Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society

Minister of Telecommunications and Information Society Jasna Matić, and Commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding signed on Friday, 23rd October 2009 the Memorandum of Understanding: Information and Communication Technology Policy Support Program (ICT PSP) of the Competitiveness and Innovation Program.

'Signing this agreement will result in that companies, especially small and medium-size, can have more significant benefits of ICT for innovation of products, services and processes. All companies can compete with a project and get money from the Programs for the Improve of the Quality of Work. Also, public institutions and NGOs can compete, as well as those firms and companies where this is not the primary area of activity, but can improve their business through the application of information and communication technologies, ‘ said Minister Jasna Matić.

The total budget of the ICT PSP program for the period from 2007 to 2013 amounts to 728 million Euros.

'This is a great chance for our companies. What I am very happy that this is another step towards the path of joining the European Union, opens the door to European programs and brings us closer to Europe,' said Jasna Matić.

The program aims at improving the development of innovative ICT solutions, especially in the areas of public importance and to open a wide range of new business opportunities, especially for small and medium-size enterprises. Instead of providing direct subsidies, the result of this process is to create conditions for market expansion and improving services for small and medium-size enterprises.

The Competitiveness and Innovation Program (CIP) is a program of the European Union, which aims at encouraging the competitiveness of European enterprises, especially small and medium-size. The program supports innovative activities, including eco-innovation, enabling easier access to capital and services to support operations. It is essential that companies, especially small and medium-size, increase the use of ICT to create new products and services, while application of ICT in public administration results in more efficient and quality services, both for economy and for citizens. The program runs from 2007 to 2013.