The third consecutive SPLET Tech conference is taking place today at the MTS hall in Belgrade, dedicated to showcasing innovations in Serbia and the surrounding region. By the end of the day, around 150 representatives from startups, established companies, institutions and potential investors from domestic and regional venture capital funds will participate in over 30 panels, workshops and presentations. Organizers expect to surpass last year’s record of 2,500 visitors.
This year’s conference emphasizes the internationalization of business, with support and guidance for startups looking to access foreign markets and clients globally. Tanja Kuzman, director of the Digital Serbia Initiative, highlighted the importance of understanding target markets, leading to workshops on market analysis and effective communication with global users. Sales and marketing skills, crucial for startup success, will also receive significant attention.
Aleksandra Popović, director of the Serbia Inovira program, noted that several young companies from last year’s “Startup Zone” have grown into established businesses, including some with operations in the USA. Notably, Maja Vuković from IBM’s Research Center in New York will be sharing insights as a testament to the talent emerging from Serbia’s innovation ecosystem.
The conference also provides an opportunity to assess Serbia’s position on the Global Innovation Index, where the country currently ranks 52nd among 133 nations. It has made significant strides in infrastructure for innovation, ranking within the top 30 globally. Kosta Andrić, executive director of ICT Hub, emphasized that while Serbia is nearing 1,000 registered startups, many are still in early development stages and reliant on grants.
Andrić also addressed the challenges facing the sector, including slower global market penetration and a notable decline in venture capital investments in research and development last year, which is critical for Serbian startups.
American Ambassador Christopher Hill attended the conference, expressing the importance of deepening business ties between the USA and Serbia, particularly in the realm of startups and innovation.
The SPLET Tech conference is jointly organized by the “Take up an idea” project from the Digital Serbia Initiative and the “Serbia Innovira” project by ICT HUB, in collaboration with USAID. The Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation also supports this year’s event, with Biznis.rs as a media partner.
