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Thematic Area:

SME Banking & Development

Duration:            

01/2021 - 01/2025

Client:                

European Investment Bank (EIB) / UniCredit Bank Srbija

Region:             

Europe

Country Coverage:           

Serbia

EBRD has been planning to strengthen and streamline its approach to support innovation and related policies in Turkey that builds on the experience accumulated through its investments in the corporate sector and policy engagement. According to the European Commission's Innovation Union Scoreboard, Turkey falls within the group of moderate innovators compared to EU average, which underlines the importance of strengthening innovation.

The main objectives of the Project implemented by Frankfurt School were to assist the EBRD (i) to identify potential areas for policy engagement with the Turkish Government, with the objective to promote innovation policies in line with best international experience, and (ii) to define an operational approach to streamline investments in innovation by mid- and large-cap companies across multiple sectors of the Turkish economy.

Frankfurt School and its partner experts carried out the following key activities:

  • Comparative analysis of Turkey with the United Kingdom, France, Poland and Brazil on the basis of innovation performance, policy measures, innovation initiatives and smart specialisation technologies;
  • Innovation gap analysis for household appliances (white goods) and automotive sectors, which were based on strategy and adoption of Industry 4.0 related technologies and skills, university-industry collaboration, value-chain integration of R&D (vertical and horizontal), dissemination and spill-over effects across regions and access to finance;
  • Three sectoral workshops with medium- and large-size companies producing white goods, automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and supplier sectors;
  • Innovation policy dialogue roadmap for EBRD to strengthen and streamline an approach to support innovation and innovation policies in Turkey;
  • Benchmarking of Innovation schemes by International Financial Institutions (such as the World Bank and EU);
  • Operational framework for EBRD to address innovation challenges and gaps;
  • Development of instruments and eligibility criteria, beyond direct financing, to increase the effectiveness of the proposed innovation financing framework; and,
  • Contribution in policy dialogue of EBRD with the Turkish government.
Cansu portrait

Cansu Karatay

Senior Project Manager

Regional Office Turkey, Caucasus and Central Asia

Project Overview

Access to regular employment is not equal for everybody on the Serbian labour market. Various groups face difficulties to enter permanent employment, including women, youth, people with disabilities, Roma and Migrants.

The project at hand incentivises SMEs and Mid-Caps to increase inclusive employment. If they apply for a loan at UCBS, they can get a reward of up to 13% of the overall loan amount if they improve on certain indicators, which foster inclusive employment. This includes the increase in number of employees of such a group, but also the introduction of certain policies and procedures.

Since programme start all companies who participate in the programme have committed to achieving the maximum in almost all categories, sending a strong signal for more inclusive employment. The programme also provides direct support to the companies, helping them to achieve the inclusive employment indicators. In addition, awareness raising and experience sharing events are scheduled to increase public knowledge about the topic and motivate companies outside the programme to become more inclusive employers.