Republic of Srpska Highlights Digital Innovation as a Driver of SME Competitiveness at European Week of Regions and Cities

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The Republic of Srpska took part in the regional partnership session “Strong Regions, Strong Europe”, held in Brussels on 13 October as part of this year’s European Week of Regions and Cities. The session brought together representatives of European regions and regional development institutions to exchange experiences and good practices on strengthening regional development, fostering innovation and improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The regional partnership brought together the Republic of Srpska, the Warmia-Masuria Region of Poland, the Bucharest-Ilfov Regional Development Agency of Romania, the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the Channel Islands. The session was organised as an interactive debate, providing participants with an opportunity to present concrete initiatives and discuss how regional cooperation can support sustainable economic development across Europe.

Representing the Republic of Srpska, Sanja Karanović of the PREDA Development Agency of the City of Prijedor participated in the discussion under the theme “SMEs Go Digital”. The debate focused on the role of digitalisation and innovation in regional development, with particular emphasis on helping SMEs navigate digital transformation, adopt new technologies and strengthen their competitiveness.

During the session, Karanović presented PREDA’s experience and activities through three projects aimed at supporting businesses in innovation and digitalisation. Her contribution highlighted the importance of practical, tailored support that enables companies to improve their capacities, integrate digital solutions into their operations and respond more effectively to changing market demands.

Particular attention was given to initiatives that connect the needs of the business community with knowledge, technology and the development potential of regional innovation ecosystems. The discussion underlined the role of regional development agencies in facilitating these connections, promoting innovation and helping businesses access the expertise and support they need to modernise their operations.

Participation in the event provided the Republic of Srpska with an opportunity to exchange experiences with representatives of regional development institutions and organisations from across Europe, including Vojvodina, the Bucharest-Ilfov Regional Development Agency and the Warmia-Masuria Region of Poland.

The session reaffirmed the importance of interregional cooperation and knowledge-sharing in addressing common economic challenges. It also demonstrated how targeted support for digital transformation and innovation can help SMEs strengthen their competitiveness, while enabling regions to build more resilient, dynamic and sustainable economies.

The Republic of Srpska Representation in Brussels welcomes initiatives that promote cooperation among European regions, encourage the exchange of good practices and support innovation as a key driver of regional growth and development.