More than 500 visitors, 35 speakers and 12 thematic segments marked the conference “Zalet inovacija”, dedicated to the exchange of concrete practical experiences, networking and the presentation of successful stories from the innovation environment.
The event was organised by the agency Method, within the company WMG (Wireless Media Group), under the patronage of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation. Through lectures and panels, the conference covered key topics currently shaping the innovation ecosystem: the path from idea to market-ready product, the challenges of building teams and organizations, financing models and preparation for growth, as well as strategies for scaling and entering the global market. Special emphasis was placed on connecting science and business, the role of institutions and support programmes, as well as practical examples of the application of artificial intelligence in the development and improvement of products and business operations.
“Zalet inovacija Has Transitioned from a Digital Format into a Conference”
Miloš Pejčinović, Head of Digital Content at the agency Method and project manager of “Zalet inovacija”, stated that over the past two years the project had outgrown its initial digital idea and acquired a conference format as the next step:
“We conceived Zalet inovacija two years ago as a digital project, predominantly in podcast format. As the project grew, we achieved increasingly strong results and received positive feedback, and the trust of the innovation community and people’s willingness to participate were a clear signal that there was a need for an event of this type. We designed the conference as a place for gathering, connecting and meeting – and above all as an opportunity to hear real, applicable experiences, meet new faces of the ecosystem and hear current success stories that we had not previously had the chance to hear in this format. I am particularly pleased that we brought together more than 35 speakers and panellists, prepared 12 thematic segments and hosted more than 500 visitors.”
Messages from Practice: Focus, Execution and Entry into the Global Market
One of the program segments that delivered the most concrete “takeaway” messages to the audience was a fireside conversation with Luka Bućan from OMINIMO Insurance, during which topics of execution speed, scaling and internationalisation were discussed through an example from the insurance sector.
The discussion emphasized that rapid growth most often comes from a combination of clear focus, fast testing and constant product improvement, as well as that domestic teams can build solutions that are competitive on the European market. As an illustration of these principles, it was mentioned that a product based on the idea of faster and technologically more advanced car insurance reached over half a million users in a short period of time, and that cooperation with a major international partner (Zurich Insurance Group) is an indicator of the model’s scalability.
The operational side of growth was also particularly highlighted – parallel work on expansion into new markets, development of new products and building technological infrastructure – with the message to participants that one should not wait for the “perfect moment” for a global launch but learn quickly and iterate through real situations. In that context, it could also be inferred that the company is today in a phase in which it is simultaneously opening new markets, launching new products and building the technological foundation for the next wave of growth – and if the pace of plan implementation in the next 12–18 months remains at this level, it is not unrealistic that this story could produce the first domestic “unicorn”.
About the “Zalet inovacija” Project
“Zalet inovacija” is a project that began as a digital format and over time grew with strong response and trust from the innovation community. The conference is conceived as a platform for gathering and connecting, with a focus on content that delivers concrete, applicable insights and practical experiences.