Up to EUR 25,000 for IT startups - Competition for grants in June 2013

Finance and Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic announced that a competition for grants for IT startups would be held in June. Touring the Microsoft development center in Belgrade, Dinkic said that the state would provide a financial support to startup companies in the amount of up to EUR 25,000, adding that the state would also provide a workspace in the Technology Park in Zvezdara to all startups in the IT sector.

The finance minister explained that the visit to the Microsoft development center was organized with the aim of implementing and promoting the Serbian government's Strategy for Support to the IT Industry, which is one of the most important industries for the development of economy. He noted that a cooperation in two projects had been agreed upon with the Microsoft company.

- The first project is focused on financial support to startups with the Serbian government giving up to EUR 25,000 worth of grants to the best projects in the opinion of Microsoft experts. We will be providing startup companies with logistics support in the form of workspace in the Technology Park in Zvezdara, whereas Microsoft will be helping startups in business incubators by giving them free software - Minister Dinkic explained.

The second project will see the issuance of so-called digital passports to all those looking for a job, with the aim of making their contacts with employers easier.

He said that the Microsoft development center employed 103 experts working on famous "office software," which sells and installs on computers worldwide.