For two years, the Development Agency of Sisak-Moslavina County SI-MO-RA, as a leading partner, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis and INTERA Technology Park, as project partners, worked hard on the implementation of the CROWN project, through which they strengthened the entrepreneurial capacities of young people and improved business environment in the cross-border area.
The project, implementation of which began in July 2020, on Thursday, 07.14.2022. was officially completed through the achievement of all planned goals. At the very beginning of the project, an approach to assessing the entrepreneurial capacities of young people was developed through innovative testing, carried out through online platforms and in the premises of the project partners. Out of a total of 300 tested in all three participating countries, 25 candidates each from Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina were given the opportunity to participate in an intensive startup program that began with a joint three-day online meeting during the conference and a series of workshops. Based on the developed educational models, all partners organized a series of workshops for their candidates, during which the participants worked on business model development, marketing, finance, alternative sources of financing, protection of intellectual property and other topics. After several months of training, the candidates had the opportunity to work with experienced mentors, and then to present their ideas in front of an expert committee that chose the three best ideas from all three countries. The owners of those ideas were given the opportunity, with the help of experts, to work on the preparation, implementation and promotion of their own crowdfunding campaigns, but also to visit some of the world’s largest technological and entrepreneurial conferences and fairs.
In addition to direct support for the development of business ideas, the project was also marked by the establishment of entrepreneurial departments in Sisak, Niksic and Mostar. The staff of the project partners strengthened their capacities in the field of intellectual property protection and technology transfer through education in Niksic and a study visit to some of the most successful centers in Germany. A cross-border network was created to support the development of entrepreneurship, which brought together more than 50 members, representatives of public institutions, local self-governments, development agencies, educational institutions and civil society organizations from Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project also left behind an interactive platform where entrepreneurs can find all the news related to entrepreneurship and opportunities for its development, but also ask questions if they are facing a challenge. Through the project, a guide for young entrepreneurs was prepared, which presents the key steps for company registration in Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The last two years have also been marked by the organization of promotional events through which young people from all three countries had the opportunity to strengthen their capacities, network with colleagues and learn about opportunities for professional development.
All CROWN project activities were co-financed by ERDF and IPA II funds of the European Union.
