Innovation Hub Ohrid grand opening ceremony and official announcement call for sub-grants for companies from the southwest region

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The Fund for innovations and technology development in cooperation with the National center for development of innovation and entrepreneurial learning, on 07.06.2019 in Ohrid officially opened the Innovation Hub, within the Faculty of tourism and hospitality in Ohrid. At the same event, the public call for sub-granting newly established enterprises “start-up” and “spin-of” from the South-West region was officially published. 

Speakers of the event were the Director of the Fund, Mr. Jovan Despotovski and the Rector of the “St. Kliment Ohridski” University – Bitola, prof. dr. Saso Korunovski.

The director of the Fund mentioned that this sub-granting call aims to contribute to a balanced regional development and support for young people from the region.

“Our goal is to bring FITD programs closer to the young people from the southwest region and to encourage them to develop innovative ideas and convert them into their own businesses. This is part of our overall effort to influence the negative trend of brain drains and keep the young home. Also, with such programs, we want to decentralize FITD programs and contribute to balanced regional development. This is a pilot project funded by the EU, “Despotovski said, stressing the importance of such support from the Union. He added that he expects great interest in the call and a lot of quality projects.

The Rector, prof. dr. Korunovski emphasized that such projects are important and contribute to the development of cross-border cooperation and exchange of ideas and knowledge.

“This space is opened for anyone who has a good idea, and we are here to help the in their realization. This space should become a gathering place for young people who will develop their ideas here. Investing in innovation and knowledge is crucial for the progress of any country”, Korunovski said.

The sub-granting call is intended for newly established enterprises “start-up” and “spin-of” from the Southwest region, which includes the following municipalities: Centar Zupa, Debar, Debarca, Kicevo, Makedonski Brod, Ohrid, Plasnica, Struga and Vevcani. The companies that will apply, among other things, should be established in accordance with the Law on Trade Companies, as well as registered in the Central Register of RSM, not to be older than three years and with the majority of Macedonian ownership.

The sub-granting call aims to encourage innovation culture through financial support for research activities and development of a new or improved product, process, service, as well as to encourage the commecialisation of research results made in higher education – scientific research institutions.

The total fund is 2.066.000,00 (two million sixty six thousand denars), and the maximum amount of the grant per application is 413.122,00 (four hundred thirteen thousand one hudred twenty two denars). The amount will be fully covered by FITR within the project “Innovation Eco-System in the CBC area (CBC INNOV8)”. The projects can last up to three months.

The deadline for applying is 23.07.2019 until 23:59 by www.fitr.mk/innov8 , where all information related to the call are available.

All these activities are part of the project “Innovation Eco-System in the CBC area (CBC INNOV8)”, financed by the Eropean Commission, represented by the Deleation of European Union in Republic of North Macedonia which is implemented by FITR, National center for development of innovation and entrepreneurial learning (NCDIEL), EuroPartners Development and National Agency of Scientific Research and Innovation (ARTI).

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