On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, the InnoDIGI/EU4DigitalSME team will hold a hybrid event. During this event, Mr. Gilles Rebattet, Head of Operations Section for Economic Development, Infrastructure and Natural Resources at the EU Delegation, Ms. Eva Näher, GIZ Programme Manager,and Ms. Snežana Tomašević, GIZ Grant Manager, will launch the First Public Call for Project Proposals for the Support to Innovative Technological Projects applicable in the industry through public-private and private-private partnerships between the industry, associations, business networks and research and development institutions and implementation of measures focusing on the technological transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises for the purpose of supporting their growth and application of their innovative solutions.

The public call is part of the efforts of the EU4DigitalSME project, which is co-financed by the EU and the Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Germany and implemented by GIZ, to build the capacities of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the provision of support to the development of the private sector through innovation and digitalisation. The call focuses on the transfer of know-how and exchange of opinions with research and development organisations from the Western Balkans countries, and the total budget amounts to 700,000.00 EUR.

By publishing the public call for legal entities, we are encouraging the cooperation between the private sector and research and development organisations and inviting legal entities, public and private research and development institutions and educational institutions, as well as business support organisations and development agencies to apply together.

It is an honour and a pleasure to invite you to participate in the launch of the call online by registering for the event using the link Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams by Monday, February 6, 2023.

On the same day, following the opening ceremony, the call will be available on the website of the project www.EU4DigitalSME.ba.

The contribution to increased use of digital technologies and digital innovation will result in improved performance and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises and relevant service providers in the domestic, regional and international markets.

Following the launch of the public call, two online info sessions will be held for potential candidates on February 14 and 16 at 14:00. The links for info session:

1. Info session (14.02.2023.)

2. Info session (16.02.2023.)

The value of the “EU4DigitalSME” project amounts to 6.1 million EUR, out of which the EU provided 5 million EUR, whereas the Federal Republic of Germany provided 1.1 million EUR. The project lasts until 2024 and is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.