ABOUT BIT CENTER

BIT Centar was established in 2005 with the primary objective of providing support and fostering the growth of SMEs in ICT industry. The core focus of BIT revolves around the support and development of ICT companies and the broader industry. To fulfill these objectives, BIT has developed its services and programs, including SME assistance, training initiatives, a seed capital fund (SCF) and collaboration with the University of Tuzla (UNTZ) in the field of research and development.

BIT Center is a Science and Technology Park with its own infrastructure of about 3,000 square meters. Inside BIT Center there are 25 companies with a total of 230 employees, 70% are engineers, 10% are doctors and masters and the rest are final year students of the faculty. We are located in the city center and near the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, which is integrated into the infrastructure in various way. We work closely with the Public Administration, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and the business community. 

Today inside BIT Center is: BIT incubator, BIT training center, BIT R&D lab. Further more since 2018, BIT has established the CODEHub coworking space, for freelancers, students, visitors and business professionals. Over the years, the BIT has successfully established a network comprising more than 85 IT companies that have either utilized or are currently benefiting from the incubator services offered. Moreover, BIT maintains strong relationships with City of Tuzla, University of Tuzla, local business and various stakeholders. In addition to its local engagements, BIT has forged strong regional partnerships with similar organization in the area. These collaborations encompass diverse activities, programs and projects aimed at mutual advancement and progress.

The following thematic competences and experiences as well as operational capacities are relevant for projects: Support to SMEs: BIT has experience in providing support services to SMEs in the ICT sector. This expertise includes assisting SMEs in accessing advanced technologies, enhancing their innovation capacities and strengthening their competitiveness. Training programs: BIT has developed training programs aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of both staff members and for young people future entrepreneurs. These programs cover varus areas and they contribute to building capacity of individuals and companies. Cooperation with University: BIT collaborates in R&D projects with University of Tuzla. This partnership can contribute to the project’s objectives by fostering innovation, knowledge transfer, and academic – industry collaboration. Innovation labs: BIT has established innovation labs equipped with necessary resources. These labs can be upgraded through the project, can serve as space for entrepreneurs to develop and test their ideas, and can be utilized as part of the project activities to support the capacity building of innovators in cross – border area. Coworking space: BIT operates CODEHub Tuzla which is one of the four hubs established through the CODE project. Hub can be modernized and upgraded to provide enhanced support to the regional IT ecosystem. Hub is a meeting place for industry professionals and place for meetups, trainings and conferences to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration. Promotional campaigns: BIT has experience in conduction promotional campaigns which can be utilized to raise awareness about the project activities attract participants to training programs and promote achievements and outcomes and startups by the project. Human resources and Technical capacities: BIT has a team of professionals with expertise in various domains such as business development innovation management, technology and entrepreneurship. Additionally, BIT has technical capacities including infrastructure and equipment to support the implementation of training programs, innovation labs and activities in coworking spaces (meetups and events). 

BIT Centre was a lead partner on a project Support to Entrepreneurial Activates of young People under EU IPA Cross – border programme 2007 between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2015, BIT Centre was a partner on the project BESt 4 SMEs (Business Environment Strengthening for more SMEs in Tuzla and Neighbouring Municipalities) and in the period 2102-2015 R&D project NORBOTECH (NORwegian – BOsnian TECHnology Transfer based on Sustainable Systems Engineering and Embedded Systems in the Fields of Cloud Computing and Digital Signal Processing) funded by Norwegian ministry of Foreign affairs, implemented in Tuzla, Banja Luka and Dramen was successfully finished. Among this BIT Centre is focused on creating new jobs and new ICT Companies. During 2015 and 2016 BIT Centre implemented projects like “Partnership in innovation – My Practices and Work Ready Now” financed by USAID, “Start-up Academy” financed by Norwegian Embassy in Sarajevo and “Start-up Camp” financed by UNDP under “Dialogue for the future”. Since 2017 BIT Centar is a member of EEN (European entrepreneurship network) as a member of BITNET consortium and started with implementation two more projects that will improve ambient of SMEs and entrepreneurs in BIT and Tuzla and strengthen cooperation with Academia. Accept COSME and Horizon programs which are implemented under EEN project, BIT Center was a partner on Erasmus + project Benefit and CODE and 2CODE projects on IPA Cross border Croatia – Montenegro – Bosnia and Herzegovina program and Prominent Plus on MED Interreg programe. This year BIT is a partner on Strategic Approach to Green Transition (SAGT) on European Climate Initiative (EUKI) 2023 and Adrion regional policies for fostering of Digital Transformation of SME (DIGITRANS) under Europian Uninon - Intrreg Adrion Programme.

Robert Martic, +387 61 739 350, e-mail robert@bit.ba