Opportunity for further development in one out of four most promising areas of technological innovation in Serbia
Project Serbia Innovates, realised by the ICT Hub with the support of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced the beginning of work on the creation of the first supercluster in Serbia by announcing a public call for interested consortiums (companies, start-ups and scientific institutions). Superclusters stand for the globally verified models in uniting stakeholders from the innovation ecosystem to emphasise cooperation in joint innovative projects.
A comprehensive survey showed that Serbia has ten domains regarding technological innovation. After analysing all relevant factors, the project adopted a decision to include four areas in the pilot superclusters: high technology in the agriculture and food industry, gaming environment and virtual reality, the Web3 and blockchain technology, as well as advanced solutions in medical technology and biotechnology.
Susan Fritz, USAID Mission Director in Serbia, recently stated:
“This year, we are celebrating twenty years of partnership with Serbia. We are investing in the economic development of this country to improve the innovation-based economy, consequently strengthening the competitiveness and Serbia’s developmental potential. Potential Serbia has in innovation is obvious, but it needs guidance. The empowering of the domestic economy to establish its basis should be anchored in focusing on specific domains of the technological-innovation ecosystem, the ones with the greatest potential”.
“The survey helped us gain insight and confirm the most promising domains. The global experience suggests that results should be tested in practice, in the real world. Our next assignment is to form pilot superclusters for each domain to test their real potentials. Therefore, we invite all interested consortium from these domains, who have great ideas and want to work on forming a Serbian innovation supercluster, to apply and test the real potential of their plans and teams. We will support them in the implementation of activities, capacity building, hiring experts from various fields, access to various sources of funding for innovative projects and marketing. The public call starts today and lasts until the end of February and all relevant information can be found on our website”, Aleksandra Popović, Serbian Innovates director, has said.
“As partners of the Serbia Innovate project, we conducted a nine-month survey, through which we identified domains that, combined with high technology, have the greatest potential for growth and are a source of competitive advantage in Serbia. In the selection, we were guided by parameters that prove the economic, technological and scientific potential for long-term creation of new solutions. On the other hand, we analysed their “spillover effect”, i.e. the positive external effects they can have on the economy and society. In addition to a detailed review of our strategic documents, insights into the global perspective of future technologies and statistical analysis, we conducted interviews with more than 130 key people for innovation in Serbia, contacted relevant actors in the innovation ecosystem and tested results through three focus groups”, said Branka Andjelković, co-founder and program director of the Center for Public Policy Research.
Four pilot superclusters are expected to start operating in the spring of 2022. Based on results, the one with the biggest individual potential will be selected to become the first Serbian supercluster during 2023. The winner’s domain will receive significant aid for the best possible positioning in the market, while the final goal is to make it entirely self-sustainable in 2025.
If you have an idea and possess infrastructure or knowledge, find partners and form a consortium to include: start-up, company and academic-scientific institution and apply for a pilot supercluster. Learn more about the pilot supercluster application process in these 4 domains on the project website srbijainovira.rs/javni-poziv.