The Innovation Fund announces the fifth public call for the Smart Start Program, intended for promising teams who wish to develop their first prototype and offer innovative solutions to contemporary market challenges. The application deadline is November 14, 2025, at 12:00 (noon).
The call is open to teams of 2 to 5 members, citizens of Serbia who are not owners of other domestic companies. In the event of approved funding, teams will be required to establish a company in Serbia.
The program provides up to RSD 5.4 million for the development of a prototype or a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), as well as an additional RSD 600,000 for mentoring support. The funding covers up to 90% of the total project budget, while the remaining share must be provided by the teams themselves.
In addition to financial support, program participants will have access to mentorship and expert advice guiding them through all stages of development — from market research and idea testing to creating a business model. The program is designed to help teams validate their ideas and adapt their products to real market needs.
All interested applicants can submit their proposals online via the Innovation Fund’s portal, where the complete application documentation is also available.
During the call period, the Fund will organize online info sessions every Wednesday starting from September 17 at 1:00 PM, in order to provide teams with all necessary information about the program’s conditions and opportunities. Access link.
Funding for the implementation of the fifth public call is provided from the Budget of the Republic of Serbia for 2025, through the allocation of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, in the total amount of up to RSD 280 million.
Interest in the program has been growing year after year. Since 2022, nearly 800 applications have been submitted, and the Fund has supported 137 newly established companies of promising teams with total funding of around RSD 702 million. Today, more than half of these startups are successfully generating revenue on the market with their innovative products, services, and technologies.