Projects

Project lead institution: Science and Technology Park Niš

Project partners: Innovation Center Zubin Potok, Regional Innovation Start-up Center Paraćin, the Municipality of Sokobanja, Center for the Development of Jablanica and Pčinj Districts, Zip Center for Youth – Business Incubator, Business Incubator Kruševac, the City of Novi Pazar, Business Incubator Center Bor, the City of Vranje

Project budget: 44.990.000,00 dinars

Financier: Innovation Fund

Project goal: The goal of the Program is to establish the operation and raise the capacity of regional innovation startup centers, including startup centers, incubators, Smart City centers, and similar support organizations. The program develops the competences of startup centers for providing support in a consistent and organized manner, as well as for inclusion in an integrated system of support for innovation, with the aim of achieving self-sustainability for further work and functioning. The program achieves the integration of regional innovation startup centers with science and technology parks, with the aim of developing an innovative community at the local level, and with the function of systemic development of innovation as well as improvement of the innovation ecosystem on the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

Project activities: The plan of project activities should contain activities that will increase the capacity of regional innovation startup centers to perform the following tasks:

• Promotion of the regional innovation startup center in their local community in order to attract entrepreneurial (startup) teams and individuals who have an innovative idea.
• Development of entrepreneurial spirit among the youth by organizing various events
• Education and assistance to teams and individuals in business development and commercialization of innovative ideas, through familiarization with different business models, defining and researching the market, determining target users, sales and marketing plans, and growth and development strategies
• Assistance in generating, evaluating, validating, and testing ideas
• Networking through the organization and participation in events and meetings (meetups) with other subjects of the innovation ecosystem
• Provision of work space with the necessary internet connection where there is computer equipment, a room for meetings and presentations, offices, as well as other supporting equipment
• Mentorship by providing experienced experts in the fields of technology, innovation, and business who can provide answers to questions important for the development of a new innovative company (startup).
• Assistance in providing financial support for business development, through education about models and concrete sources of financing, as well as assistance for writing an application for obtaining funds
• Consulting in the fields of legal, financial, and administrative affairs, as well as issues of intellectual property protection
• Preparing teams for presenting a business idea to investors (Pitch Preparation)
• Assistance in prototype development and testing