The existing trams that drive through Zagreb’s streets are set to receive additional devices and software to ensure the greater safety of both passengers and pedestrians.
Končar received HRK 13.3m in EU grants for a project to further develop its tram safety – SafeTRAM, for which yesterday the company signed a contract with the Ministry of the Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, reports Poslovni Dnevnik on the 26th of July, 2017.
As Darinko Bago, CEO of Končar said, the money will be spent on a research and development project which will total HRK 18.4 million and will be conducted in cooperation with the Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing.
“We are planning to develop a system that will make our tram(s) more secure and more competitive in the global market, software and hardware development will increase the safety of passengers in vehicles, as well as other road users, especially pedestrians,” stated Bago.
Martina Dalić, Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, pointed out that this is of particularl interest because it applies to large companies, and not just to small and medium-sized companies, which are mainly in the focus of European funds.
“This is one of the best examples of the benefits European Union membership brings, although there was a lot of skepticism during the negotiations, especially because of the compromise we had to make, it is now clear that the benefits we have from the EU, especially in regards to our economy, surpass all that we had to swallow before, “said Dalić.
As stated by Ante Jurišić from Sedam IT, this is a completely new concept. In the category of EU medium-sized companies, funds were given to Work in Hand, Terra Sportiva, Drunken Lumberjack and Reacher. In the segment of small companies funding decisions from the “Competence and Development of Small and Medium-sized Entrepreneurship” competition, 13 companies and trades were awarded money.
Excerpts taken and translated from Poslovni Dnevnik
