Network of Centres for Development of Entrepreneurship and Cross-Border Cooperation

This project had two objectives: • To build the capacity of local and regional cross-border public institutions at the project partners neighbouring areas and so create conditions in order to stimulate and reinforce the joint development of entrepreneurship, to support the development of social entrepreneurship and “social enterprises”, and to manage EU programmes. • To promote and stimulate cross-border business cooperation, increase mutual trade and economic relationship between project partners neighbouring areas, in a socially and environmentally sustainable way, and so improve good relations across the border. The project included the following groups of activities: Establishing and equipping local development institutions - Four local development centres in Žabalj and Titel (SRB) and Borovo and Negoslavci (HR). Establishing and equipping a cross-border development institution - The Joint "Network of Centres" based in Temerin (SRB). Education of individuals and capacity building - In-house vocational seminar; creating the team for writing and implementation of projects in partners’ municipalities; employment of young people in local development centres and joint Network’s office after successfully completing their training. Development of business network infrastructure and its support - Creation of an action plan of the business support-assistance packages and work with project target groups and stakeholders; joint e-database containing information about municipal economies as a tool and basis for further business cooperation. Improvement of cross-border cooperation - Joint interactive events; study visits and meetings of the entrepreneurs' and farmers' delegations from cross-border municipalities, in Borovo and Temerin; joint cross-border event Entrepreneurial-Agricultural-Innovation Fair in Temerin.

The main direct results of the project were as follows: • Four functional Local Development Centres; • One cross-border Network of these Centres; • Five efficient project teams in the project partners' municipalities; • 10 young people employed; • Forms and models of Network’s business assistance to the target groups accomplished; • Trilingual (Croatian–Serbian–English) webpage, ICT links and business e-database; The project also created four new joint cross-border projects. The project accomplished a large number of interconnected actions on a cross-border basis, with very good sustainability prospects. The new Network was established as a joint cross-border institution of local entrepreneurial development Centres in partners’ municipalities of Borovo and Negoslavci in the Republic of Croatia and Temerin, Žabalj and Titel in the Republic of Serbia. The objective of the new cross-border Network was tangible contribution to the prosperous and sustainable economic development of the project partners’ municipalities, cross-border region of Slavonia and Vojvodina. Relations between two neighbouring Danube region countries have also been improved. The project promoted and stimulated cross-border business cooperation, increased the number of mutual trade and economic relationships between project partners from the neighbouring areas in a socially and environmentally sustainable way and improved good relations across the border.