The “Start in Mountains” project (Startup Village as an Impulse for Mountain Areas) is a four-year initiative implemented under the Interreg Europe 2021–2027 programme, co-financed by the European Commission.
This project brings together 8 partners committed to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in mountainous rural areas across 7 European countries, with a total allocated budget of €1.47 million.
Mountainous rural areas (MRAs) represent nearly 30% of EU territory and are home to 13% of its population. Yet, many of these regions face declining populations, inadequate service, and stagnant local economies.
The “Start in Mountains” project aims to address these challenges by empowering rural regions to become drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship. This is achieved through the Startup Village model, which refers to places or networks of smaller communities that support innovation and strive to create a stimulating environment for entrepreneurs and innovative ecosystems.
The project’s goal is to enhance regional economic policy instruments to establish favourable conditions for developing entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystems in mountain rural areas. This will be achieved by customising measures to the unique needs of each territory and encouraging startup-driven innovation initiatives.
Through interregional exchange and learning process activities, partners and relevant stakeholders will participate in Interregional thematic workshops and peer review sessions to analyse local challenges and the potential of mountainous rural territories. The results will be compiled into regional reports and interregional analyses, serving as a foundation for the improvement of policy instruments addressed.
The Institute for Development and Innovation, which is a role designated for organisations from EU candidate countries, will coordinate project activities in Serbia, focusing on the Jablanica and Pčinja districts.
The Institute’s primary objective is to enhance economic policy by developing and promoting a new policy instrument called the Youth Company, which proposes indirect reimbursement of lump-sum taxation for entrepreneurs operating in rural areas. Additionally, the Institute will help organise local events and effectively communicate project results to decision-makers and other relevant parties.
Through its involvement in this project, the Institute aims to reduce regional disparities, improve conditions for youth retention in Serbia’s southern rural and mountainous areas, and create a sustainable environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, the Institute seeks to strengthen and expand its presence in southern Serbia by supporting local capacity building and sustainable development in collaboration with regional partners and key stakeholders.
The Institute for Development and Innovation will implement “Start in Mountains” activities until 2028, contributing to the programme’s strategic goals of enhancing economic development through both direct engagement with the labour market and the capacity building of institutions and organizations that support these efforts.
