Big and important news arrives on Tuesday for entrepreneurs, micro, small and medium enterprises, but also start-up teams with a good and innovative idea – NALED in cooperation with Philip Morris and with the support of the Government of Serbia, announces a public call for grants in within the StarTech project.
Everyone who wants to invest in the development of innovative products and services and to whom they will conquer new markets and create new jobs, as well as in the digitalization and transformation of science-based business, will be able to apply for grants, says Ivan Miletic, Corporate Affairs Director for Southeast Europe at Philip Morris.
The competition criteria will be presented at a press conference on Tuesday.
Miletic emphasizes that PMI provided five million dollars for the StarTech program, which is certainly the largest amount ever provided by the private sector to support small businesses in Serbia, and this is the first project of its kind in the Philip Morris world. He especially emphasizes the importance that multinational companies have for the development of the local economy.
“We have invested about 900 million dollars in business in Serbia since 2003, and paid about 7.4 billion dollars in taxes and contributions to the budget. Large investors are not significant only because of the amount of investment in one country and the number of jobs they bring and because of the transfer of new technologies and modern business models, as well as the impact they have on the business and social community in the region in which they operate,” Miletic emphasizes.
The goal of the StarTech program is to improve the performance and competitiveness of the Serbian economy through greater investments in development based on knowledge and innovation.
“Investing in innovation and knowledge today is often the only way to conquer the market and meet the demanding expectations and habits of consumers. Such an approach became imperative at Philip Morris almost two decades ago, when it was decided to transform one of the most conservative industries. The strategic commitment of the company’s management to change the industry radically and put all its resources in the function of achieving that goal seemed like a crazy and too bold move to many at first. Now we are sure it was the only right one. We decided to rely on science in this endeavor, Philip Morris International has invested more than 7 billion dollars in research and development, hired more than 400 scientists and redirected all employees around the world to think differently and changed the attitude not only towards its own products, but also towards consumers, the market, public health and the wider population,” Miletic points out.
In cooperation with NALED and government representatives, goals and activities have been defined. In November last year, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.
“Carefully following the Government’s vision regarding the transformation of the Serbian economy, we recognized that we have enough experience and knowledge to provide significant support. We are ready to encourage and motivate other companies by our example, and help the state build an ecosystem that will be attractive for innovative companies. Serbia, where there are a large number of entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized companies that have adopted digital business, focus on innovation, generate high value-added products or services and perform more easily in foreign markets, will be a country with an even stronger and more resilient economy, but also us who live and work here,” says Miletic, B92 reports.
