EIT Community Hub Serbia

Donor: European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT)
Implemented by: EIT Food CLC North-East sp. z o.o.
Partners: NALED – National Alliance for Local Economic Development
Beneficiaries: National and regional institutions in the fields of innovation, education, science and business; Universities; Research and scientific institutions; Science and technology parks; Startups and scale-up companies; Industrial partners and chambers; Students, researchers and young innovators; Organizations interested in participating in EIT Community programs
Portal: EIT Community RIS Hub – country section (eit-ris.eu)

The EIT Community RIS Hub Serbia was established to provide a unified, centralized platform connecting the Serbian innovation ecosystem with the European EIT Community. Previous EIT programs in Serbia were organized in a sector-specific manner (EIT Food, EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Manufacturing, etc.), which resulted in fragmentation and made it more difficult for researchers, innovators, and startups to navigate available opportunities.

The National EIT Community Officer (NALED) is responsible for coordinating all activities in Serbia and for actively managing implementation through clearly defined tasks, KPIs, and obligations set out in the Scope of Work document.

The EIT Community Hub in Serbia serves as a central point connecting innovation, knowledge, and business opportunities, contributing to sustainable development, quality employment, and long-term economic growth. The Serbian innovation ecosystem is becoming increasingly strong and capable of responding to global trends by developing new technologies and services that enhance company competitiveness and facilitate access to international markets.

The Hub brings together key innovation stakeholders — startups, researchers, companies, investors, universities, clusters, and public institutions — creating an environment in which collaboration accelerates growth and development. As a single contact point for EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), it enables access to programs, funding, expertise, and pan-European networks, while linking domestic needs with European opportunities.

Through these activities, the EIT Community Hub strengthens the Serbian innovation ecosystem, enhances collaboration among stakeholders, and fosters the development of new solutions in areas such as deep tech, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, creative industries, and sustainable technologies. In this way, Serbia is increasingly positioning itself as a dynamic and open innovation hub with significant potential for international success.

Objective of establishing the EIT Community Hub:

• Creating a single contact point for all innovation ecosystem stakeholders

• Strengthening cooperation between KICs, institutions, and industry

• Increasing access to EIT programs

• Enhancing Serbia’s regional visibility within European innovation flows

• Increasing participation of startups, students, and institutions in EIT programs

Project goals and expected results

Main objectives:

• Establishment of a functional and visible EIT Community Hub in Serbia, in line with EIT standards

• Connecting the Serbian ecosystem with European innovation flows, strengthening cooperation, and creating new partnerships

• Increasing participation of Serbian startups, students, and researchers in EIT programs and improving access to funding and training opportunities

• Supporting national and regional institutions in identifying and utilizing EIT instruments

• Collecting data and local insights contributing to Cross-KIC strategies and the development of regional innovation policies

• Increasing the visibility of the EIT Community through communication activities, events, and media promotion