Serbia becomes a regional digital innovation hub based on the Swiss model
"Digital Serbia" was launched by Ringier Axel Springer Serbia and leading technology companies as a non-profit private partnership initiative.
Its mission is to improve the framework and environmental conditions for promoting technological entrepreneurship and digital innovation in both business and education in Serbia. Its founding members are Infostud, Microsoft, Nordeus, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Ringier Axel Springer, Seven Bridges, Startit, Telekom Srbija, and Telenor.
"Digital Serbia" was established as an association connecting leading technology, IT and telecommunication companies with the aim of promoting digital innovation for Serbia and its citizens. The Presidium of the "Digital Serbia Initiative" will include representatives of the founding companies. The Presidium will be chaired by Branko Milutinović, CEO and co-founder of Nordeus.
All activities of the association are aimed at improving the framework conditions and investment climate in order to promote technological entrepreneurship and innovation in the Serbian IT industry, as well as skills building and education in the digital economy. Companies that want to participate in the realization of this goal and the association objectives of the Digital Serbia Initiative are welcome.
"Digital Serbia" was launched, according to the statement, following the successful model of "Digital Switzerland" and building on the experience of digital centers such as London, Tel Aviv and Berlin, which had joined the digital technology and innovation trend at an early stage.
Jelena Drakulić-Petrović, General Manager of Ringier Axel Springer Serbia and founder and initiator of the "Digital Serbia Initiative": "Technological development is bringing unprecedented changes within a very short time. Innovation in business and education increases productivity. Innovation enables new solutions in the development of products and services. As a media company, we believe in the importance of strengthening digital innovation in Serbia as a driver for creating new jobs and expanding our business. With Digital Serbia we want to tap into the enormous potential we see for the Serbian economy and the country's citizens."
"Digital Serbia" offers innovative companies and small and medium-sized IT firms information and support in matters of entrepreneurial activity in these areas and supports companies and society by providing opportunities for contact via various forums and trade fairs. In addition, "Digital Serbia" will identify and name legal framework conditions that currently inhibit the development of the e-business sector in Serbia, as well as actively support technology start-ups.
The launch event for "Digital Serbia" will take place in Belgrade on May 29, 2017. The founding members will present a "digital manifesto" there, including a presentation of the initiative's mission and goals.
Also building on the success of Digitalswitzerland is the Digital Poland initiative, which will be launched on June 1, 2017 at the Impact Conference in Krakow. The initiative will focus on innovation in the context of digitization in business, education and improving the regulatory framework, as well as supporting companies in Poland in the transition from offline to online.
