Тип пројекта: Active projects

Program name: Program for the Establishment and Development of Innovation Incubators in Scientific Research Organizations (SROs) in the Republic of Serbia

Project leader: Four projects where the leaders are: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Niš/Faculty of Electronic Engineering in Niš/Faculty of Technology in Leskovac/Faculty of Technical Sciences in Kosovska Mitrovica

Project partners: Science and Technology Park Niš

Project budget: Total value: 24,000,000.00 dinars: individually: 5,000,000.00 dinars/6,000,000.00 dinars/5,000,000.00 dinars/6,000,000.00 dinars

Financier: Innovation Fund

Project goal: The main objective is to establish and increase the capacity of an innovation incubator within SROs, with a special focus on supporting the development of startup teams and the commercialization of their innovative ideas. The project aims to foster multidisciplinary cooperation and networking between members of academia, startup teams, and industry, with the aim of improving the innovation ecosystem in the region.

Project activities which STP Niš is responsible for:

• Development and implementation of the Innovation Incubator Capacity Building/Development Program
• Development of a Work Methodology proposal
• Continuous provision of advisory and expert support to the incubator team during the implementation of project activities

Project leader: Startup Center Niš

Project partners: Science and Technology Park Niš, Regional Innovation Center Zubin Potok

Financer: Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation

Project goal: The project “STARTUP QUEST: Going Global” aims to enable the participation of up to 10 startups from Serbia, with a special focus on supporting startups from the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, at important international conferences and fairs.

Project activities: STP Niš will, after issuing a public call, conduct a selection process and select up to 10 startups that will be given the opportunity to participate in international conferences or fairs that provide significant opportunities for networking and presenting innovations in priority areas. The conferences will be carefully selected to ensure relevance to market needs and the potential for startup development.

As a project partner, STP Niš will organize a preparatory program in the form of workshops, focused on key topics necessary for a successful appearance at international events. The program will provide startups with tools and knowledge for effective networking, presenting their innovations, and building strategic business relationships.

Participation in these conferences will enable startups to access new markets, connect with potential partners and investors, and position themselves within the global innovation ecosystem.

Project name: Serbian European Digital Innovation Hub on AI (S4AI_HUB)

Project leader: Science and Technology Park Niš

Project partners: Science and Technology Park Čačak (STP Čačak), Innovation Center of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Belgrade (ICEF), Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research and Development of Serbia (IVI), Center for Digital Transformation (CDT), Ni-CAT Cluster and ICT Hub

Project budget: EUR 1,700,000.00

Financier: European Union (Digital Europe Program)

Project goal: The Serbian European Digital Innovation Hub on AI (S4AI_HUB) project represents a central place for the development of applicable solutions and values ​​that artificial intelligence and Industry 5.0 bring to the business environment of Serbia. As an initiative supported by the European Commission, S4AI_HUB supports startups, small and medium enterprises, and public administrations in understanding, integrating, and implementing AI technologies, helping them adapt and thrive in a dynamic and competitive business environment. The project aims to enable startups, small and medium enterprises, and public administration to design and implement strategies and solutions based on artificial intelligence and Industry 5.0. This way, organizations can improve their products and services, ensure long-term relevance in the market, and strengthen their position in an era of accelerated technological development. The project actively contributes to the development of an innovative business community in Serbia, committed to creating sustainable solutions and opportunities for the digital future.

Project activities:

• Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA) – involves identifying how technology can help business development
• Skills and Training – support in developing the necessary skills and knowledge in an advanced digital and business environment
• Test-Before-Invest – Test-Before-Invest provides access to opportunities and resources within STP Niš
• Access to Finances – the S4AI_HUB team actively helps in finding financial solutions to address challenges

Project leader: Startup Center Niš

Project partners: Science and Technology Park Niš, Regional Innovation Center Zubin Potok, Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, City of Niš, Fazi ltd., Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Niš, Faculty of Diplomacy and Security in Belgrade

Financier: Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, City of Niš, Fazi d.o.o.

Project goal: The goal of the program is to help early-stage startups develop their innovative ideas and become sustainable and successful in the long term, creating the foundations for innovative and stable businesses that will contribute to the development of technological entrepreneurship and strengthening the business scene in our region.

Project Activities: Launcher 2.0 will provide startups with comprehensive support through educational modules, mentorship, and financial assistance through two phases of the program. Through carefully designed topics and guidance from experienced business and technology mentors, teams will gain key knowledge needed for development, growth, and successful positioning in the market. In addition, grants will enable them to improve their solutions and accelerate the validation process.

Phase 1 – Idea Development and Market Validation

The first phase of the Program is aimed at defining and developing startup ideas, with a special focus on validating the problem and shaping a clear value proposition. Through a structured educational process, teams go through a series of thematic modules that lead them from the initial idea to a clear and sustainable business model. During this phase, teams go through eight educational modules and an intensive process of research, analysis, and adaptation of their solutions, to ensure the development of a product that truly meets the needs of users.

At the end of this phase, participants prepare for the Demo Day, where they present their work and progress, while the Committee, based on defined criteria, evaluates the teams and makes a decision on their further placement in the Program.

Phase 2 – Pre-incubation

After successfully completing the Demo Day, the selected teams move on to the second phase of the Program, which lasts up to six months and is a period of intensive work on the further development of their startup projects. At the beginning of this phase, teams fulfill administrative obligations first, after which they work according to defined project plans, with regular consultations with mentors from the business and technology spheres.

This phase allows teams to flesh out their solution, gain validation from the market, and become ready for the next development steps.

Project name: UrBan hEat islands REsilience, prepAreDness and mitigation strategY (Be Ready)

Project lead institution: Sofia Development Association

Project partners: Sofia Development Association (Bulgaria), DEX Innovation center z.s. (Czech Republic), Association Tehnopol of Galati (Romania), Chișinău Town Hall (Moldova), Municipality of Galați (Romania), Science and Technology Park Nis (Serbia), City of Niš (Serbia), City of Zenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (Slovenia), Pannon Novum West Transdanubian Regional Innovation Nonprofit Ltd. (Hungary), Capital City Podgorica (Montenegro), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Austria), Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (Slovakia), RICANY (Czech Republic), South Moravian agency for public innovation JINAG (Czech Republic), City of Kranj (Slovenia), Policy Consult Ltd (Bulgaria), Development agency North Ltd. (Croatia)

Project budget: 2.408.382,62 euros

Financier: Interreg Programme Danube Region, Programme co-funded by European Union funds (ERDF, IPA, ENI)

Project goal: The “BE Ready” project focuses on strengthening capacities for adaptation to climate change and disaster management related to environmental risks in the Danube region, specifically addressing urban heat islands (UHIs). In cooperation with 19 partners and 9 ASPs from 12 countries, the project introduces a new approach – “green acupuncture”, targeting small but effective, contextual interventions to combat UHIs in critical urban areas. Activities include testing solutions through “green”, “white”, and “blue acupuncture”, that is, interventions based on vegetation, innovative materials, and the use of water resources. Main results include methodologies and tools for UHI risk assessment, tested solutions in 9 pilot cities, a common strategy for improving climate change resilience, action plans, policy recommendations, and awareness campaigns. The project aims to effectively use joint knowledge for a better understanding of UHI effects and strengthening institutional capacities at the local and regional level.

Project activities:

• Providing research, assessment, and operational tools to local and regional authorities to better understand UHI, its causes and effects.
• Joint creation, testing, and validation of jointly developed solutions to mitigate the effects of UHIs in cities.
• Support to partner cities in the development and adoption of action plans for increased resistance to the effects of UHI with concrete actions that promote green, blue, or white measures.
• “Green Acupuncture” enables partners, both cities and knowledge partners, to take targeted, small but powerful, context-based measures to combat UHIs in critical urban areas.
• Pilot cities are testing solutions in three fields: “green acupuncture” (vegetation-based interventions); “white acupuncture” (based on innovative surfaces and materials); and “blue acupuncture” (new uses of water resources).
• The main results of the project include:
  • jointly developed and implemented methodologies and tools for UHI risk assessment, data analysis, and modeling at the city level;
  • jointly designed solutions to address UHI, tested and reviewed in an urban environment by 12 pilot cities;
  • a joint strategy for improving preparedness and resilience to climate change for local and regional governments in the Danube region;
  • action plans and transformative strategic outlooks for participants;
  • policy recommendations;
  • virtual training program with SPOCs;
  • awareness campaigns in 12 countries over a 30-month period.