1. Situation in ICT sector.
Based on the research, published in July 2010[1], total value of Serbian ICT market in 2009 was estimated at €424 million, which makes annual fall exceeding 22%. Hardware makes the most of the investments, while services and packet software make approximately a third of thotal ICT investments. ICT market in Serbia is declining second consecutive year, as this trend continued in Q110, and it is extremely important to record even minimal growth in Q310.
In a situation like this, ICT companies are cautious and trying to cut costs and risks. That is why investments in marketing and promotion are being cut or eliminated, although such investments generated demand in previous period. According to this analysis, it is necessary to achieve annual ICT market growth of 19% in the period until 2014, in order to prevent even deeper crisis.
All analysts agree that there is a huge potential, but that current problems are big. Vojvodina ICT Cluster will work to foster development of cross-sector application of ICT, strategically aiming at development of new, market-demanded and targeted problem solving products/services with large market potential for significant profits and multiplying effects on other sectors through better usage and implementation of, already present and new, knowledge from various sectors in developing such products and services.
One of the key issues for ICT companies is lack of institutionalized support and associations. That is why VICT has good prerequisites to become relevant representative of the sector in the region and provide such support. Furthermore, most of the companies in the cluster today, have clients outside of Serbia, but diversification of those markets could be improved. Finally, there are no strong ties between ICT sector on one side, and regional, national and international institutions on the other. Formation of such ties will significantly improve capacities and opportunities for creating and defending ICT companies” interests, primarily on a national level.
Serbia lags behind the countries from the region when it comes to organized assistance to clusters in realization of their goals. There is a lot of open space for activities of associations such as VICT and it is necessary to fill that space and start initiatives primarily for strengthening demand, but also to work on all other aspects of doing business in ICT in Serbia.
The cluster represents different sub-sectors well. In regards of expectations which members have toward the cluster, most of them (40%) stress help in promotion, then advisory and information dissemination services (30%), and expert support (23%).
2. Vision
Vojvodina ICT cluster is globally recognizable partner in the development and application of new ICT products and services with high profit potential, and important partner in development of individuals, companies and regional businesses.
3. Mission
Mission of VICT is to create conditions for ICT development through coordination of members’ efforts toward strong influence on social and business environment.
4. Internal Structure
According to the Statute of the association, VICT is organized as follows:
4.1. Assembly, comprising all members and constituting the highest management body of the cluster.
4.2. The Assembly is run by its President.
4.3. Management Board is managing activities of the association between sessions of the Assembly, and it has seven members.
4.4. President of the Managing Board manages its work.
4.5. Chief Executive Officer is responsible for running the association in accordance to the decisions of the Assembly and the Managing Board.
4.6. Expert Council of the association is a permanent body which gives expert support in work of the association.
4.7. The association can have permanent or temporary working groups which can deal with tasks and issues of interest to the members and the association.
5. Strategic goals for the period 2010 – 2013 and indicators
First goal: Strengthening of the association.
Objectives:
· Capacity building for the cluster management and employees
· Develop internal rules and procedures
· Develop and constantly improve a portfolio of services for member companies
· Build a sound and sustainable financial framework of the association, including exploration of utilizing EU funds.
· Building infrastructure for the association
· Increase of the number of members
· Establish stronger internal ties and cooperation among the members
· Development of the Cluster Profile in the form of a database
Second goal: Positioning of the association in social and business environment
Objectives:
· Increasing visibility and positioning of the association on regional, national, and international levels, as the relevant institution which works on development of ICT industry in Vojvodina and Serbia, and a quality cooperation partner.
· Linking with educational system
· Lobbying
Third goal: Generating new business opportunities
Objectives:
· Advance competitiveness of Serbian SMEs through increase of domestic demand for ICT products and services.
· Application of the contemporary ICT knowledge and computer power in solving problems in different fields of business.
· Opening up business opportunities on regional and international markets
Fourth goal: Building stronger links between R&D and the market
Objectives:
· Matching R&D initiatives with the real world needs of SMEs in Serbia
· Transfer of ICT technical and technological achievements to businesses by developing a two-way communication channel between R&D institutions and potential users.
· Enable knowledge distribution among cluster members
[1] Mineco, Milovan Matijevic: ICT Market in Serbia 2009-2010
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Please, send comments to Slobodan Moraca, President of the Expert Council at moraca@uns.ns.ac.rs, or Milan Solaja, CEO, at milan.solaja@vojvodinaictcluster.org