EBRD lending Serbia 80 mln euro for tech park projects

The EBRD loan will support the development of new technology park facilities in Nis, Cacak, Krusevac, and the Bio 4 tech park in Belgrade, as well as expansion of existing facilities, the EBRD said in a press release.

"This project will help to support regional development and the retention of talent and entrepreneurship in Serbia, as it will provide critical business infrastructure for the incubation and growth of innovative start-ups and businesses in the country," said EBRD Director for the Western Balkans, Matteo Colangeli.

Offices will be leased primarily to SMEs, entrepreneurs and start-ups that focus on innovation and the development of technology. The roll-out of an internship programme across the STPs will also be supported as part of the project.

Serbia already has four tech parks and an incubator, which are home to around 180 innovative companies, but existing tech parks are approaching full capacity in terms of rental space, and the potential to attract and host more tenants is increasingly limited, the EBRD noted.

($ = 0.9135 euro)