About Project
ERIT (Establishing a Regional Innovation and Technology Transfer Ecosystem) is a cross-border project that aims to strengthen research, innovation, and technology transfer capacities in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The project addresses common challenges of the program area, in particular fragmented innovation systems, insufficient cooperation between academia and industry, and limited technology transfer capacities, which reduce the potential for research results to reach the market.
Through a coordinated regional approach, ERIT will establish and strengthen Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), develop a joint cross-border strategy for innovation and technology transfer, create a digital collaboration platform, and implement a pilot initiative based on Industry 5.0 principles. These activities will help universities, researchers, businesses, and public institutions work together more effectively and accelerate the commercialization of research results. The project brings together five partners from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, combining the expertise of higher education institutions, a technology park and a regional development agency. This partnership enables knowledge exchange, joint capacity building and the development of sustainable innovation support structures that extend beyond national borders. ERIT will establish three Technology Transfer Offices, develop common operational procedures and a regional cooperation framework, launch a digital platform for networking and knowledge exchange, and validate an innovative cross-border technology transfer model through a pilot project. Capacity-building activities, including workshops, study visits and regional events, will further strengthen the skills of researchers, innovation professionals and other stakeholders. By fostering long-term cooperation between academia, industry and public institutions, ERIT will contribute to a more connected and competitive regional innovation ecosystem. The project supports the objectives of the Interreg VI-A IPA Croatia–Bosnia and Herzegovina–Montenegro Program and aligns with key European priorities related to research, innovation, smart specialization and Industry 5.0.
Its results are designed to remain operational after the project ends, providing a sustainable foundation for future innovation and technology transfer activities across the region.
Key Facts
Project title Establishing a Regional Innovation and Technology Transfer Ecosystem Acronym ERIT ID HR-BA-ME00522 Project duration 24 months Implementation period 1 June 2026 – 31 May 2028 Programme Interreg VI-A IPA Croatia–Bosnia and Herzegovina–Montenegro 2021–2027 Total project value 1.167.403,20 EUR EU contribution 992.292,72 EUR (85%) Lead Partner University of Split, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FESB) Project Partners UNIST Technology Park, Croatia University of Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina Development Agency ZEDA Ltd. Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina University of Montenegro, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Montenegro
Objectives and Expected Results
The ERIT project aims to strengthen research and innovation capacities across Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro by creating a sustainable regional ecosystem for technology transfer. The project addresses fragmented innovation systems by establishing institutional support structures, improving cooperation between academia, industry, and public institutions, and promoting the uptake of advanced technologies in line with Industry 5.0 principles. Through a coordinated cross-border approach, ERIT seeks to enhance the commercialization of research results, foster knowledge exchange, and build long-term institutional capacity for innovation.
To achieve these objectives, ERIT will establish three Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), develop a joint cross-border strategy for innovation and technology transfer, create a digital collaboration platform, strengthen stakeholder cooperation through a regional TTO network, and implement a pilot action demonstrating the application of Industry 5.0 technologies in cooperation with industry and SMEs. Capacity-building activities, including training, workshops, study visits, and stakeholder engagement events, will further strengthen the innovation ecosystem and promote a culture of collaboration and knowledge valorization.Â
By the end of the project, ERIT will deliver a sustainable operational framework for technology transfer in the program area. Expected results include fully operational TTOs, a shared regional strategy, a functional digital collaboration platform, enhanced cooperation among five partner organizations, and a validated cross-border technology transfer model that can be replicated beyond the partnership. Researchers, universities, SMEs, public institutions, business support organizations, and other innovation stakeholders will benefit from improved access to innovation services, stronger collaboration opportunities, and increased capacity to transform research outcomes into market-ready solutions. The project is designed to create long-term impact by providing transferable tools, methodologies, and governance models that continue supporting regional innovation after the project’s completion.Â
Work Packages & Activities
The ERIT project is implemented through three interconnected work packages that progressively build a sustainable regional innovation and technology transfer ecosystem. The first work package establishes the institutional foundations, the second develops a cross-border cooperation framework, while the third validates the developed structures through a practical pilot action.Â
WP1 – Enhancing a Local Ecosystem Infrastructure
The first work package focuses on strengthening local innovation capacities by establishing three Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Common operational methodologies, procedures, and governance models will be developed to ensure consistency across partner institutions. In parallel, project team members and TTO staff will receive specialized training in technology transfer, intellectual property management, commercialization, innovation scouting, and university–industry collaboration, creating a strong institutional basis for long-term innovation support.Â
WP2 – Establishing a Cross-border Innovation Ecosystem
Building on the newly established TTOs, WP2 creates a regional framework for collaboration. Partners will jointly develop a cross-border innovation and technology transfer strategy, establish a Memorandum of Understanding, and develop a digital collaboration platform that facilitates communication, knowledge exchange, and innovation matchmaking. The work package also includes workshops, study visits, and a regional conference to strengthen cooperation and build the capacities of researchers, innovation professionals, SMEs, and public institutions.Â
WP3 – Design and Implementation of Pilot Action
The final work package demonstrates the practical value of the established ecosystem through a joint cross-border pilot project. Partners collaborate with industry experts, SMEs, and research teams to develop innovative solutions and evaluate cutting-edge Industry 5.0 technologies such as artificial intelligence, collaborative robotics, digital twins, and energy optimization tools. The pilot will validate technology transfer methodologies, evaluate their effectiveness, and deliver a scalable model that can be replicated in other regions facing similar innovation challenges.Â
Project Outputs
The ERIT project will deliver a range of practical tools, institutional structures, and collaborative mechanisms designed to strengthen technology transfer and innovation across the program area. These outputs will support long-term cooperation between research organizations, businesses, and public institutions, while providing sustainable resources that remain available beyond the project’s lifetime. Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) Three Technology Transfer Offices will be established and strengthened within partner higher education institutions, providing professional support for research commercialization, intellectual property management, innovation services, and collaboration with industry. Regional TTO Network A cross-border network connecting the participating Technology Transfer Offices will facilitate knowledge exchange, cooperation, and the development of common innovation support practices across the region. Cross-border Innovation and Technology Transfer Strategy Partners will jointly develop a strategic framework defining common priorities, objectives, and actions for strengthening regional innovation capacity and long-term cooperation in technology transfer. Digital Collaboration Platform A digital platform will provide researchers, innovation professionals, SMEs, and public institutions with a shared environment for networking, knowledge exchange, collaboration, and access to innovation support services. Industry 5.0 Pilot Action A joint cross-border pilot project will demonstrate the practical application of Industry 5.0 technologies and validate the developed technology transfer model through collaboration between research institutions, industry, and SMEs. Capacity Building Program A comprehensive program of workshops, study visits, training sessions, mentoring activities, and regional events will strengthen the competencies of researchers, technology transfer professionals, SMEs, and other innovation stakeholders, contributing to the long-term sustainability of the regional innovation ecosystem.