50 small and medium enterprises selected to take part in BOOST x Kosovo

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kosovo, in partnership with the Government of Japan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Innovation Centre Kosovo (ICK) announced yesterday the names of the enterprises to participate in the BOOST x Kosovo.  

After a thorough evaluation process, 50 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from all over Kosovo were selected, including from non-majority communities, to take part in the acceleration programme which can provide solutions towards green transition and sustainability.  

The selected SMEs cover a range of sectors, among them agriculture, production, hospitality and tourism, digital, and renewable energy. They have proposed a set of interesting ideas, including minimization of waste, improved efficiency, and improved knowledge and awareness raising.  BOOST x Kosovo will amplify, bridge, and connect these selected entrepreneurs across Kosovo with global innovators who will support them technically and financially to develop and advance their initial ideas. Ultimately, the best 15 teams with the most promising solutions will be awarded grants of around 20,000 EUR each to finalise their projects. 

The six-month programme will consist of four training modules, a series of talks with successful entrepreneurs, philanthropists, global leaders, and experts from Japan, as well as Mentorship and Peer-to-Peer Learning. 

BOOST x Kosovo is an initiative designed to help shift Kosovo’s private sector towards green and just transition – and through inclusive approach, create new jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost competitiveness.   

BOOST x Kosovo is the local chapter of the regional BOOST programme, launched by UNDP Kosovo and the Embassy of Japan in Kosovo, and implemented in cooperation with ICK and EBRD. Its first edition aims to support businesses and communities to rebound from COVID-19 and build a climate-resilient future.