Тип пројекта: Active 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

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Government of the Republic of Serbia are considering financing the expansion of modern science and technology parks in Serbia:

1. one in Niš with approximately 16,200 m² gross area
2. one in Čačak with approximately 12,800 m² gross area
3. one in Kruševac with approximately 11,000 m² gross area

The parks in Niš and Čačak were formally established as science and technology parks, while the existing facility in Kruševac is currently a Business Incubator, which will formally grow into a Regional Industrial and Technology Park after expansion.

It is expected that each development will be implemented separately through the newly formed Ministry for Public Investments of the Republic of Serbia, which is responsible for the implementation of state projects. After implementation, the Government will hand over the Project to the science and technology parks for operational management, which will manage the buildings in accordance with the standard rules prescribed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

The project falls under the “B” category in accordance with the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Issues Policy 2019.

A more detailed description of the works planned for construction and reconstruction, as well as the way to involve all stakeholders, is given in the Non-Technical Summary of the Project, which is available to the public together with the Stakeholder Involvement Plan.

All stakeholders have one month to submit feedback (their opinion and suggestions regarding the Project) from the date of publishing the Non-Technical Summary of the Project and the Stakeholder Involvement Plan. In addition, a Complaint Form is available to all stakeholders, through which they can address all problems related to the implementation of the Project (all information about the Complaint Mechanism can be found in the Stakeholder Management Plan).”

NTS Project Science Serbia
SEP Project Science Serbia
Public Complaint Form