The Center for Digital Transformation (CDT) of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia will work together with the Ministry of Economy on stronger integration of innovative and traditional businesses in order to increase the number of innovative domestic enterprises. Potentially, by the end of next year, Serbia could have its first "unicorn" technology company, said Predrag Nikolić, director of CDT.
- In partnership with the Ministry of Economy, we will expand our scope of activities because there is a lack of interaction between innovative and traditional businesses, which we will try to improve and strengthen through CDT in order to increase the number of innovative Serbian enterprises. Perhaps as soon as next year, we may have the first "unicorn" in Serbia - Nikolić said after visiting the newly opened Innovation Hub at CDT with Slobodan Cvetković, Minister of Economy.
The delegation from the Ministry of Economy was presented with the challenges that digital transformation brings, as well as the results achieved by CDT over the past five years.
- So far, we have managed to carry out over 800 technological implementations in the small and medium-sized sector, serving around 4,500 companies - Nikolić emphasized, adding that CDT will focus on large companies in the future, which he says are the drivers of economic development.
Nikolić also pointed out that since the beginning of its operations and the release of the first call for businesses to participate in digital transformation, there has been a great interest from the business sector in the services of the Center, including consulting, training, and implementation of technological solutions in enterprises.
Slobodan Cvetković, Minister of Economy in the Government of Serbia, says that the Center for Digital Transformation (CDT) helps companies and individuals to bring innovation to the final product.
- CDT requires us to initiate and accelerate all processes within the economy towards digitalization and the fourth industrial revolution, and we can say that we might be on the verge of the fifth industrial revolution - said Cvetković.
He emphasized the need to improve the collaboration between science and the economy.
- Science has certain achievements that are not implemented in the economy, and on the other hand, the economy needs the implementation of certain scientific and technological achievements that can help it gain an additional level of competitiveness - pointed out Cvetković.
CDT consultant Tijana Sekulić explains that the Center helps companies focus on their digitalization priorities and determine everything that can help them become more efficient in their business, develop new products and services or new business models, as well as create a company development strategy.
Snežana Obradović, director of the company "Aleđo", which is engaged in machine processing, manufacturing of parts and assemblies on CNC machines, said that the funds they received through CDT were used to purchase new software that contributed to a faster and simpler production process in the company
The Center for Digital Transformation (CDT) has 68 certified digital transformation consultants and five for artificial intelligence. More than 4,500 companies applied for the digital transformation program, and 800 solutions in the field of digital transformation and 30 in the field of artificial intelligence have been implemented. The program covers 23 different industries, and the digitalization process is currently taking place in 92 cities. The annual revenue generated by companies that have implemented the digital transformation project amounts to around 272 million euros, and they employ more than 3,600 workers.
CDT's plans for the next year include the development of artificial intelligence solutions for the tourism sector, regional expansion, expansion of the base of certified consultants, linking the IT sector with traditional industries, as well as support for the development of the start-up ecosystem.