ISCC Priorities
ISCC Priorities
The ISCC’s key priority is to identify areas of potential in the bilateral Ireland-Serbia
relationship through which both countries can benefit each other, increasing the
modest existing trade figures between the two countries through regular events that underline the many areas in which Ireland and Serbia are natural commercial partners.
This is consistently achieved through holding regular meetings with both
government and private sector representatives in Dublin, Cork, Belgrade and Novi
Sad, and through initiating and co-organising business networking events,
workshops and other knowledge exchange and familiarisation activities throughout
the year.
Promising areas of rapid growth
Linking ecosystems
Linking the Irish and Serbian innovation ecosystems through matching key hubs, incubators and accelerators in Dublin and Belgrade. Working closely with the Ministry for Science, Innovation and Technology in Belgrade, excellent connections are in place with Serbia’s Science and Technology Parks in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Cacak, and Nis; Biosense and Bio4; MIND, and Digital Serbia Initiative. These are matched on the Irish side with strong links to Enterprise Ireland, Guinness Enterprise Centre, the IDA, Furthr (formerly DBIC), Science Foundation Ireland, Teagasc etc.
Education
Establish ways to create early stage contact between the Irish and Serbian education systems, from high school through to post-graduate level. Using the existing successful model pioneered by DMI/DCI, establish deeper bilateral ties between the Irish and Serbian higher education systems, particularly in agricultural technology, and IT engineering and digital transformation.
Human Capital
Serbia’s developed, specialised education system produces significant numbers of engineers, particularly in the IT sector. This, added to a high level of English language proficiency, makes the local Human Capital market very attractive, particularly as a way of encouraging Foreign Direct Investment, and the relocation of international companies to the Serbian market, while also being a stimulus for Diaspora outreach.
Growth across all sectors would be accelerated by:
- Simplification of the visa process, in particular for business travellers, from Serbia to Ireland
- Encouragement of the initiation of direct flights between Dublin and Belgrade (Ryanair/Air Serbia)