tools for the development needs – expenses regarding market research,
• Expenses regarding research and testing,

whereas expert support (advice on developing the business model, legal and administrative advice, training, intellectual property protection, preparing investments, infrastructural support, mentorship work, visibility, and promotion), infrastructural support (office space, meeting, presentation, and video conference rooms, joint coworking space, access to equipment) and/or virtual membership will be provided by the Science and Technology Park Niš for free.

Development activities that can be performed within the project can include the demonstration of the technology, the creation of a prototype, piloting, testing, and validating new or improved products, processes, or services.

Through this innovation co-financing program, in cooperation with the Science and Technology Park Niš, the City of Niš will provide support for innovation development and the development of new innovative high-tech products and services, processes, and the creation of innovative companies based on knowledge, increasing competitive capabilities of business entities through financing innovative market-oriented projects, and by doing so, the goals for presenting the funds will be fulfilled.

The application deadline is September 10 2022, and interested parties can find all information, conditions, and the application form on the Local Economic Development Office of the City of Niš website.