CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

Their core work

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Republika Srpska is the main business representation body for the Republika Srpska entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It supports local SMEs by facilitating access to innovation management practices, technology transfer, and research connections. Within H2020, its involvement has focused exclusively on building the innovation capacity of SMEs in its region through the recurring EUNORS project, acting as a local relay organization that bridges EU innovation support instruments and the domestic business community.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

The Chamber's H2020 focus has remained remarkably stable across its entire participation period (2017-2021), with all three engagements being successive phases of the same EUNORS project on SME innovation capacity. There is no observable shift in thematic focus — the keywords are identical across early and recent periods. This consistency suggests a long-term institutional commitment to a single program rather than a broadening research portfolio.

The Chamber is likely to continue in an SME support and innovation intermediary role rather than branching into new technical domains.

How they like to work

The Chamber has participated exclusively as a partner, never leading projects, with a very small network of just 4 unique partners from a single country. Its repeated involvement in the same project (EUNORS across three phases) suggests a loyal, relationship-based collaboration pattern rather than broad consortium-building. This makes them a reliable local partner for initiatives needing on-the-ground SME access in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but not a consortium anchor.

Very limited H2020 network with only 4 unique partners concentrated in a single country. The Chamber operates within a tight, recurring partnership rather than building broad European connections.

What sets them apart

As the main chamber of commerce for Republika Srpska, this organization provides direct institutional access to the SME ecosystem in a Western Balkans region that is underrepresented in EU research programs. For consortium builders needing a credible local partner to disseminate innovation practices or reach SMEs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Chamber offers established networks and institutional legitimacy that academic or private partners in the region cannot match.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EUNORS
  The only project in their portfolio, repeated across three phases (2017-2021), making it the Chamber's sole and defining H2020 engagement focused on SME innovation in Republika Srpska.