The EU-funded PISMO project aims to improve the economic situation in Sisak Moslavina County, Croatia, by transforming the area into a start-up hub for the gaming industry. Through its education initiatives, focus on skills development, and launch of a business incubator, the project is creating gaming experts who will be able to contribute to the region’s economic rejuvenation.
PISMO: Croatia’s Sisak Moslavina County positions itself as a hub of gaming expertise
- 17 January 2020
The positive change we wanted to introduce has started. People are interested in this new industry, they are aware of its potential and many of them are trying to do something about it. In fact, the project has already helped many young people start or try a new career choice, with some finding employment in the existing game development firms and others starting their own.
The project’s main focus is to promote start-ups in the fast-growing, high-revenue gaming industry – an industry that already employs over 600 people across 30 companies in Croatia. To ensure the county is able to claim a share of this EUR 140 billion market, local administrators launched the Sisak Moslavina County Gaming Centre.
The incubator is operational and equipped with high-quality gaming equipment. New start-ups have been established, people are gaining employment, a new high school curriculum has been launched, and a financial support system for start-ups has been established. But most importantly, economic growth has returned to Sisak Moslavia.
Education and incubation
At the heart of the initiative is the PISMO Business Incubator. It consists of two buildings, both dedicated to gaming and such related industries as virtual reality, motion capture, video and music. The buildings offer fully-equipped office space to local start-ups. Currently, 22 start-ups employing 25 people are using the space. Twenty more start-ups are in the process of joining. All companies receive business and financial support in the field of video game development.
In addition to the incubator, the initiative promotes skills development with primary and secondary students. For example, kindergartners receive free English language lessons, while primary and secondary students can participate in video game making workshops. A new four-year video game technician programme is available to high school students and currently has 23 pupils enrolled.
Reversing the growth decline
Sislak Moslavina has long been a centre for heavy industry. Over the past decades, economic shifts have caused many of these industries to either close down or move offshore. As a result, the county has struggled economically. With unemployment reaching 21 % in 2018, many of the area’s young people are leaving in search of opportunities elsewhere.
The project aims to reverse this trend and stimulate an economic rejuvenation by establishing the infrastructure, services, and culture needed to ignite an interest in entrepreneurship and, in doing so, position Sisak Moslavina as a ‘Silicon Valley of the Balkans’.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “PISMO” is EUR 3 366 866, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 2 688 057 through the “Competitiveness and Cohesion Croatia” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Education and training”.