[RTS] Innovation to the stars - third StarTech open call launch

The StarTech program opened the third annual competition aimed at informal teams, startups, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, who want to invest money in the development of an innovative product, entering the domestic and foreign markets or transforming their business by introducing new technologies. All good innovative ideas can win up to $100,000, as well as mentoring support for implementation. The total value of the project for all three years is five million dollars.

Uroš Anđelković, associate for project management at NALED, as a guest on RTS's morning program, explained that the third competition will be open until May 3rd and for the StarTech program, first of all, micro, small and medium enterprises that are registered until December 31, 2020, but informal teams and startups registered after January 1, 2020 can also apply.

- Applications can be submitted through the website www.startech.org.rs, those interested can view the application, fill in the documentation, send it via email, and it will be registered and start further processing, Anđelković said.

The project is implemented by NALED together with the Government of Serbia with the financial support of the Philip Morris company, and provides an opportunity for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises and startup teams to apply independently, or in cooperation with the academic community and research centers, for grants to invest in the digital transformation of their business, research and the development of innovative products and services and their placement on the domestic and foreign markets.

- Our goal is to, in cooperation with the scientific and academic community, generate new ideas that have great potential and that can bring something new to all of us, as well as improving living conditions. I want to mention that a large number of previous applications and grants that we have already distributed were in the field of healthcare and biotech, Anđelković said.

In addition to financial assistance, innovative companies within the project also receive vouchers with around three thousand hours of consultant support for patent registration, compliance with regulations, export to foreign markets and application of new technologies. In the previous two cycles, StarTech has already helped 57 innovative companies to make their project plans a reality.

According to Anđelković, all 29 projects from the first cycle will soon be completed, while two months ago the implementation of 28 projects from the second cycle began. "We are very satisfied, the results are visible, we will start revising all projects, and we hope to share our successes with the general public," he said.

At last year's competition, ideas such as a self-sustaining ecological house, an anti-caries gel, a fire-extinguishing gel, a basket that returns balls after a shot, a smart toothbrush for dogs and a smart house for pets, breeding bees in your own home and smart bins for disposing of packaging received funds. The candidates were from almost all cities in Serbia: Belgrade, Niš, Novi Sad, Čačak, Zrenjanin, Kraljevo, Subotica, Bečej, Kragujevac, Jagodina, Boljevac.

With the support of StarTech, the first mobile CT scanner arrived on the American market, along with an innovative preparation for the fight against Helicobacter pylori. Also, the first software for detecting counterfeit branded products in online sales was created.

- The creators of this software have already boasted to us that they managed to find very large companies that are interested in using this program. That's why I want to encourage everyone who is interested to apply through our platform if they have any innovative ideas to make their dreams come true, Anđelković said.

The competition lasts for two months, and after checking all the submitted requests already in the fall, the innovators will be known who, thanks to this money, will be one step closer to realizing their dream. Until April 3, everyone has the opportunity to apply for professional support in writing the application, followed by the selection process, as well as field visits. The presentation of the projects before the expert jury will be organized, and the final awarding of grants is expected in the fall.

You can watch the recording of the guest appearance at the link.


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