StarTech supported 12 more Serbian innovators for a global breakthrough
In a competition with over 160 submitted projects, 12 companies presented the most innovative ideas at the fourth annual StarTech competition and rightfully won non-refundable grants totaling 500,000 dollars.
Among the awarded solutions are a sign language translation system, a boat engine that reduces pollution, innovative diving equipment, and a platform for precision medicine at the cellular level. The money will help them develop their products in the next year and a half and conquer both domestic and international markets. Additionally, for the first time this year, five innovative teams entered the Support Program for the Accelerated Development of Startups, which includes training and mentorship.
At the closing ceremony, checks of up to 50,000 dollars were awarded by the Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation Jelena Begović, General Director of Philip Morris International for Southeast Europe Aleksandar Jakovljević, and Executive Director of NALED Violeta Jovanović.
- StarTech is a true example of how collaboration between the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and the government can bring concrete results. Thanks to this support, numerous startups and small and medium-sized enterprises have made significant steps in developing their ideas, introducing them to domestic and international markets. I would especially like to highlight the importance of connecting the academic community with the economy, which is one of the main focuses of the StarTech program. Such collaboration not only enables the development of applied research but also creates conditions for greater technology transfer and the involvement of young people in innovation flows, said Begović, adding that the ministry she leads enthusiastically supports projects that strengthen the domestic innovation ecosystem.
- Grants are the most visible, but not the only part of the StarTech program. Together with the Government of Serbia and NALED, we are working to improve the innovative business environment. Through the Export Hub in Niš, we support businesses in accessing international markets, encourage new forms of financing such as VC funds and business angels, all with the aim of ensuring that this startup ecosystem continues to grow, uses the extraordinary talents we have, attracts international investors, and encourages companies to seek solutions for their businesses here, said Aleksandar Jakovljević, urging innovators to believe in their ideas because Serbia has the support they need.
StarTech innovations prove that Serbia is a source of talented people and great ideas, emphasized Violeta Jovanović.
- In the first three cycles, we supported 82 innovators with around three million dollars in non-refundable support. The data shows that grant recipients have employed about 100 highly qualified people so far. We are particularly pleased that in supporting the innovators we selected, we were not alone around 30% of surveyed StarTech grantees stated that they received non-refundable funds from other sources, Jovanović noted.
This year's grant recipients are Advanceboat, Biocarst, Fishbone, Fragment Incorporated, Genial, Global Electronic Solutions, HR World, LeadDelta, Nexum Energy, RedTech, Roglic Company, and RotoDyna.
The Support Program for the Accelerated Development of Startups includes BeeBoo, entrepreneur Dušan Pavlović from Niš, Persida, Privacy Champion, and RotoDyna.
StarTech is a six-year project supporting innovation and the digital transformation of the economy, implemented by NALED in collaboration with the Government of Serbia, and funded by Philip Morris with eight million dollars.
