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The Ministry for Innovation and Technological Development has started an open competition for granting funds as part of the Program for supporting the creation of regional innovative startup centers, which amount up to 250 million dinars.

The goal of the program is to systematically enhance the innovative ecosystem through the support of the creation of regional innovative startup centers which will, together with similar centers in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš, provide the necessary conditions and equal opportunities for the realization of innovative entrepreneurial ideas in Serbia.

Organizations from the innovative ecosystem are eligible to apply for the grants (scientific and technological organizations, industrial and innovative parks, incubators, accelerators) and will compete together with their local governments to prove that they have the capacities to open a regional innovative startup center.

The grants are divided into three categories: up to 20 million dinars for the adaptation of space for the regional innovative startup center with the goal of providing the necessary infrastructural conditions for the startups’ business, up to 20 million dinars for supplies in order to provide the technical and technological conditions necessary, as well as up to 6 million dinars for the realization of the program and governing, in order to ensure sustainable business and support the startups.

In anticipation of the World Environment Day, this year celebrated with the slogan “Beat Plastic Pollution! If you can`t reuse it, refuse it”, we supported within the “Innovation Challenge”, project idea of the Faculty of Chemistry, University in Belgrade which introduces new biomaterials which could replace use of commercial plastic.

The project idea introduces new materials, such as production of innovative biopolymer composites based on microbial exopolysaccharides and waste from wood processing, paper and agricultural industries, which could potentially replace some of the commercial plastics (fossil fuel derived plastics) in different areas of use.

“Climate Smart Urban Development Challenge” project is implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the financial support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Best open data climate-related ideas awarded

Belgrade, 4 June 2018 – The Ministry of Environmental Protection and UNDP organised the Awarding Ceremony as part of a joint project called Climate Smart Urban Development Challenge Project (CSUD). The awards were granted to the winners of the Open Data Challenge, addressed to municipalities and cities with the most innovative ideas in the area of opening, accessing and improving data management of importance for the fight against climate changes.

The search for innovative solutions in this area received a great response across Serbia, and independent experts chose eight best project ideas, which initially will find their use in Kragujevac, Krusevac, Belgrade municipality of Zvezdara, Sabac, Kraljevo, Sremska Mitrovica, Cuprija and Krupanj, but also throughout Serbia because of the excellent potential for furthering comprehensive application in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management, etc.

Open data stimulate economic growth as they create an incentive environment for the development of innovations and “green” ideas and enable the attraction of “climate-friendly” investments. Availability of data is necessary for efficient planning and decision making, ensures greater transparency of work of local self-governments and stimulates public involvement in decision-making processes.

“I consider the project as an extremely important one, it promotes innovation in Serbia which strategically defined digitization and modernization as priority. Serbia has to build capacities, and this is an approach of increasing capacities. Without these data there are no project-technical documentation necessary to implement projects worth nearly 15 billion euros,” said Minister of Environmental Protection Goran Trivan.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Serbia Steliana Nedera said that eight local governments, the winner of the Open Data Challenge, will receive, besides financial support of up to $10,000 per project, expert and advisory support within the Climate Incubator for further development of ideas into mature projects ready for implementation. In the Climate Incubator, a software solution for improving data management will be created, which will enable the data of different local communities to be networked, and also connected to the databases of state institutions.

“Climate Smart Urban Development Challenge” is a five-year project aimed at supporting, through a partnership between the public, private and civil sectors, the development of projects aimed at reducing GHG emissions and ensuring that local communities in Serbia are more resilient to climate change. The Ministry of Environmental Protection implements the project with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the financial support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project partners are the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Serbia, the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Government of Switzerland, Innovation Fund and the Standing Conference of Cities and Municipalities.

The Chamber of Commerce of Serbia and Climate KIC, this year too, organize the Climate Launchpad – the global competition of green business ideas in the field of environmental protection, climate change and sustainability. The deadline for applications is June 6, 2018.

The goal of the competition is to focus on the potential of clean technologies to combat climate change. Eligible applicants are startups, researchers, students, organizations and companies. The selected candidates will receive intensive coaching in jumpstarting own business, as well as the possibility of presenting the business idea to potential investors and the international jury. The top 3 winners of each national competition will go on to compete in the Grand Final, and the top 10 competitors in the Grand Final will get direct access to the Climate-KIC Accelerator, EU programme for the start-up companies focused on green enterprises. The overall winner of the Grand Final receives € 10,000, the runner up gets € 5,000 and the idea that comes in third place wins € 2,500. More information on the competition, terms and application process you can find at: https://climatelaunchpad.org.