The agreement for the performance of construction works relating to the reconstruction and conversion of the Energana building was signed by Rijeka mayor Marko Filipović and Stipe Gulić, representative of the contractor – consortium Lavčević and Lavčević-inženjering.

The contractor of construction works worth HRK 28,494,581.87 (exclusive of VAT) is the consortium Lavčević; Lavčević – Engineering from Split. Project supervision will be performed by Prag from Rijeka, and expert supervision by Karloline – Kling from Lič. The beginning of works is envisaged towards the end of March 2022, and the deadline for the completion of works is June 2023.

The main goal of the EU project Energana – Incubator for creative technologies and the IT industry is to strengthen competitiveness and encourage growth and development of newly set up and existing small and medium enterprises in the IT industry and creative technologies in the territory of the Rijeka Urban Agglomeration, owing to up-to-date business infrastructure that includes incubation and networking of entrepreneurs in target industries.

Energana is primarily intended for business starters and entrepreneurs in the growth phase in IT and creative industries and related fields, furthermore for the start-ups created as a result of the Start-up Incubator Programme, the activities of the incubator are also aimed at students, high school students, artists, educational and cultural institutions and scientific and higher education institutions.

Through integrated activities, users of Energana will receive support in the development of new products and services, networking, internationalisation and search for funding.

the agreement was signed by Rijeka mayor Marko Filipović and Stipe Gulić, representative of the contractor

“This project is a step forward in encouraging entrepreneurship in the field of IT and creative and cultural industries. I am also glad that the European Union has recognised this project and has included itself in co-funding. One of our roles as a local self-government unit is to create conditions for the development of entrepreneurship, especially the type that generates new jobs, and also above-average income of employees and I believe we are going successfully in that direction. If the works go according to plan, the Energana building should be completed and ready to receive the first users at the end of next year”, said Mayor Filipović, adding that Energana will be available to Rijeka citizens and also to all those who want to come to Rijeka to develop new industries.

The total value of the project Energana – Incubator for creative technologies and the IT industry amounts to HRK  46,315,956, out of which the amount of HRK 31,468,168 is co-financed under the European Regional Development Fund – Operational Program ‘Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020’ through the Integrated Territorial Investment Mechanism (ITI mechanism), and HRK 2,776,603 by the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds.

Organising functional premises for users

The incubator with over 2,700 sq.m. of usable area on three floors will provide users with incubation services: work space and equipment, supporting infrastructure, mentoring, networking and international cooperation; educational services, organisation of workshops, seminars, training courses, conferences, meetups and panels; rental of space and equipment; advisory services in the market such as business plans, analyses, studies, and support in applying for EU projects, support services for internationalisation, namely the acceleration programme, promotional activities, foreign market research, organisation of B2B programmes and fairs, as well as legal services.

Customer support will be provided in three main thematic areas: artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), computer game development, and photo and video production.

The premises of Energana will also host the Data Centre, a data centre that will offer data storage services to incubator users, as well as to interested economic operators.

Through the construction of the Energan Incubator, Rijeka decided to invest in the development of IT and creative industries, which are recognised as the industries of the future, and which advantages are visible in the number of jobs they generate, above average salaries, positive contribution to gross domestic product and a high level of technological competences and development and research potentials.