At the closing conference of the RTIT>> project in Mostar, German expert Olav Carlsen stated that the Western Balkans possesses the knowledge and potential needed to develop innovations, but that it should think globally and be bolder in turning ideas into business opportunities.
Mostar hosted the final conference of a RTIT>> project – an Interreg Danube Region project that has spent the past two and a half years exploring how to transform research into business opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Olav Carlsen, a representative of the German agency SPRIN-D, which supports breakthrough innovations, expressed strong praise for the region. Speaking to more than 70 participants from eight European countries, he emphasized that the Western Balkans already have the knowledge, research potential, and motivation required for innovation. According to him, the biggest obstacle is the region’s own perception of being a “small market.” The solution, he said, is to think globally from day one.
This message resonated throughout the closing conference of the RTIT>> project (Knowhow Communities for Accelerating RTI Transfer in the Danube Region), which was held in Mostar.
The project, co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Danube Region Programme, brought together research institutions and businesses with a common goal: finding ways to shorten the path from the laboratory to the marketplace, particularly in the fields of advanced materials and new technologies.
The project results were presented by Anđela Nikčević, Project Manager at Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis and Lead Partner of the project. Among the key conclusions were the need for a shared understanding between research institutions and businesses, the importance of rapid testing and adaptation rather than lengthy planning processes, and the necessity of transnational cooperation as a prerequisite for successful innovation.
Carlsen also shared a practical model from Germany where the government does not directly influence decisions regarding innovation development but instead leaves that role to the market. He added that some innovations require decades of development before realizing their full potential, meaning that a long-term perspective is just as important as giving innovators the freedom to pursue their ideas.
A panel discussion involving participants from five countries highlighted a paradox seen across Europe: innovation systems differ in maturity and organization, yet small and medium-sized enterprises face remarkably similar challenges everywhere. Discussions focused on the role of intermediary organizations, ways to ensure long-term cooperation between industry and research institutions, and how innovation systems can be made more accessible and understandable for SMEs.
