INNOVATIONS ARE THE FUTURE OF SERBIA

20. April 2018.

Vranje - Nenad Popovic, the Minister for Innovations and Technological Development, presented in Vranje the programs of the Innovation Fund of the Republic of Serbia, which should help innovative companies to receive the funding for improving their business performance, for the purpose of which a total of 400 million dinars was earmarked.

Two types of companies can apply, the beginner ones to obtain up to 10 million dinars, while the existing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises can apply for the funding of up to 30 million dinars.

This is an excellent opportunity for the companies with innovation activities, as well as for those that want to achieve better results with their innovations on the market,” said Minister Popovic.

"One of the key elements is that innovations, as well as the market, both our and exports ones, should have an economic value, which will absorb these results. The goal of all innovations is to create new jobs, enable better technological business operations, higher wages and pensions and, in a word, better life. Innovations are certainly the future of Serbia; the more start-ups and innovations, the better the economy, because innovations are an economic category, "Minister Popovic said.

The Minister said that the funds for those purposes were increased five times that year, because the interest of entrepreneurs was considerably higher.

"I do not exclude the possibility of this amount increasing further by the end of the year, but it is important that newcomers to the business, irrespective of their age group, have the opportunity to apply for these grants," said Minister Popovic and announced additional programs.

Innovation voucher programs are already open, as well as technology transfers and the cooperation between science and industry, while the opening of regional innovative start-up centers will soon be promoted, as well as the programs of women’s innovation entrepreneurship.

Source: OK Radio and Coordination Body