At the ASA Institute premises in Sarajevo, the third Digital Innovation Hubs Forum (DIH Forum 2025) was held, co-financed by the European Union and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through the Private Sector Development Initiative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
DIH Forum 2025, dedicated to the digital and green transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in BiH, presented a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening competitiveness and sustainable development of the SME sector. Among the highlighted support mechanisms were the BOOST 2.0 voucher scheme, EBRD grants, intellectual property protection vouchers, as well as innovative digital and green platforms.
Organized by FabLab Sarajevo and the Digital Innovation Hub “Digital Storm,” the Forum brought together key stakeholders from industry, academia, the public sector, and international organizations, with the goal of strengthening the innovation ecosystem and showcasing concrete support instruments for SMEs in BiH.
A special contribution to the Forum was made by the network of four digital innovation hubs (DIHs) established through a previous project co-financed by the European Union and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany – Digital Storm and Its4Health (Sarajevo), IDEMO (Banja Luka), and Industrial HUB (Tuzla). These hubs continue their collaboration through the Private Sector Development Initiative in BiH, in order to support digital and green transformation across the country.
This DIH network from across BiH played an important role at the Forum. Through panel discussions, participants had the opportunity to hear concrete experiences from practice and establish new contacts with partners from industry, academia, and the public sector.
“Digital innovation hubs are a bridge between science, technology, and the market. Through joint initiatives, we create conditions for the long-term development of domestic innovations. At the Forum, we discuss supporting entrepreneurs through digitalization and technological advancement of business operations. We especially emphasize the issue of intellectual property, which is of essential importance but still insufficiently recognized in BiH,” said Drago Gverić, director of ICBL and representative of DIH IDEMO, who has been working for many years on developing the innovation ecosystem in BiH.
Experiences from previous years confirm that such programs have a direct impact on businesses. During the last edition, more than 20 small and medium-sized companies benefited from non-refundable grants of €5,000 each to improve their operations through digital solutions, achieving measurable improvements in efficiency and competitiveness.
Jens Elsner, Head of the Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion (SEDEP) Program in BiH at GIZ, emphasized the strategic significance of the Forum in the context of European integration and strengthening the domestic economy.
“Through joint efforts, Germany and the European Union continue to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through various programs implemented by GIZ within the broader framework of sustainable economic development. By investing in digital and green technologies and strengthening the innovation ecosystem, we not only enhance the competitiveness of enterprises but also lay the foundations for long-term and inclusive growth. It is precisely through such partnerships – between the public and private sectors, civil society, and international actors – that we can build a more connected, competitive, and prepared economy for the European market,” said Elsner.
As an additional theme of the Forum, this year special emphasis was placed on intellectual property protection. SMEs had the opportunity to learn about new types of support, including IP protection vouchers, guidelines for compliance with European legislation, and the application of AI tools for managing intellectual property rights.
The Forum also offered opportunities for direct B2B meetings with consultants from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), who presented the SME Go Green and Go Digital in the Western Balkans programs. These programs provide advisory and financial services for companies aiming to introduce sustainable and digital practices into their business.
Edin Škaljić, director of FabLab Sarajevo and representative of DIH Digital Storm, highlighted the strategic importance of this forum.
“For the third consecutive year, DIH Forum brings together key stakeholders of the innovation ecosystem in BiH and demonstrates that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises are willing and able to innovate when provided with concrete and systemic support. This year we presented two new EBRD programs, as well as instruments of the German Government and the EU Delegation, with more than a hundred vouchers in the form of non-refundable funds for domestic companies. A particular focus was placed on amendments to intellectual property legislation, which will significantly improve the business environment. At the same time, a set of advanced tools for intellectual property protection was presented, including education and innovative AI LLM platforms trained in the local language and aligned with local legislation, which represents a unique step forward in the region. The most important outcome of the Forum was the launch of the initiative to establish a joint national DIH platform. This platform will unify all digital innovation hubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina into a single system of support for SMEs, thereby creating a foundation for faster digital and green transformation of our economy,” said Škaljić.
The practical part of the Forum also included demonstrations of modern solutions in the fields of the Internet of Things (IoT), digital construction sites, and green technologies. These segments enabled participants to see firsthand how innovations are applied in everyday business operations and the benefits they bring.
DIH Forum 2025 offers small and medium-sized enterprises a rare opportunity to acquire knowledge, establish new connections, and find concrete tools to improve their business. Through the support of European partners and the engagement of domestic stakeholders, BiH is moving step by step toward a sustainable, innovation-driven future.
