Serbia Gets Its First Innovation Leaders: A Strategic Team to Strengthen the Domestic Startup Scene
Serbia has welcomed its first generation of InnoLeaders, distinguished representatives from the innovation and academic sectors who will use their knowledge, experience, and institutional capacities to contribute to the further development of the national innovation ecosystem and stronger cooperation between science and industry. The first generation of InnoLeaders includes representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technological Development, the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FON), NALED, BIO4, the Innovation Fund, as well as the Science and Technology Parks in Belgrade, Čačak, Niš and Novi Sad, the Regional Innovation Smart City Centers (RISC) in Novi Pazar and Zubin Potok, innovation incubators from the University of Kragujevac, the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, and the Innovation Factory.
“All of us share the same goal to advance the innovation sector. It is important that we work together and cooperate. Strengthening capacities and knowledge is essential, and I hope that the first InnoLeaders will continue spreading this knowledge further,” said State Secretary at the Ministry of Science and Technological Development Marija Gnjatović, announcing an upcoming call by the Science Fund focused on strengthening cooperation between science and industry.
“This project strengthens Serbia’s innovation capacities by connecting international expertise with the needs of the domestic ecosystem and empowering the people who will play a key role in its further development,” said Marko Mihić, Dean of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences.
NALED Executive Director Violeta Jovanović emphasized that InnoLeaders represent much more than participants in a single program.
“Innovation leaders are agents of change who will transfer knowledge, initiate new initiatives, and strengthen the culture of innovation in Serbia. The goal is to build a network of leaders who will contribute to the long-term development of an efficient and interconnected innovation system,” Jovanović concluded.
A delegation of innovation leaders from Serbia visited Munich through the TUM International program in order to strengthen their capacities and transfer European practices in innovation and entrepreneurship. They learned about startup ecosystems, technology transfer and cooperation between universities and industry, particularly through the experience of UnternehmerTUM, and gained insight into building a sustainable innovation ecosystem. The visit, as well as other activities, was carried out as part of the InnoLeaders Serbia program, funded by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of Serbia and implemented by the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, TUM International and NALED, with the goal of strengthening innovation institutions and connecting them with international centers of excellence.
“I believe that Serbia’s innovation ecosystem is in the best and most capable hands. Innovation requires technical excellence, a shared culture, and strong cultural and institutional cooperation, and InnoLeaders Serbia provides exactly that. You have already turned ideas into practice, created impact and continue to expand it, established a common language and built an incredible network that serves not only Serbia but all of Europe,” said Friederike Hettinger, Executive Director of TUM International.
Innovation leaders in Serbia include Adam Đurđević, Irena Đorđević Šušić, Slavica Cicvarić Kostić, Teodora Ilić, Nemanja Jovičić, Saša Lazović, Marija Milić, Vukica Maričić, Tadej Kurepa, Milan Okanović, Mirko Pešić, Šemsudin Plojović, Milan Ranđelović, Vladimir Senić, Slađana Stešević, Mlađan Stojanović, Ivan Todorović, Vladimir Todorović and Dušan Vulović. Following the work with the leaders, the next phase will include training programs for knowledge brokers and specialists who will be responsible for implementing strategic directions within innovation organizations.
