As part of the STARTER conference, one of the significant regional events dedicated to the development of entrepreneurship and the startup ecosystem, the Banja Luka Regional Chamber of Commerce presented activities within the Sole MED project.
The 2026 STARTER Conference in Banja Luka brought together hundreds of participants from BiH and the region, including representatives of startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, investment funds, international projects, as well as institutions that support the development of innovation and entrepreneurship. The conference program was organized through panel discussions, thematic sessions and mentor corner activities, with a focus on the development of the startup ecosystem, available sources of financing, digital transformation and connecting young entrepreneurs with the business community.
Participation in the conference was used as an opportunity for participants, primarily startups, young entrepreneurs and representatives of the innovation sector, to learn more about the initiative to establish the Startup Lab at the Chamber and the planned activities that this program will develop in the coming period. A special focus was on strengthening cooperation between the economy, innovation actors and educational institutions, as well as on creating support for the development of new business ideas.
During the event, numerous contacts were made with participants and organizations from the region, which represents an important step towards further networking and future cooperation within the startup and innovation ecosystem.
The Sole MED project is implemented within the framework of the Interreg Euro-MED programme of the European Union, which supports transnational cooperation and innovation in the Mediterranean region. The lead partner of the project is the Municipality of Ferrara (Italy), and partners from Italy, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Cyprus are participating in the project, including the Regional Chamber of Commerce of Banja Luka as a partner from BiH. The total budget of the project is EUR 1,434,750.00, of which 80% is financed from the Interreg Euro-MED fund, while the remaining 20% is provided through national and partner co-financing. The project implementation period is from 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2027.
