The Impulse Creative Centre (ICC) established within the EU funded project “MENTOR II (Modern Economy through New Technology Oriented Research – phase II)”, was opened on June 3rd in Zenica. The ICC will aim to improve the unemployed persons’ skills and increase their potential, resulting in a meeting point for knowledge sharing, education and adoption of new technologies. It also aspires to gather experienced production technologists, managers, academia and young people with new ideas, supported with the modern IT equipment.
Martin Schieder, Head of Operations Section for Economic Development, Natural Resources and Infrastructure at the EU Delegation to BiH noted that the EU puts a strong emphasis on the small and medium enterprises development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “European Union has already provided more than 40 million euro to support the SME sector in BiH over the past 15 years, and this year we have also started implementing the second generation of IPA programme in the amount of 13 million euro“, Schieder said.
Schieder has also expressed satisfaction that on June 2, 2016 BiH signed the Agreement for the participation in COSME programme (Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs), which will provide new opportunities for SMEs and entrepreneurs from the country to strengthen networks throughout Europe, to access international markets and get better approach to finance.
Describing the current situation in the SMEs sector in the country, Schieder indicated the future steps required for their improvement. “At a country-wide level, Bosnia and Herzegovina should progress in implementation of the Reform Agenda to improve business environment in general. This includes adoption of a country-wide strategy for quality infrastructure, which has a strong relevance for SMEs’ easier implementation of the EU technical standards, and for creating a favourable business environment for companies in the wood processing and joinery production“, Schieder concluded.
Muhsin Ibrahimagić, Director of the Zenica Development Agency (ZEDA) stressed the importance of new ideas in creation of job opportunities. “This centre is something completely new in Zenica. These 500 square meters should become a meeting point of entrepreneurs, educational and research institutions, and governmental institutions with young skilled persons“, Ibrahimagić stated.
Although there are many laboratories for testing of building materials in BiH, there are no laboratories for testing joinery. This makes the SMEs in the country unable to fulfil the standards defined for the export of goods into EU countries. Therefore, the overall objective of the project “MENTOR II” is to stimulate economic growth and employment through new innovative services for the SMEs dealing with wood processing and/or joinery. This will be achieved by improving local business support services for:
- BH wood processing industry, joinery producers and their product development, with the establishment of the first BH joinery testing laboratory and presentation of EU and BiH standards set in joinery production,
- Promotion of innovations and new technologies through the Impulse Creative Centre and Technology Park,
- Availability of a better qualified workforce through the training of students and SMEs in standardization of the final joinery products.
The total value of the project is EUR 664.616,77 of which the EU is funding EUR 499.778,57 from IPA 2011. The project duration is 30 months and it will end in May 2017. It is implemented by the ZEDA Agency in cooperation with partners the City of Zenica and University of Zenica.
