S&T Country Report - Albania - WBC-INCO Net

1 Introduction
This thematic report is produced by the “Information Office of the Steering Platform
on Research for Western Balkan Countries” and reviews the situation of Innovation
Infrastructures in Serbia.
The report is based upon desk research, interviews and questionnaires with main
stakeholders.
The objective of this study is to enhance our understanding of the national innovation
system in Serbia. An overview of the situation as regards “Innovation Infrastructures”
such as clusters, technology and innovation centres, technological and science
parks, business-start-up centres/ technology incubators and some further related
organizations is given. The general environment is described as well as important
strategic documents and the main programmes and instruments for support. The
report concludes with a list and description of the main infrastructures.
The report was compiled in summer 2007.
1.1 General Environment for Setting Up Innovation Infrastructures
This first section deals with rules and regulations, describes the national framework
and the specific funds available.
Serbian economy is slowly improving since the defeat of Slobodan Milosevic’s
government in 2000, years of conflict, international sanctions and economic
mismanagement. Inflation has decreased and the foreign exchange reserves of the
central bank have increased. As well, significant progress has been made in the
areas of fiscal and money policy. The privatization created many opportunities for
developing small and medium enterprises.
Clearly, some countries or entities have generic local/regional support centres, but
lack some of the more sophisticated support institutions. Serbia, with a first incubator
in 2005, three clusters in fairly traditional industrial fields and no business/technology
parks despite long standing policy intentions to develop these, should also move
ahead in a more determined way in this area (European Commission, 2006).
Over the past five years of extensive political and economic reforms, Serbia has
developed into a stable democratic country with a fast growing market economy.
Western-oriented, democratic political parties have a strong majority among citizens
and the Government is shaping an attractive environment for business activities,
while legislative activities are intensely bringing the legal framework in line with the
EU regulations. As a member of the International Monetary Fund, Serbia exercises a
sound and consistent economic policy resulting in a strong economic growth, state
budget surplus, and rapid export expansion. The country’s progress is fully supported
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