Jems
As part of the CODES project, The Cross-Border Support Program for Innovators enables innovators, startup teams, small and medium-sized enterprises, and researchers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro to access innovation laboratories, mentorship, and infrastructure for prototype development.
Participants have access to laboratories in Mostar, Tuzla, Nikšić, and Zadar, where they can develop and test innovative solutions regardless of their location within the region. You can apply HERE.
What is the Cross-Border Support Program for Innovators?
The Cross-Border Support Program for Innovators is a regional initiative that connects innovation centers, laboratories, and experts from three countries with the goal of accelerating the development of innovations and prototypes. The program provides direct access to resources that shorten the path from an idea to a functional product.
The goal of the program is to accelerate the transformation of an idea into a functional and tested prototype through practical work and expert support.
Individuals and organizations developing innovative solutions with the potential for further development or prototype improvement are eligible to apply.
Eligible applicants include:
- individuals (innovators)
- startup teams
- small and medium-sized enterprises
- researchers
- development teams
Participants must come from:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Croatia
- Montenegro
The program is intended for projects with clear potential for technical development, testing, and scaling.
What Do Participants Gain Through the Program?
Participants receive a combination of infrastructure, expert knowledge, and regional connectivity that enables faster and higher-quality innovation development.
Key benefits include:
- access to laboratories in Mostar, Tuzla, Nikšić, and Zadar
- expert mentorship from professionals in technology and engineering fields
- development and testing of prototypes in real-world conditions
- networking with innovation centers and partners across the region
The program reduces development costs and shortens the time required to create a functional prototype.
Why Is This Program Important for Innovation?
The program is important because it addresses key barriers to innovation development in the region, including:
- lack of access to specialized laboratories
- high prototype development costs
- lack of expert mentorship
- weak connections between innovation ecosystems in the region
Through shared infrastructure and cross-border cooperation, the program enables faster innovation development and easier market entry.
Participation in the program does not only mean access to equipment, but also entry into a network of people who understand innovation development. Participants gain:
- concrete resources for idea development
- support from experts who help avoid technical mistakes
- the opportunity to test ideas outside their domestic market
- access to a regional community of innovators
This program is especially valuable for those who have an idea but lack the infrastructure needed to turn it into a product.
All details of the public call can be found via the provided link, while the program document contains additional information about the infrastructure available in each of the laboratories participating in the program.
The program is part of the CODES project, implemented through the Interreg VI-A IPA Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027, with co-financing from the European Union.
