INVENTIONS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP VIRTUAL FAIR SARAJEVO 2020

IFIA Special Award went to young inventor Matija Hrzic, from Croatia ● Aiming to promote exchange between inventors, entrepreneurs and investors from the regional, West Balkan’s countries, the Fair gathered 237 exhibitors: 165 virtual stands held small and medium enterprises, 50 stands were taken by the inventors, while 22 investors had their stands. Furthermore, 1.216 registered visitors from 32 countries and 101 cities made over 45.000 views of various Fair pages

A first Inventors and Entrepreneurs Virtual Inventions Fair „Sarajevo 2020”, held on November 23-24, 2020, was organized by Mozaik Foundation and Sarajevo Business Forum, both from Sarajevo. The list of Partnering institutions, with the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations as General Partner, consisted of the Inventors’ Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Executive Partner) and, as collaborating partners, national inventors’ associations from Croatia, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia.

The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the Official Sponsor of the event, while financial partners were the Swiss and Sweden governments, as well as the Entrepreneurship Academy of European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE). The Fair was opened by Mr. Sefik Dzaferovic, member of BH Presidency, Mrs. Johanna Strömquist, ambassador of Sweden, and Mrs. Mejra Bajgoric-Juzbasic, EFSE regional director. The opening ceremony continued with a speech given by Mrs. Dusanka Ilic, founder of a successful startup CollectiVibe from Serbia, and author of the Fair virtual platform.

The „Sarajevo 2020” Event ceremony was moderated in a fluent and decent manner by Zoran Puljic, director, and Selma Mameledzija, communication manager of the Mozaik Foundation.

Inspiring speeches were presented by two young inventors and worldwide successful entrepreneurs, both native from BH: Mate Rimac, founder of Rimac Automobili and Greyp Bikes company (Zagreb, Croatia), and Mirza Cifric, co-founder of Veritas Genetic (Danvers, Massachusetts), that deals with innovative human genome research and analysis. It is worth underlining that number of young participants at the 14^th International Students Inventions Exhibition, ISIE, Seoul 2006 (from BH, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Netherland, Pakistan, Singapore, Sweden, Vietnam…), remember Mate’s miraculous electronic “iGlove”, that replaces the keyboard and the mouse on computers!

The first day of the Fair continued with International Invention Contest, in which 36 inventors presented their inventions to the international jury and public. At the same time, all virtual halls were opened for exchange and networking. It was a unique experience that offered a virtual alternative to physical gatherings in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. One could schedule a meeting, live chat with all exhibitors and visitors, see promotional brochures and videos available on virtual stands or follow the Contest “Sarajevo 2020” in virtual pitching rooms.

The international jury had the challenging task to decide which inventions will be awarded. The members of the jury were Husein Hujic and Borko Babalj (BH), Zoran Barisic (Croatia), Vladimir Filevski (North Macedonia), Tomaz Lutman, Peter Alesnik and Urska Fric (Slovenia), and Snezana Sarboh (Serbia). The total awards fund included € 11.000 that was distributed as follows:

“IFIA Best Invention Medal” (€ 500 prize, given by Mozaik Foundation) went to a young inventor from Croatia, Matija Hrzic! His “Smart Hive Scale” enables a solution for easy oversight of beehives in remote locations. Not only that the Scale preserves health and productivity, but it also offers easier growth of bee communities, decreasing significantly the beekeeping cost. This invention was awarded a bronze medal as well (€ 500).

It is worth mentioning that in honor of the young winner, and his mentor Ivan Vlainic (who previously was a professor to Mate himself, in the Secondary Vocational School!), was organized a unique prize-giving ceremony in Zagreb, just by Rimac Company, where Mr. Zoran Puljic in person came from Sarajevo, just to hand the IFIA Prize to Matija!

“Invention of the Year Sarajevo 2020” (€ 2.000) – This prestigious title gets the group of researchers from Slovenia, namely Dr. Ita Junkar, dr. Rok Zaplotnik, Dr. Metka Bencina, and Prof. Dr. Miran Mozetič, for the „Method for Treatment of Medical Devices Made from Ni-Ti Alloys”.

Gold medal (€ 1.500): The team of inventors from B-H, consisting of Prof. Dr. Sc. Zehrudin Osmanovic, Dr. Sc. Nedzad Haracic, MA Nisad Avdic, and Damir Mulamehmedovic, for “Method and Process for Integration of Concrete and Soda production for the Reduction of CO₂ Emission”.

Both silver medals (€ 1.000) went to inventors from Slovenia:

1. a) Dr. Sc. Dragan Mihailovic, Dr. Damjan Svetin, Dr. Anze Mraz, and MA Rok Venturini, for the “Memory Device and Method for Its Operation”
2. b) Dr. Ales Holobar for “Decomposition of Compound Muscle Action Potentials”

Three bronze medals (€ 500) went to inventors from Croatia, Slovenia, and Serbia:

1. a) Matija Hrzic (Croatia, see above)
2. b) D Dr. Muhamed Turkanovic, senior lecturer Dr. Bostjan Kezmah, Blaz Podgorelec, Mrs. Doc. dr. Aida Kamisalic Latific, Mrs. M. Sc. Marjana Hericko and Prof. Dr. Marjan Hericko, from Slovenia, for “Method and device for storing, inspection control and retrieval of data from a permanently immutable, distributed and decentralized storage”
3. c) Dr. Aleksandar Marinkovic, Prof. Dr. Milutin Milosavljevic, Prof. Dr. Slobodan Petrovic, Dr. Aleksandra Bogdanovic, Dr. Tihomir Kovacevic, and students Jovanka Kovacina, Milena Milosevic, and Aleksandar Jovanovic (Serbia), were awarded for “Environmentally Friendly Technology for Producing Gel Coatings and Fire-Retardant Materials Using Bio-Renewable and Waste Materials that reduce inflammability based on unsaturated polyester resins”.
4. The first edition of the Invention and Entrepreneurship Fair „Sarajevo 2020“ proved an innovative approach in the COVID-19 context, that could become a new standard for the organization of similar events in the future. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair „Sarajevo 2021“ will offer a novel virtual concept for networking of inventors, innovators, entrepreneurs and investors, that will cross regional borders and open (virtual) space for exhibitors and visitors from all over the world. Encouraged by the success of the „Sarajevo 2020“ Fair, the Mozaik Foundation enthusiasts are busily preparing the second Fair, „Sarajevo 2021“, which is scheduled for 26, 27, and 28^th of May. Reported by Selma Mameledzija, Mozaik Foundation Communication Manager
5. Husein Hujic awarded for promotion of philanthropy in Bosnia and HerzegovinaHusein Hujic, IFIA Director, founder (in 1994), and current Secretary-General of Inventors’ Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina was awarded by Award “GOOD for Philanthropy” in BH, “for his immense contribution in fostering innovation culture and progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1994”! It is worth reminding that Mr. Hujic has been elected to IFIA Executive Committee for two-year mandates from 1998 to 2010, and afterward, the function of IFIA Director was alternatively confided to him by two IFIA presidents, namely by Dr. Andràs Vedres (2010-14) and Dr. Alireza Rastegar (from 2014 until today).In November 2020, the jury received 196 applications, and 63 nominees were shortlisted for the award in three categories and three subcategories. Mr. Hujic was one of the nominees for the award in the category of Philanthrope over the age of 35. Since 2008 Mozaik Foundation has been organizing “DOBRO za filantropiju” (“GOOD for Philanthropy”), through the SIGN Up for Impact project that is implemented by regional network SIGN and financed by European Union and Balkan Fond for the Democracy. Every two years, citizens of this country are given the opportunity to nominate individuals and companies that contributed to the development of philanthropy in the past year. The independent jury comprised of university professors, proven philanthropists, and local activists, decide who will get the award. We hope that Mr. Hujić’s example will be followed by the new generations to come who will continue his valuable and respectful legacy and long-year benevolent engagement.Prepared by Selma Mameledzija, Mozaik Foundation Communication Manag