The Fund for Innovation and Technological Development (FITD) has announced a public call to set up two production labs “Young People Create”, where young people aged 15 to 29 will receive free access, mentoring, space and technical conditions to design a prototype and test their own innovative solutions.

Mden 9 million have been provided for this purpose. FITD provides up to 90 percent of the co-financing, Mden 4.5 million at most, while the remaining ten percent should be provided by applicants.

According to FITD director, Kosta Petrov, the labs will be located in higher education institutions and research centers, as a space for cooperation between academia, the industry and civil society organizations.

“The labs set up as part of this call will provide high school and university students and young people with access to modern technologies including 3D printers and laser machines, so that their innovative ideas can take shape,” Petrov pointed out.

With the start of the new school year, the labs will be used as pilot project, based on the experience of which a mechanism will be established to set up and support this type of labs, ensuring their sustainability.

Head of the department for programs in the field of education, research, development and innovation, Katerina Krecheva, said funds within the call will be used to finance activities for the setting up, i.e. equipping of the labs, as well as implementing mentoring programs intended for young people.

The selection of projects will be carried out in three phases – evaluation and verification of documentation, followed by evaluation of project proposals, and selection of the best through a presentation of pre-selected project proposals before a special commission.

Application deadline is July 20, 2021, and more information on applying for the call are available at the FITD website.