Archives: Актуелности

We are proud to present the report “Mapping report of the state-of-the-art good practices for tackling UHI in the Danube region”, a comprehensive document developed within the international project Be Ready, which focuses on identifying solutions to mitigate the effects of urban heat islands in cities across the Danube region. The report offers an overview of contemporary and innovative approaches in urban planning and design aimed at enhancing resilience to climate change.
The report is the result of joint efforts by project partners. Ten cities from across Europe participated in its development, including the City of Niš and the Science and Technology Park Niš, which contributed by identifying and mapping good practice examples at the local level. In addition to an analysis of the current state and challenges, the report provides concrete recommendations and solutions for mitigating the UHI phenomenon in urban environments.
This mapping report brings together the latest technical solutions, community-based approaches, and policy frameworks that can reduce the risks of urban heat islands in the Danube region.
An integral part of the document is an Annex with detailed descriptions of good practices that have been identified and documented as inspirational models for other cities in the region and beyond. These practices include a variety of approaches — from the implementation of blue and green infrastructure and urban design solutions to participatory planning and community engagement.
This report represents an important step toward strengthening the resilience of cities to climate challenges and promoting knowledge exchange among stakeholders from different European countries.

👉 The report is available HERE

 

The 9th Forum of Advanced Technologies – TechMomentum, was held on 11th and 12th June at the Science and Technology Park Niš, and once again confirmed its position as one of the most important events in the fields of innovation, technology, and smart development in the region. Over the course of two days, the Forum brought together more than 1,000 visitors, over 150 speakers, within 70+ sessions, distributed in 10 thematic zones, with more than 50% of the speakers being women.

Organized in cooperation with the Startup Center Niš, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia – Regional Chamber of Commerce Niš, RISC Zubin Potok, the City of Niš and with the support of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, the Forum focused on the most important issues of modern society: how to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence, how to increase the capacity for technology transfer from science to industry, how to build a successful innovation district, and how Serbia can strategically strengthen its global position through sustainable and smart development.

In addition to the central panels, presentations, and international delegations, the Forum offered numerous pieces of interactive content, intended for direct support to innovators and entrepreneurs. In the zones dedicated to startups, specialized workshops were held, led by representatives of Microsoft Garage and the Innovation Fund, focused on product validation, business model development and access to support programs. In cooperation with NALED, speed dating between startups and VC funds was also organized, which enabled networking and concrete discussions about potential investments, as well as presenting opportunities for cooperation and exporting innovative products to the Nordic market.

“TechMomentum brings continuity and also new energy. Through concrete discussions about systemic challenges and examples of good practice, we build a common understanding of the development directions that Niš and all of Serbia should follow,” said Milan Ranđelović, Managing Director of the Science and Technology Park Niš.

The contents of the Forum were also enriched through a podcast zone, implemented with the “Zalet Inovacija” (Innovation Rush) project, which hosted inspiring conversations with ecosystem leaders – startup founders, researchers, investors and decision-makers. These conversations documented not only experiences but also visions of the future development of the domestic technology scene.

The significance of the Forum is also confirmed by the presence of high-ranking guests and institutions – among which were the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, the Embassy of Canada, representatives of the EBRD, UNDP-A, BIO4 Campus, the Institute of Nuclear Energy, the Institute of Chemistry and Metallurgy, the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, the BioSense Institute, as well as experts and policymakers from several European and regional countries. Their presence contributes to the internationalization of the event and the connection of the domestic ecosystem with global innovation trends.

The head of this year’s Forum, Miloš Grozdanović, emphasized that the Forum is not just a conference, but an event that, for the ninth year in a row, brings together people with knowledge, experience, and capacities to create change and improve the innovation environment of Serbia:
“We connect startups, scientists, companies, and institutions in one place. It is a space where concrete ideas are transformed into joint initiatives and strategic directions.”

This year’s edition of the Forum also emphasized the importance of balanced regional development through innovation, including sessions on the role of local startup hubs, the importance of early financing, and integration with European innovation networks.

TechMomentum 2025 demonstrated that Niš is not just a host for innovations – but a vibrant hub, ready to lead changes in the future of Serbia and the region through collaboration and knowledge.

In order to be ready to present at leading international technology conferences – How to Web, Web Summit, Slush, before the actual trip, selected startups went through a structured and intensive preparatory program as part of the “STARTUP QUEST: Going Global” initiative. The preparatory program was designed to systematically train teams to effectively present themselves on the global stage, clearly position their products, and establish quality business contacts.

The program was implemented in two blocks, with the first part taking place in the spring, while the continuation of the activities is planned for September, after the summer break. The central activity of the first block was the Conference Readiness Bootcamp, which was held on May 29 and 30 on the Science and Technology Park Niš premises. Live work was a key part of the concept, enabling direct interaction with the lecturer, practical work, and networking among the teams participating in the program.

The Bootcamp was led by Faris Šehović, an international expert in business development and sales, with significant experience in working with global companies and startups that have successfully entered international markets. As one of the founders of the domestic startup Orgnostic, which was later acquired by the American company Culture Amp, Faris shared concrete, practical knowledge based on his own experience with the participants.

During the preparatory program, startups worked on defining clear goals for their appearance at conferences, improving pitches adapted to different formats and audiences, developing effective networking strategies and approaches for subsequent communication, as well as strengthening online visibility and personal and corporate branding. Special attention was also paid to the practical aspects of preparation and logistics, so that teams could fully focus on business opportunities during the actual events.

The preparatory program conceptualized this way ensured that startups went to international conferences not only as participants, but as clearly prepared and positioned actors, ready to make the most of their presence at global events and concretize opportunities for further growth and internationalization.

Following the closure of the public call for participation in the Launcher program, which generated great interest and attracted 108 applications, the first phase began with 20 carefully selected startup teams. Over the next five weeks, these teams will be working intensively on developing their ideas through a structured educational process and practical exercises.

Phase 1 of the program focuses on defining and developing startup ideas, with a special emphasis on validating the problem and shaping a clear value proposition. Teams go through eight educational modules that guide them from an initial idea to a sustainable business model. The education is based on the principles of the Running Lean methodology, which allows startups to systematically test business assumptions, identify key risks and receive feedback directly from users.

“We are very pleased with the large number of applications received for this year’s Launcher program cycle, especially since they come from different parts of Serbia, including regions from which we have not had representatives before. This shows us that the entrepreneurial spirit is growing and spreading, and it is a strong incentive for us to build the program even more carefully.”

Launcher is designed to provide early-stage startups with concrete and comprehensive support exactly where they need it most. Teams are provided with a structured educational process that guides them through key steps – from problem identification and validation, through market testing, to defining a minimum viable product (MVP).

“In addition, through regular sessions with experienced mentors from the business and technology community, participants receive concrete advice, support, and guidance that help them turn their ideas into viable solutions. We look forward to working with this diverse and talented group of teams in the coming weeks,” stated STP Niš.

The first phase of the program ends in July with the presentation of results at the Demo Day, when teams present their progress to the Commission. On the basis of clearly defined criteria, a decision will be made on which teams move on to the second phase of the program, which lasts up to five months, being an intensive development period focused on market preparation and further scaling.

The goal of the Launcher program is to provide early-stage startups with systemic support, help them develop solutions with real market potential, and contribute to the development of sustainable technological entrepreneurship in Serbia – with a special focus on the territory of AP Kosovo and Metohija.

*The program is being implemented by STP Niš in cooperation with the Startup Center Niš, the Regional Innovation Center Zubin Potok, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Niš, and the Faculty of Diplomacy and Security, with financial support from the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, the City of Niš, and the company Fazi,co-funded by the European Union through the European Digital Innovation Hubs (S4AI_Hub) project. 

The Forum of Advanced Technologies, one of the leading regional events in the field of innovation, technological development, and entrepreneurship, which has been traditionally held in Niš for nine years, expanded its activities to the territory of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija this year for the first time.

In cooperation with the Regional Innovation Startup Center RISC from Zubin Potok, the Science and Technology Park Niš organized the first Innovation Technology Forum – Smart Tech, with the aim of supporting the development of the innovation ecosystem and empowering young talents in this region.

The forum program included current topics such as: building an innovation ecosystem, the role of universities in cooperation with industry, applications of artificial intelligence in local startups, the development of innovation centers, as well as mechanisms for financing innovations.

Smart Tech is a strategic initiative aimed at connecting young people, educational institutions, and businesses, through the promotion of modern technological trends and entrepreneurial skills. By providing insight into examples of good practice, support opportunities, and perspectives in the domain of innovation, this event set the foundation for the long-term development and encouragement of the technological community in AP Kosovo and Metohija.

*The forum was realized by the Innovation Center Zubin Potok, STP Niš, the Startup Center Niš, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia – Regional Chamber of Commerce Niš, and the City of Niš, with the support and patronage of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia.