How does innovation and technology development affect economic development, what is the role of Science Technology parks in supporting the development of startup companies and technological entrepreneurship, regional development and knowledge-based economy, and how to provide investments for the accelerated development of startups in the region, these are just some of the questions answered by the speakers at the conference “Innovation and Technology Development:  the foundation of economic development and employment”, held today at the Metropol Hotel.

The conference was organized as the final meeting of the project “EU support to the Science Technology Park Belgrade in providing services to innovative companies”, which was financed by the European Union.

International experts in the field of innovation development and technological entrepreneurship spoke at the conference: Mr. Joseph Miguel Pike, Ceo, Technova Barcelona who spoke about the path and importance of developing innovative ecosystems, Salvatore Majorana, President for the European Region of the International Association of Science Parks and Innovation Areas shared the experiences of the Kilometro Rosso Technology Park, speaking about the key elements of the development of science and technology parks,  while Domagoj Oreb,  a partner in the Feelsgood Fund, held a lecture on how to provide investments for startup companies in the region.

Two panels on Lean startup methodology (the process of validating preconceived ideas by carefully testing a customer’s reaction to an MVP/Minimum viable product) and the role of science and technology parks in regional development also were held, at which representatives of the INTERA Technology Park Mostar and the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro spoke along with STP Belgrade.

The event brought together the representatives of science and technology parks, national institutions, the EU Delegation to Serbia, researchers, representatives of institutes, and faculties. The IPA TA project “EU support to the Science and Technology Park Belgrade in providing services to innovative companies” was implemented in the period from June 2020 to October 2022.