The Government of Serbia has passed decrees which define incentives for innovations in entrepreneurship in the total amount of 1.4 million euros. Most of those funds, 850 thousand euros, are intended for projects related to innovations in women’s entrepreneurship.
Up to 200 thousand euros per approved project will be awarded to support innovations in women’s entrepreneurship.
According to data from the National Strategy for Gender Equality for the period from 2016 to 2020, the founders, owners and managers of small and medium enterprises in Serbia are mostly men (77.9 percent), while women are most often the owners of shops (34.3 percent) and medium-sized companies (22.1 percent).
Therefore, as it is explained, the goal of this program is to support the development of women’s, innovative entrepreneurship and contribute to the creation of a more favorable business environment for women entrepreneurs.
Grants can be used for various activities that promote the importance of women’s innovative entrepreneurship, for mentoring and training programs.
The goal is to improve and develop business, innovation capacities of women entrepreneurs, it is stated in the text of a special decree adopted by the Government of Serbia.
By a special decree, the Government of Serbia determined 593 thousand euros for the popularization of innovative entrepreneurship. The money is intended for organizations and local governments for projects that promote innovation and innovative entrepreneurship.
For certain purposes, in order to promote innovation in entrepreneurship, special amounts are defined for certain types of projects:
The maximum amount of 200 thousand euros per approved project is intended for planning, development and implementation of a promotional campaign on the importance of the development of innovation and innovative entrepreneurship, at the national and local level;
The amount of 170 thousand euros per approved project is intended for the organization of events that contribute to the promotion and popularization of innovations and innovative entrepreneurship, at the national and local level;
The amount of 42 thousand euros per approved project is intended for the development and implementation of mentoring and training programs;
The amount of 42 thousand euros per approved project is intended for research on the state, problems and prospects of the innovation ecosystem in the Republic of Serbia;
The maximum amount of 84 thousand euros per approved project is intended for the production of printed and multimedia publications that contribute to the promotion and popularization of innovations and innovative entrepreneurship in the general population;
The maximum amount of 42 thousand euros per approved project is intended for projects of digitalization of the cultural, artistic and spiritual heritage of Serbia and the Serbian people.
With these programs, Serbia is reportedly modeled on countries such as Switzerland, Finland and Israel.
By implementing this program, the Republic of Serbia strives to encourage citizens, especially young people, to think like entrepreneurs. The emphasis, it is explained, is on strengthening local and regional initiatives.
Organizations and units of local self-government that meet the prescribed conditions have the right to participate in competitions.
Half of the funds are intended for services under contracts, and half can be expected by “other levels of government”, since local governments have the right to participate, as well as organizations that want to participate in competitions together with them.
After announcing the competition, all information will be published in daily newspapers and on the website www.inovacije.gov.rs.
The deadline for submitting applications is from the day of announcing the competition until the funds are spent.
Precisely and accurately completed application and accompanying documentation are sent by registered mail to the address: Government, Cabinet of the Minister without portfolio in charge of innovation and technological development, Str. Nemanjina 11, 11000 Belgrade, Nova Ekonomija reports.
