EU money funding new projects in Dalmatia.
During the first year of partnership between UHY Savjetovanje consulting firm from Split and Polish company Stowarzyszezenie B-4, which has vast experience in EU projects and cluster creation, ten EU and seven national projects have been prepared with a total value of over five million euros, two clusters have been created, while the portfolio of projects which are in the works exceeds 50 million euros, reports Poslovni.hr on October 20, 2015.
This was confirmed by the managing director of UHY Savjetovanja Krešimir Budiša, who noted that the new Split Business Accelerator will support clusters and entrepreneurs who have been in business for at least a year. Adriatic ICT Cluster has 20 members whose total income exceeds 200 million kuna and who employ more than 200 workers in Dalmatia. Adriatic Cluster of Small-Scale Shipbuilding, which is comprised of 12 companies, has more than 300 million kuna of revenue and more than 400 employees in Dalmatia.
“Clusters have been established following the model of Polish clusters, in order to finance the development of entrepreneurship in Dalmatia in strategic areas”, Budiša said. Two large new projects have already entered the list of potential projects for funding through EU funds by the Ministry of Science. One of the projects is “Implementation of Modern Research Infrastructure at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture of the University of Split, With Smart Specialization in Green and Energy Efficient Construction”, worth 10.5 million euros. The project would be financed from the European Regional Development Fund. Budiša believes Croatia has the opportunity to become one of the leaders in the EU in that area.
The other project is also worth around 10.5 million euros, and includes the equipping of the building of the three faculties at the University Campus in Split with new laboratory equipment. The consulting firm has also prepared a project for the Split Clinical Hospital Centre, and they are currently working on several important national projects for cultural heritage protection worth more than 10 million euros. Due to the confidentiality of data, Budiša could not disclose any details.
“We are preparing projects worth more than six million euros for various companies in the city of Split and its surroundings”, Budiša said. The first modern tasting facility for olive oil on the Brač island, the project led by Brachia Cooperative, is one of seven national projects. The consulting firm is also working on the creation of development strategies for five municipalities and on developing a strategy of urban agglomeration for the City of Split. In November, they plan to open an office in Zadar in a new co-working facility which was also financed from EU funds.
