Brief description Creation of a network of local development centres, aimed at contributing to the prosperity and sustainable development of the cross-border region and good relations between two neighbouring countries, through enhancement of cross-border regional and local economic cooperation.
Region Intra Western Balkan borders
Countries Serbia (SRB) – Croatia (HR)
Location SRB – Municipalities of Temerin, Žabalj and Titel

HR – Municipalities of Borovo and Negoslavci
Type of project partners Municipalities
Local/regional development agencies
Size (total budget including EU grants) € 50,000 to € 200,000
Main themes Competitiveness, business and SME development, trade and investment
Keywords (Types of Activities) Study visits, exchanges and networking
Education and training
Institutional building
Conferences/major events
Publications, websites, databases
Marketing, promotional activities, awareness campaigns
Keywords (Aspects of Good Practice) Genuine cross-border dimension
Genuine cross-border impact
Efficient
Good sustainability

Background and Objectives This project had two objectives:

  • To build the capacity of local and regional cross-border public institutions at the project partners neighbouring areas and so create conditions in order to stimulate and reinforce the joint development of entrepreneurship, to support the development of social entrepreneurship and “social enterprises”, and to manage EU programmes.
  • To promote and stimulate cross-border business cooperation, increase mutual trade and economic relationship between project partners neighbouring areas, in a socially and environmentally sustainable way, and so improve good relations across the border.
Main activities The project included the following groups of activities:

  • Establishing and equipping local development institutions – Four local development centres in Žabalj and Titel (SRB) and Borovo and Negoslavci (HR).
  • Establishing and equipping a cross-border development institution –  The Joint “Network of Centres” based in Temerin (SRB).
  • Education of individuals and capacity building – In-house vocational seminar; creating the team for writing and implementation of projects in partners’ municipalities; employment of young people in local development centres and joint Network’s office after successfully completing their training.
  • Development of business network infrastructure and its support – Creation of an action plan of the business support-assistance packages and work with project target groups and stakeholders; joint e-database containing information about municipal economies as a tool and basis for further business cooperation.
  • Improvement of cross-border cooperation – Joint interactive events; study visits and meetings of the entrepreneurs’ and farmers’ delegations from cross-border municipalities, in Borovo and Temerin; joint cross-border event Entrepreneurial-Agricultural-Innovation Fair in Temerin.
Main results The main direct results of the project were as follows:

  • Four functional Local Development Centres
  • One cross-border Network of these Centres
  • Five efficient project teams in the project partners’ municipalities
  • 10 young people employed
  • Forms and models of Network’s business assistance to the target groups accomplished
  • Trilingual (Croatian–Serbian–English) webpage, ICT links and business e-database

The project also created four new joint cross-border projects.
Aspects of good practice The project is is expected to accomplish a large number of interconnected actions on a cross-border basis, with very good sustainability prospects.
Start and completion dates: 01.03.2013 – 31.08.2014
More information www.cbcnetwork-cro-ser.com

http://www.croatia-serbia.com/en/projects-a-partners/2nd-call-for-proposals/item/196-network-of-the-centres-for-development-of-entrepreneurship-and-cross-border-cooperation

Partner SRB: Agency for Development of Temerin Municipality

Contact: Vladimir Biljnja, Tel: +381-21-851-518; +381-21-851-518; +381-64-394-15-63; +381-64-394-15-63
Partner HR: Borovo Municipality

Contact: Senka Romić, Tel: +385-32-439-598; +385-32-439-598; +385-98-97-25-392