Incubator for good and innovative projects - Construction of Research and Technology Park in Zvezdara, worth 13 million euros, starts in March 2011

(Future look of the Research and Technology Park in Zvezdara)

Construction of the Research and Technology Park in Zvezdara, which will be intended for innovative companies, should commence before the end of March 2011. The complex worth 13 million euros, situated on the area of Zvezdara Forest of about 7 ha, will be hosting newly formed companies within a business incubator, as well as large companies that will be able to rent a whole building.

- There will be 5 buildings within the complex, spanning a total of 16,000 square meters. The final phase of an international tender for selection of the contractor is underway. We expect to sign an agreement with the selected contractor within next 30 days – Darko Djukic, the Director of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), which is a special unit formed for the needs of the implementation of projects from the credit arrangement between the Ministry of Science and Technology Development and the European Investment Bank (EIB), says in an interview for eKapija.

Mr. Djukic also says that the Park is expected to be finished and ready for the first tenants in early 2012.

- By its concept, the Research and Technology Park is a form of cooperation between the commercial sector and the university. It is intended for companies of various sizes. Part of the space will serve as an incubator for small start up and spin off companies that are mainly a result of successful projects at the university or science institutes. The largest number of candidates will probably be from the sector of electrical engineering since Mihajlo Pupin Institute and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering are in vicinity of the complex – the PIU Director explains.

Within that part of the complex, just like in every other incubator, companies will be able to share the services of bookkeepers, lawyers, maintenance of premises, security and other services, while the space will be rented on the period of 3 years.

- The other part of the Research and Technology Park is intended for large companies that would like to open their development departments in that location and require a bigger space, or maybe even a whole building – says our interlocutor.

He stresses that it is possible that the Research and Technology Park in Zvezdara will be much bigger than planned.

- These five buildings occupy an area of about 4 ha, but there will probably be a possibility of expansion of the complex if the park shows good results and the need for its expansion emerges – Mr. Djukic announces.

(Concrete structure on the area of Zvezdara Forest)

The idea for the Research and Technology Park project in Zvezdara exists since 1989. The location was chosen because of the vicinity of Mihajlo Pupin Institute.

- Construction in this location started in 1989 when a concrete structure was built, but nothing else has been done ever since. Zvezdara Forest is one of the most beautiful parts of the city and is currently impaired by the block of five concrete-steel skeletons overgrown by weed and grass. We have decided to finish the construction of these facilities and, thus, create conditions in the quietness of Zvezdara Forest for the work of development-oriented companies – says Mr. Djukic.

According to our interlocutor, the author of the main project for the complex in Zvezdara is the company Metex.

The Ministry of Science and Technology Development has earmarked EUR 13 million for this project from a loan of the European Investment Bank (EIB). The complex is later expected to become self-sustainable, that is, it will be able to cover all expenditures from the rent paid.

About the Project Implementation Unit (PIU)

PIU Research and Development Ltd. is the unit that manages investment infrastructure projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology Development, established in accordance with the loan arrangement between the Government of Serbia and the European Investment Bank. PIU Research and Development is currently implementing 14 infrastructure projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology Development. Its staff consists of quality engineers of various profiles, lawyers, economists and project managers, as well as PhDs, who together form project teams that monitor implementation of projects from the earliest phases of the project task formulation to the supervision of implementation of technical and financial parts of projects and management of the developed infrastructure.

S.O.