The European Union provided funds for the establishment of the Multimedia Centre (MMC), which was opened at the University of Zenica on 22 June 2009. EU funding was made available through the TEMPUS program (Trans-European Mobility Scheme for University Studies).

The MMC was established as a part of the EU funded project “Centre for entrepreneurship and innovation at Zenica University” . This project was also supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the University Business Incubator.

Speaking on behalf of the Head of the European Commission Delegation in BiH, Dimitris Kourkoulas, at the opening ceremony in the Metallurgy Faculty, Jadranka Mihic described the MMC as an excellent combination between industry and education.

“This project is also very important for the further process of European integration,” she said. “The areas that are part of the project, such as developing entrepreneurship, supporting small and medium enterprises, and reducing unemployment, are all areas that are very important to the EU.  These are priorities for modernisation of the education system and development of the economy.”

Mihić noted that sustained EU support for the BiH education system will continue through the IPA program. Currently, around 2.4 million € are allocated for Bosnia and Herzegovina to support the TEMPUS and Erasmus Mundus programs. 

The main goals of the MMC project are to create a centre of entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Zenica, to train trainers, to create workshops in future technology and practices, to provide consulting services to enterprises, and to spread knowledge and expertise that will contribute to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economic development.

Academics and other officials at the University of Maribor participated in opening ceremony through video conferencing.

“The University of Zenica now has the latest resources not just for education but also for research purposes,” said the university’s Provost, Darko Petković