European funds for local companies - 750m EUR worth of support to development of small and mid-sized ICT companies

Thanks to the Agreement on Information and Communication Technology Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP), Serbian companies have got the opportunity to join the realization of the technology improvement projects that are financed by European Community. Local companies will be able to apply already in January 2010, when the invitation for submission of draft projects will be announced.

The Memorandum on support has been signed in Brussels by the Minister of Telecommunications and IT Society of Serbia, Jasna Matić, and the Commissar for IT Society and Media, Viviana Reading.

- This is a great opportunity for local companies, especially for over 1,500 small and mid-sized enterprises that operate excellently. All of them can submit their draft projects and apply for the funds from the work quality improvement programme. The programme is particularly focused on the provision of support to small and mid-sized enterprises, and not only to those that deal with information-communication technologies, but also to all others that can significantly improve their performances, products or services by using these technologies - Minister Matić told "Blic".

About 750m EUR will be set aside for the programme. Its basic aim is to stimulate innovations and competitiveness through broad use of information-communication technologies in economic and public sectors, as well as to help development of leading markets for innovative ICT solutions, especially in the fields of public importance, and to create broad range of new business opportunities.

- Serbia will now obtain the status of associated country, which means that it will participate under the same conditions as the countries members. Our aim is to contribute as much as possible, with the help of direct benefits and through joint work, to the strengthening of European market in the field of information technologies, as well as make it possible for the citizens, business circles and public administration to use these technologies efficiently, and that whole Europe benefits from that - said European Commissar Viviana Reading.