The Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds, Nataša Tramišak, presented six grant agreements to the cities of Opatija, Rijeka, Kastav, and the municipalities of Čavle, Viškovo and Lovran. The agreements relate to the grants for the Systems of Entrepreneurial Zones and Start-up Incubators in the territory of the urban agglomeration of Rijeka.

At the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds in Zagreb, contracts for ITI projects of UA of Rijeka have been delivered today. On behalf of the City of Rijeka, the Mayor of Rijeka, Vojko Obersnel has received the contract. These six contracts are worth HRK 88.8 million.

The contracted projects include the project “Energana – Creative Technologies and IT industry Incubator” worth HRK 37 million, of which HRK 31 million is a grant. The aim of the project is to create a favourable environment for developing entrepreneurship, as well as, strengthening the competitiveness of IT and the creative industries in the Urban Agglomeration of Rijeka and encouraging the development of competitive products and services with higher added value, by widening the existing system of entrepreneurial incubators in the Urban Agglomeration of Rijeka and increasing the quality and service that they offer.

The planned funds will be used to put in place over 2,700 sq. m. of useful area in the power plant building of the former paper mill. Entrepreneurs will be supported on the basis of the mentioned programme activities in three main thematic areas: artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), computer game development and photo and video production.

The intention is to position the Energana incubator as an innovation hub that will bring together and connect professionals from the specified industries, and offer them support, through integrated activities, in the development of new products and services, networking, internationalisation and in seeking funding sources. The Energana project directly contributes to the achievement of the specific objectives indicator of the ITU mechanism 3a2 – “Enabling a favourable environment for establishing and developing companies”.

The project promoters are the Department of Entrepreneurship, the Department of Development, Urban Planning, Ecology and Land Management, the Department of Culture and the Information Technology Department. The total project value amounts to HRK 37,021,374, of which 85% is EU funding, and 15%, i.e. HRK 5,553,206, is funded by the City of Rijeka.

The programme is financed under the European Investment and Structural Funds – European Regional Development Fund – Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020, through the ITU mechanism – Startup Incubator System, Rijeka UA

The grant contracts have also been delivered to the cities of Opatija and Kastav, and to the municipalities of Čavle, Viškovo and Lovran.

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