With the support of the European Union, the Startup Centre in Bor has begun operating to support entrepreneurship and strengthen the local economy. Established within the integrated project “Ecosystem for Innovation and Smart Economy in Bor,” the centre will provide support to entrepreneurs in developing business ideas, improving digital skills, and starting businesses, while also offering space for collaboration and networking.
Through the EU PRO Plus programme, implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration, the European Union invested more than 240,000 Euros in the renovation and equipping of the centre, as well as in establishing two smaller centres in Zlot and Gornjane, which will support the development of agriculture and rural households.
“The European Union supports the development of Bor, and through this project we have contributed to strengthening and diversifying the local economy and creating new opportunities for the development of entrepreneurship beyond traditional industries. The Startup Centre is a place where ideas will be developed, people connected, and the city’s innovation and entrepreneurial potential strengthened,” said Richard Masa, Head of Operations II of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, during his visit to the centre.
The project was implemented by the City of Bor in partnership with the Regional Agency for the Development of Eastern Serbia – RARIS, with the involvement of local institutions, businesses, and civil society, thus further strengthening capacities for sustainable development.
This project stemmed from the territorial development strategy of the urban area of Bor, which the city developed with the support of the European Union within the EU PRO Plus programme. On that basis, Bor continued its cooperation with the EU through the EU INTEGRA programme, within which a new project focused on improving waste management and further implementing the principles of the green transition will be carried out.
“The opening of the Startup Centre represents an important step for Bor, as we are providing young people and entrepreneurs with concrete conditions to develop their ideas and start businesses right here. With the support of the European Union, the city continues to invest in innovation, knowledge, and sustainable development, while the new project under the EU INTEGRA programme will further improve the quality of life of citizens, particularly in the field of environmental protection,” said the Mayor of Bor, Aleksandar Milikić.
Within the project “Ecosystem for Innovation and Smart Economy in Bor”, a digital platform for innovation and smart economy has also been created, and a Living Lab has been formed, a group that brings together key development stakeholders, including representatives of the local self-government, public enterprises, institutions, civil society organisations, and the local business sector, who jointly address topics contributing to the development of smart specialisation, industrial transition, and entrepreneurial culture in Bor.
