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

C) Technological and Science Parks
No Technological and Science Parks have been implemented in BiH but there is a
plan to establish a Science and Technology Park in Zenica based on the
infrastructure and the skilled and educated workers of “Kemal Kapetanović”
(metallurgy institute). This institute was a distinguished scientific research institute,
linked to the steel factory in Zenica (the biggest in the former Yugoslav Republic) and
the Faculties of Metallurgy and Machinery. There also appears to be scope for
establishing technology parks in university towns such as Sarajevo, Banja Luka,
Mostar and Tuzla, however, much more research and analysis is required before this
becomes a reality (Pohl Consulting&Associates 2004).
As indicated in one of the presentation of Ismar Alagić and Maja Kišić from REZ
Agency, the future task of REZ Agency related to above mentioned Science and
Technology Park Zenica is to assure that the Park will:
• improve the competitiveness of SMEs in processing industry;
• enhance collaboration between private sector, universities and research
institutes; and
• promote and support research and development activities (Alagić and Kišić
2007).
D) Business-start-up Centres/ Technology Incubators
In Bosnia and Herzegovina incubators are mostly supported by donor countries, with
in co-operation by local government. More than six pilot incubators operate
throughout the country, but their main purpose is job creation. In BiH, while public
initiatives and strategies take time to be elaborated and implemented and are still
under discussion, a significant number of SMEs have indicated a preference for
private service providers.
The Active Business Incubators in BiH are based in Gradačac (formed in 1998),
Modrica-Tarevci (2002) and Mostar (2003). Two projects have been approved by the
EU Quick Impact Facilities 2 (EC programme) in Zenica and Žepce at the end of
2003. Each project received EUR 40.000 worth of support to help establish the
incubators using exist infrastructure and buildings. During 2003, feasibility studies
were undertaken to create incubators with an Information Communication
Technology focus in Bugojno and Sarajevo.
As stated in the SME Sector in the CARDS countries: A Panorama at Country and
Regional Level, there is a lack of policy with respect to business incubators in BiH;
the responsibility for implementation is unclear; and the national and international
resources to promote them effectively are missing. More generally, there is still a lack
of awareness of what they are on the part of entrepreneurs, ministries, business
associations, etc (Pohl Consulting&Associates 2004).
page 22/BIH