The Green Innovation Vauchers Scheme is launched by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), it is funded by the Austrian DRIVE (Delivering Resource Efficiency InVEstments) Programme and the implementation of the scheme is supported by the Central European Initiative (CEI).

Resource efficiency is one of the core elements of transition to the green economy that sees economic growth working in harmony with social and environmental sustainability. Resource efficiency means using natural resources such as energy, materials and water in an efficient and sustainable manner throughout their life cycle (from extraction, via distribution, transformation, and consumption, to waste disposal) while minimising impacts on the environment.

In Serbia, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is launching the Green Innovation Vouchers Scheme (GIVS) to boost the innovation capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the field of green technologies and resource efficiency by linking them to local R&D service providers (R&DSPs).  The resulting cooperation will enable SMEs to raise the environmental performance and competitiveness of participating SMEs. Green Innovation Vouchers are grants that helps SMEs to cover 90 per cent of the eligible R&D service costs, up to €20,000 (excl. VAT). The R&D service will enable SMEs to develop new products, services and processes, or innovate existing ones, in order to improve resource efficiency, thus supporting transition to the green economy.

An initial list of R&D service providers (R&DSPs) that are eligible to offer R&D services within the GIVS has been prepared based on their expertise in green innovation. Some of R&D service provier are Faculty of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Physics, Faculty of Chemistry, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, The Nikola Tesla Institute of Electrical Engineering, Institute of Nuclear Science “Vinca“, Institute for Technology of Nuclear and other Mineral Raw Materials, Institute of General and Physical Chemistry, Institute “Mihajlo Pupin”, etc.

The first application call for the interested SMEs have been opened on 5 December, 2017 and will close on 31 January, 2018. More informarions about application call can be found at: http://inovacionivauceri.ebrd.rs/