CERN School of Computing held for the first time in Belgrade
Belgrade, December 22 – LINK Business Club and LINKgroup successfully organized the LINK Business Boot Camp for students of ITS and FCA, as well as for final-year students of ITHS, with the support of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT). This dynamic program, which took place from December 6 to 22, provided students with the opportunity to develop innovative business ideas and compete for the prestigious “NextGen LINK Leaders Award”.
During the intensive period, participants faced challenges and opportunities of modern business practices, working on their development and networking. The goal of the Boot Camp, which is part of the broader project “Smart4Future” funded through the “HORIZON” HEI Initiative, was to provide students with a comprehensive experience, from mentorship to practical workshops, transforming theoretical knowledge into practical skills.
A total of 23 teams applied for the Boot Camp – 11 teams from ITHS, 2 from FCA, and 10 from ITS. The diversity of teams and ideas demonstrates a wide range of innovations and creativity among students.
The event culminated in the awards ceremony for the most successful teams. The team “Olio” (Boban Janković, ITS student) won first place with a prize of RSD 500,000 for the startup idea “Olio-Frictionless Long Term Rental”. Their innovation improves long-term rental management through tenant selection automation, contract generation, and rent collection, significantly simplifying operations, reducing landlord effort, and saving their time.
The team “Expiration Squad” (Nikola Njegovan and Danica Jakšić, ITS students) won second place and a prize of RSD 300,000 for the startup idea “Portable Pantry-Špajz na Vašem dlanu”. Their application, designed to reduce food waste, informs users about food expiration dates by scanning barcodes or receipts, offering personalized recipes, and support for efficient household management.
Third place and a prize of RSD 200,000 went to the team “CampaignInnovators” (Miloš Stamenković and Luka Cvetković, ITS students) for the startup idea “10 sekundi”. Their solution uses artificial intelligence to automate marketing campaign creation, enabling the quick generation of effective marketing plans and adaptation to market needs.
How our students’ ideas contribute to society
The ideas proposed by students have diverse social contributions, from economic revitalization to improving health and education. They promote local economic development, reduce unemployment and the digital divide, and enhance efficiency and sustainability through technological innovations.
Projects such as automated marketing campaigns, applications for reducing food waste, and technologies for improving healthcare not only enhance business efficiency but also contribute to a healthier, more educated, and inclusive society.
Initiatives such as “ArtHive” promote social inclusivity and support humanitarian goals. Rental software and educational platforms facilitate access to the real estate market. All these ideas contribute to a better society, strengthening economic, health, educational, and environmental aspects of life.
These proposals demonstrate how innovations can be useful tools for addressing a wide range of social challenges.
We would like to express our gratitude to the jury members: Neda Trifunović from Digital Serbia, Prof. Dr. Milena Ilić from LINKgroup, Srećko Miodragović from Comtrade, and Nenad Nikolić from Nicorp LTD. Their commitment, expertise, and objective assessment were key to the success of the LINK Business Boot Camp.
We also extend sincere thanks to the mentors: professors from ITS, FCA, and ITHS Dr. Nevenka Popović Šević, Lidija Miletić, Dr. Šemsudin Plojović, and Vladimir Puvača. Their dedication, knowledge, and professional leadership were immensely important for the success and development of the participants in the LINK Business Boot Camp.
The Boot Camp once again confirmed its value as a platform for the inspiration and development of young innovators within the academic community. LINK Business Club and LINKgroup continue to support and encourage young talent, promising the continuation of such and similar initiatives.
To stay up to date with news and get inspiration, follow #Smart4Future #EIT #LINKBusinessClub #Bootcamp #LINKgroup #NextGenLINKLeadersAward for more stories and successes from our LINK community.
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