Belgrade, 24 April 2023 – More than 160 public and privately owned enterprises, research institutions, civil society organisations, associations and local self-governments have submitted their business solutions for the Challenge for Innovative Solutions for the Green Transition of Serbian Economy, launched in February this year within the “EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia” project. This call for proposals which will stay open until the end of 2026, has the aim of supporting innovative solutions in all five key areas in the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. 

Innovative business solutions have been proposed in the fields of decarbonisation (decreased dependency on fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy sources), circular economy (preservation and more efficient use of natural resources), environmental and air pollution reduction, protection and conservation of nature and biodiversity and development of rural and sustainable food supply systems.

For all the candidates that fulfilled conditions contained in the call for proposals and passed the first round of the selection process, an Info-Day has been organised where they would receive additional information pertaining to future steps in applying for mentoring and technical support in further development of the proposed project ideas. The solutions which turn out to have the greatest potential of achieving ecological, economic and social benefits, would also be provided co-funding schemes to support their implementation in practice. It is expected that the selected proposals would contribute to the implementation of the Green Agenda and facilitate fulfilment of the obligations and aims in the process of Serbia’s accession to the European Union. 

The great turnout that the call has attracted is a result of joint efforts by the domestic and international partners in stimulating innovation and accelerating the green transition of Serbian economy and society. 

This Challenge for Innovative Solutions Call for Proposals has been published within the project “EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia”, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme with the technical and financial support by the European Union and in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with additional funds provided by the governments of Sweden, Switzerland and Serbia.