Contract Signed for the Grant Allocation for the Competence Center Project Worth 119.2 Million Kuna

In the premises of the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, a Contract was signed for the allocation of non-repayable funds for the Competence Center project for advanced engineering in Nova Gradiška, worth 119.2 million kuna.

The purpose of this project is to enhance the competitiveness of the business sector and the region of Western Slavonia by establishing research and development infrastructure and increasing investment in the development of new products and services based on RDI activities, with the project implementation starting from July 1 of this year.

Through the implementation of 7 collaborative research and development projects over a period of 4.5 years from the start of the project, the development and commercialization of 7 innovative products new to companies and the market is planned, new employment of highly educated workforce, protection of intellectual property – 2 patents, 5 industrial designs, 2 trademarks, and 5 processes; an increase in private sector investment in RDI by 150%, which will collectively contribute to the growth of partner companies’ revenues, exports, profitability, employment growth, and the establishment of 25 new technology-oriented companies.

A total of 7 partners are involved in the implementation of the Competence Center project for advanced engineering in Nova Gradiška – Industrial Park Nova Gradiška d.o.o., Klimaoprema d.d., Migautomatika d.o.o., Hladni val d.o.o., Altpro d.o.o., Inin d.o.o., and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Slavonski Brod, as well as 2 collaborating companies on the project – Atlantic Aminolabs d.o.o. and Clarum d.o.o., with the aim of achieving maximum synergy effects in developing support for innovative RDI activities of companies through the application of research and their commercialization.

In the first part of the project implementation, the construction of a business building on an area of 3,074 m2 is planned, worth approximately 41.5 million kuna, as well as the equipping of laboratories for 3D technology, laboratories for high-speed metal processing, laboratories for heat treatment, laboratories for automation and robotics, and the purchase of IT equipment worth 28 million kuna. The financing of the project implementation involves partners together with the project holder – CEKOM for advanced engineering N. Gradiška with 20% of the total eligible project costs, while the remaining 80% are non-repayable funds obtained through the call for proposals “Support for the Development of Competence Centers” from the European Regional Development Fund, to which the project was submitted back in August 2017.

CEKOM NI NG supports the integrated economic transformation of metal processing, mechanical engineering, and food production by supporting technological and practical innovations (modernization, diversification, transition, radical technological changes, and the introduction of innovations). The realization of the Project establishes quality RDI infrastructure, contributes to the development of the regional innovation system, enhances cooperation between the business and research and development sectors, supports private sector investment in research and development activities, and enables the development of human resources in the field of research and development and new technologies.

That Nova Gradiška is a small town with big ideas is evidenced by the fact that the City of Nova Gradiška has so far implemented over 500 million kuna in projects co-financed by EU funds. Currently, projects worth more than 167 million kuna are in implementation and preparation. The importance of investing in the development of knowledge and technologies is the main driver of modern economies, and the key to competitive advantage lies precisely in the development of RDI projects. Nova Gradiška ranks among the better cities based on entrepreneurship and has recognized this project as a key to success for the development of future investments.

It is particularly important to emphasize that the local development agency of the City of Nova Gradiška – Industrial Park Nova Gradiška d.o.o. independently prepared the project application, demonstrating that even small towns like Nova Gradiška have highly skilled human capacities necessary for preparing very complex project applications for one of the most demanding calls published under the Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020. The complexity of the call and project applications is also indicated by the information that the evaluation of projects by the competent authorities lasted almost 3 years. That the economic development of a city can be based precisely on projects co-financed from EU funds is evidenced by the fact that Industrial Park Nova Gradiška d.o.o. has so far secured more than 115 million kuna in non-repayable funds and stimulated investments of more than 171 million kuna.

Industrial Park Nova Gradiška d.o.o. is currently implementing the Technology Incubator project worth 29.8 million kuna, which is in its final phase and includes the construction and equipping of a total of 55 office and production spaces for technology-oriented and newly established companies on an area of 3,800 m2; and on the same plot, the start of construction of the CEKOM business building for advanced engineering N. Gradiška is planned for the end of this year. The synergy of these two projects will provide entrepreneurs in the broader regional area with high-quality business and research and development infrastructure along with business support provided by the employees of IPNG d.o.o. through the business and marketing services department. In this way, it will strengthen the competitiveness of the business sector in the region, support knowledge-based entrepreneurship and new technologies, enhance the export orientation of companies and competitiveness in the international market, create conditions for the opening of quality jobs, all of which will contribute to the smart and sustainable regional development of Slavonia.

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