EIT Hub opened in Belgrade, Serbia becomes part of the largest European innovation network
The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), as an independent body of the European Union, today opened its first Hub in Belgrade, thereby bringing Serbia into the network of 24 countries across Europe working together to strengthen innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development. The new EIT Hub will allow domestic entrepreneurs, researchers and the academic community direct access to the support programmes for idea development, networking and financing offered by the organisation, it was said at today’s gathering held within the framework of the BioTech Future Forum.
“Opening the first EIT Community Hub in Serbia represents a long-awaited milestone and a significant step in reinforcing Serbia’s role as a growing centre of innovation in Southeast Europe and on the EU’s innovation map. This centre will have a key role in stimulating Serbia’s innovation potential. By combining resources, network and expertise, it will strengthen Serbia’s innovation ecosystem and assist its transition to a knowledge-based economy. With €90 million already supporting research, technology and start-ups, the EU will continue supporting reforms that make Serbia more competitive in Europe and beyond,” stated the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation, Plamena Halacheva.
Over recent years, the EIT has supported more than 10,000 innovative ideas, helped launch around 2,450 new products and services to the market and trained over 1.3 million participants. Thanks to early business development support, the companies and start-ups supported by the EIT today have a joint value of around €71 billion. Because of all this, the EIT is recognised as one of the most successful and active European investors and incubators in Europe.
“By connecting innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers, this Hub represents an important step towards a more inclusive and dynamic innovation ecosystem in Serbia. It will empower Serbian talent to grow, collaborate and connect with Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem. We are here to support you to turn your ideas into innovations for a more competitive and sustainable European future,” said Martin Kern, Director of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
According to him, the EIT’s work is carried out through nine Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) which connect organisations from across Europe and cover current themes such as climate change, digitalisation, food & agriculture, health, energy, manufacturing, raw materials, urban mobility and culture.
“In addition to mentoring programmes, networking with international investors and support in product market introduction, the EIT also offers activities at the master’s and doctoral study level, as well as professional development courses, encouraging the development of innovation, management and entrepreneurial skills, as well as mobility for researchers and students. Our programmes are open to all and precisely for that reason we want, through the EIT Hub in Serbia, which will be run by NALED, to bring these opportunities closer to as many domestic innovators as possible and help their ideas be heard across Europe,” said Ana Ilić, EIT Community Officer in Serbia.
The State Secretary at the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, Dr Marija Gnjatović, expressed her satisfaction that the EIT Community Hub Serbia will open its doors to our researchers, start-ups and companies to participate in Europe’s flows of knowledge, financing and cooperation.
“The state is not just an observer, but an active partner in this process. Our goal is to create a stable framework in which innovations can grow. With the opening of the EIT Hub, Serbia gets the opportunity to attract more investments and strengthen the links between its institutions, universities, start-ups and industry,” concluded Gnjatović.
If you want to know more about the opportunities offered by EIT, contact the Community Hub via the email address serbia@eitcommunity.eu and follow the LinkedIn page - EIT Community Hub Serbia and eit-ris country page.
The official opening of the EIT Hub was held within the framework of the BioTech Future Forum, organised by the Government of Serbia and the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution – Serbia, in cooperation with the Office for IT and e-Government, the Ministry of Science, NALED, the World Economic Forum and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the support of the BIO4 Campus.
