The initial conference of the ROSI - Region of Social Innovations project was held in Novi Sad

In July, the cross-border project ROSI - Region of Social Innovations started, as part of the Interreg VI-A IPA Program Croatia-Serbia 2021-2027. The project holder is the Open University of Serbia doo, and the project partners are Učilište Studium - institution for adult education, VURA - Development Agency Vukovar doo and the Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government Novi Sad.

The value of the project is €350.326,88 and the total duration is 18 months. The main goal of the project is to create a stimulating environment and system for the development of social innovations in the cross-border region. Respecting the existing resources and the potential of the target areas, the project aims to deliver systemic solutions that encourage social innovation through innovative educational concepts for building knowledge and skills, developing Living Labs - spaces for real-world innovation that address community challenges, establishing a support network - gathering key actors to support social initiatives, creating an online knowledge base for exchanging ideas and encouraging cooperation.

This week, the initial conference of the ROSI - Region of Social Innovations project was held in Novi Sad, organized by the Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government.

The conference was opened by Vidosava Enderić, representative of the Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, who welcomed the attendees and presented the goals and activities of the project. She emphasized that ROSI is aimed at creating a sustainable system that will encourage social innovation through innovative educational concepts, the development of living laboratories, the establishment of a support network and an online knowledge base for the exchange of ideas and cooperation. Support for the project was also expressed by Slavoljub Arsenijević from the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism and Siniša Tešić from the Educational Center for Training in Professional and Work Skills, who shared examples of good practice and emphasized the importance of such initiatives for regional development.

During the conference, the representatives of the partner organizations presented the activities included in two key work packages. The first work package focuses on research and education in the field of social innovation through the development of an educational model and specialized courses for social innovators. The goal is to empower participants to recognize and solve social, economic and environmental challenges within their communities. The second work package is aimed at building a support system through the creation of a network of innovation supporters, the development of cross-border cooperation, the establishment of a Living laboratory and the launch of an online platform for education and networking.

The ROSI project represents a significant step forward in strengthening social innovation in the cross-border region, relying on existing resources and the potential of the target areas. Through its activities, it strives to create an environment that will support innovative initiatives and encourage sustainable development. The initial conference served as a platform for connecting partners, exchanging ideas and harmonizing plans for the successful implementation of this important project.

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