Public call is open

AI Startups in Focus

 Apply for the KATALITIK Co-Investment Grant Program

The Innovation Fund has launched a new program to support startups developing products and services based on artificial intelligence, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the European Union, and the World Bank, through the Serbia Accelerating Innovation and Growth Entrepreneurship Project (SAIGE).

Katalitik program is designed to foster entrepreneurship and the digital economy in Serbia by supporting startups that apply artificial intelligence in developing their products and services. Through a co-investment mechanism, the program enables the financing of innovative enterprises that already have interested investors ready to support their further growth.

The program is open to micro and small enterprises registered in Serbia, majority-owned by the founding team, not older than ten years, and with signed investment agreements in place. At the time of application, startups are expected to have developed at least a prototype of a product or service that applies AI technology.

Startups that meet the program’s eligibility criteria are eligible for a grant of up to EUR 200,000, conditional upon securing an external investment of at least an equal amount. The minimum qualifying investment for applications to be considered by the Fund is EUR 50,000. In addition to financial support, the program also offers mentoring services to ensure high-quality product development and the improvement of business models.

The public call will remain open until the available budget of EUR 7.4 million is fully allocated. Applications will be evaluated in cycles, approximately every three to four months. All information about the program’s conditions and supporting documentation is available on the official website of the Innovation Fund.

The development of market-oriented solutions based on artificial intelligence, tailored to the concrete needs of industry, is strongly supported through accelerated commercialization and greater access to private investment. By strengthening the capacity of startups to enter the market, the applicability of AI solutions in the economy is enhanced, laying the groundwork for Serbia's more prominent positioning as a regional center for the development and application of artificial intelligence.

Financing for the Katalitik Co-Investment Grant Program is provided by the Republic of Serbia (Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation), through a World Bank loan and implementation support by both the World Bank and the European Union. The program is part of the "Serbia Accelerating Innovation and Growth Entrepreneurship Project," dedicated to strengthening innovative entrepreneurship and scientific research.