Funds available for good projects - Innovators to get EUR 5 mil

Serbian firms have both good ideas and good projects and the money is coming also, recent competition of the Fund for innovations has showed. A few days ago, the best twelve projects were selected which will be funded within the Program of early development and the Innovation co-financing program. What is more important is that it does not end here because the European Union announced a new project which will support innovators from our country with additional EUR 5 mil.

- This year, a project called “technological transfer” will start, totaling EUR 5 mil which will again be implemented in cooperation with the World Banka and the Fund for Innovative activity - the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenportsaid, Tanjug reported

This time, grants will be provided for scientific-research institutions in Serbia which will be able to connect to industry.

The Program of early development and the Innovations co-financing program are implemented within the Project of support to innovations in Serbia funded from the EU pre-accession funds (IPA) and implemented in cooperation with the World Bank.

Twelve projects selected this time bring plenty of new ideas. This time, eKapija is presenting three of them – method for facility protection in cases of earthquakes of Nis-based Projektinzenjering Tim, a solution which facilitates moving of the blind people, of the Novelic company as well as Brides2Bride platform which will help brides to plan their weddings in an innovative way.

A supporting hand

Novi Beograd-based Novelic received funds for the RAVIP (Radar for Visually Impaired Persons), which should support the blind and visually impaired persons. RAVIP is using an integrated radar sensor in order to register distance and speed of moving of facilities which users encounter. This information transfers to audio signals which a user can hear.

- A key element of this system will be an integrated 60 GHz radar sensor (a chip) - Milan Savic, General Manager and co-founder of Noveli, says for eKapiju.

- The objective of the project for which we received funds is development of detailed specifications, implementation of initial proof-of-the-concept stage of key elements of the described system as well as business strategy development with the help of which an overall system will be developed- Savic says.

(This is how RAVIP solution will function)

The entire system looks like glasses, with small headphones through which a user receives information.

It protects buildings

Nis-based Projektinzenjering Tim is developing a system for designing and construction of buildings in the areas where there is a danger from earthquakes.

The Seismo-Safe 2G3-GOSEB Building System project is a technological development of a newly-patented system for designing and construction of seismic safe facilities through the implementation of innovative technique. New GOSEB technology will enable overall seismic protection through the usage of special, technical solutions.

2G3-GOSEB seismically resistant system of construction is a new strategy in facility design.

- Thanks to its economical aspect and numerous advantages, implementation of 2G3-GOSEB system is expected Europe and world-wide, especially in seismically active regions where strong earthquakes are coomon but where they cannot be foreseen in a reliable way.

- Start-up financial support from the Fund for innovative activity is very important for generation of conditions for successful commercialization of our innovation system of construction. We are extremely motivated to use the opportunity and lay the foundation in the construction of seismically safe buildings.

"This is how you should marry"

Nikola Vucicevic from 365ads has been in wedding planning business for years. He invented the "Brides2Bride" platform which connects ex and brides-to-be in order to organize weddings easer and better.

Ex brides open profiles on this portal where they describe how their wedding was like. Future brides visit and send their requests such as a search of a restaurant, a wedding dress, a hairdresser, etc. Potential mentors then fight and give their offers and a bride-to-be chooses. Mentors are with them all the time, until the wedding – the more they engage the better grades they get as well as new clients after that.

"Brides2Bride" is designed in a way not be a fraud – a girl who got married must share her wedding photos, etc. Also, when she names companies which participated in organization of her wedding, companies must identify her. Service is free of charge and brides-to-be are only obliged to estimate their mentors.

On the other hand, ex brides have an option to earn and become true wedding planners. How does it work? When a mentor recommends a company and a bride-to-be opts for it, the company pays an amount for a new client. Authors of the Brides2bride platform have their stake and an ex bride get the remaining part.

With the wind at your back

In the previous round of the Project of support to innovations in Serbia, 18 companies received funds last summer. Nis-based Sentronis was one of them, developing contactless device for precise measuring of direct and alternating current. The device based on sensor will be used in different industries.

As Verica Kostic from Sentronis says for eKapija, implementation started in October.

- Sentronis is developing this device and the project will last for two years. After completion, we will have a final product, ready for market. We will sell it only abroad – out collocutor says and points out how important support of the Fund for innovation activity is.

- Funds which we received were very significant for us, even essential at that moment.

Milica Stevuljevic