The Science Technology Park Belgrade (STP Belgrade) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) signed an agreement on the implementation of the Innovate Forward project, marking an important step in further strengthening support for innovation development in Serbia.

The agreement was signed on behalf of SECO by H.E. Anne Lugon-Moulin, Ambassador of Switzerland to Serbia, and on behalf of STP Belgrade by Dr Marija Milić, Acting Director.

The project secures EUR 4.9 million in new funding to accelerate the development of the innovation ecosystem and the creation of new startups, including the continuation of the Raising Starts accelerator program. The focus will be on fostering an entrepreneurial culture within academia, supporting startups in becoming investment-ready, and increasing the global presence of Serbian high-tech companies.

Dr Marija Milić, Acting Director of STP Belgrade, emphasized that Innovate Forward represents a continuation of the successful and long-standing cooperation between the Government of Switzerland and STP Belgrade, through which they jointly contribute to building a strong innovation ecosystem in Serbia, based on knowledge, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit.

– Our goal is to support startups on their journey from idea to market and enable them to further develop their innovations – said Milić.

– The total value of the project amounts to EUR 4.9 million, of which CHF 3.6 million is provided by the Government of Switzerland, while the remaining amount is financed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia. I am confident that the joint investments, knowledge, and experience brought together through the Innovate Forward project will further empower the Serbian startup community, enhance the competitiveness of domestic innovations, and open up new opportunities for their entry into global markets – Milić added, thanking the Government of Switzerland for its continued support and trust.

Building on the results achieved through years of cooperation, the Innovate Forward project will provide even stronger support to innovators, entrepreneurs, and young people with ambitious ideas. With SECO’s support, STP Belgrade previously developed and successfully implemented Serbia’s first pre-seed accelerator, Raising Starts. Through four cycles of the program, more than 150 startup teams and companies from across Serbia completed intensive business development training, while 75 of them received financial support.

The signing ceremony was also attended by representatives of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Serbia, the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Serbia, and the Innovation Fund.

During their visit, members of the Swiss delegation toured STP Belgrade member companies Phytonet, Beam Global, and Meter&Control. Innovations were also presented by Dynamic Mockups, an alumnus of the Raising Starts program, as well as MyFlow, a startup from the STP Belgrade community, and Fuller Vision, a beneficiary of the Innovation Fund’s support programs.