New business incubator for technological enterpreneurship - ICT Hub opens in Scientific and technological center Zvezdara (PHOTO)

On Tuesday, November 4, 2014, business incubator for information and communications technologies, ICT Hub, was officially opened at the Scienific and technological park Zvezdara.

ICT Hub is the biggest startup investment in Serbia totaling USD 700.000 USD and the first USAID project of PPP in Serbia. It is a joint venture of USAID and consortium headed by two Serbian companies, DNA Communications and Orion telekom. Apart from them, partners on the project are Serbian Association of managers (SAM) and Serbian Private Equity Association (SPEA).

Vice president at the Government of Serbia and the minister of trade, tourism and telecommunications, Rasim Ljajic, outlined that ICT Hub is the best example of cooperation of science and technique which is essential for technological entrepreneurship.

The Ambassador of USA in Belgrade, Michael Kirby, also agrees that IT industry of one of the most advanced in Serbia.

(The opening)

- Application software market is one of the fast growing markets in the world which opens great opportunities for young Serbian IT experts – Kirby said.

ICT Hub is made to nourish technological entrepreneurship among the youth adopting successful startup principles of Silicon Valley – as Dejan Randjic, one of the founders of ICT Hub, says.

- ICT Hub provides full technical support, mentoring, top working conditions for individuals who are ready to start their own business. This incubator enables a place for them to meet, exchange experience, partner, start mutual projects and create new business options. New methodology can be used as a model and creativity in IT sector and wider – Randjic outlined.

Randjic said that this technological incubator will have 40 to 50 users who will spend a year here.

- We expect ICT Hub to contribute to a large number of IT companies in Serbia as well as entrepreneurship development with the youth. The special importance of the project is reflected in the fact that the youth and IT are recognized as a priority in development by the Government of Serbia – Randjic said.

One of the users, Aleksandar Stibilj, in his interview for eKapija, says he saw an ad on Facebook for residents of ICT Hub and decided to apply immediately. He was specifically motivated by the list of mentors who will work with young enterpreneurs in specialized office space where they will develop their startup ideas.

- My startup is a web service where other board players for video games can be found and it is the only startup offering that kind of service. We are now starting "Point Mars" advertising system at global level for Facebook – a young entrepreneur who came to ICT Hub when he met partners with whom he will now work in a team on new projects, explains.

As the founders say, ICT Hub, provides a number of options - modernly-equipped space, modern , cloud computing platform for development and testing, full technical support, business trainings and consulting, education on strategic management, promotion techniques, marketing and sales, administration support as well as the place to meet, exchange experience, partner, start mutual projects and create new opportunities.

I.M.