The opportunities offered by the PowerUp! competition for innovative entrepreneurs are of great importance for the Serbian startup ecosystem, and the InnoEnergy projects are in line with the strategic objectives of the Ministry. “The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is one of our most important partners in an ecosystem for innovations building. Programs such as PowerUp! are a great opportunity for our startups to get the best possible support for growth and development on the global market. I am convinced that our partnership and joint projects will contribute considerably to the economic growth of the Republic of Serbia, based on the knowledge and innovations, the opening of a larger number of startups and the creation of new, smart jobs” – said Minister Nenad Popović after a meeting with Jakub Miler, President of InnoEnergy Central Europe.

PowerUp! is the biggest competition for startups in Central and Eastern Europe including areas such as energy, mobility and smart technologies. In addition to the financial prize, the winner will also receive opportunity to join a prestigious business accelerator – the Highway® by InnoEnergy, where participants can receive comprehensive support, combining mentoring and practical assistance in team building, product protection and access to international customers as well as financial investment. This year, the topic of clean air has been raised. For the first time in history, a startup with the best technology to reduce air pollution will receive a special Clean Air Challenge Award.

Submitted startups will take part in European business mentors training programs. The workshops will prepare participants for the national and regional finals, during which they will present their ideas to the jury. The winner will be selected on 21 May in Krakow during Impact’19, one of the largest economic conferences in Central and Eastern Europe.

The cooperation with the Ministry aims to help InnoEnergy to search for the most innovative Serbian projects. “The Ministry has highly contributed to promising negotiations with further important actors of the Serbian ecosystem which creates an opportunity to exchange information about our portfolio and expertise. InnoEnergy gladly welcomes the Ministry’s support in the promotion of PowerUp! among Serbian entrepreneurs, researchers and students to choose best Country winner and proudly represent it in Grand Final” – commented Jakub Miler, President of InnoEnergy Central Europe.