UNIDO strengthens innovation ecosystems in cooperation with Slovenian and Serbian partners

UNIDO webinar “Go: Global Strengthening Innovation Systems- Supporting Digital Transformation of SMEs” was held on 23 February 2021 focusing on the importance on how multi-stakeholder cooperation can strengthen innovation ecosystems to support digital transformation of Serbian small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Participants and panellists discussed the importance of digitalization, smart manufacturing, and new market needs that have evolved as a consequence of Covid-19 pandemic.

In the context of UNIDO’s ongoing work programmes, UNIDO Managing Director Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento highlighted UNIDO’s engagement in supporting the digital transformation of SMEs through partnership with key actors such as the Slovene Enterprise Fund. He also highlighted the importance of countries having access to manufacturing technologies and infrastructure to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 9 “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”.

The event was organized by the UNIDO in association with the Slovene Enterprise Fund, within the #StartupPlusProgram, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Slovenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, the Cabinet of Minister for Innovation and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, and the Faculty of Technical Sciences of the University of Novi Sad. The event was financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

The event presented UNIDO’s project “Promoting Smart Manufacturing through Innovation System Building in Serbia”. The project aims at fostering smart manufacturing in Serbia through building innovation and business ecosystems. Furthermore, the project will establish a pilot Smart Manufacturing Innovation Centre (SMIC) to raise awareness on the opportunities and challenges of the digital transformation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies for Serbian SMEs, and will serve as an innovation hub and a centre of competence for advanced 4IR technologies in manufacturing.

Watch the video recording of the event here.

Further materials of the event are available presentations, pictures and agenda of the event.