The ONEX Connect 2025 Forum, held on 17 December in Banja Luka, brought together several hundred participants from the fields of science, industry, and the public sector, with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation in innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable development.
The forum was opened by Dr. Bojan Ćudić, Coordinator of the European Enterprise Network of the Republic of Srpska, and Mr. Vojin Mitrović, Minister of Economy and Entrepreneurship of the Republic of Srpska.
Representatives of the University of East Sarajevo made a significant contribution to the organization of the forum within the European Enterprise Network of the Republic of Srpska by organizing the panel “Innovation in the Service of Sustainability”, which officially opened the working part of ONEX Connect 2025.
The panel aimed to explore concrete pathways and technologies through which education and research can help the business sector adapt to new policies driving circular economy development and reducing environmental impact, as well as how the economy of the Republic of Srpska and the region can adapt to and benefit from these processes.
The discussion was moderated by Prof. Dr. Jelena Krunić, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Artistic Work at the University of East Sarajevo. She spoke with panel participants about the importance of transferring technological solutions from academia to industrial practice, the need for an interdisciplinary approach in addressing complex ecological challenges, and the significance of human resources.
Prof. Dr. Mitar Perušić from the Faculty of Technology Zvornik, University of East Sarajevo, participated in the panel, sharing his experiences working on the ground with local communities and implementing methodologies for necessary transitions aimed at sustainable development for each community.
Zoran Petković, CEO of Zeochem d.o.o. from Zvornik, presented the perspective of the chemical industry and shared experiences on meeting regulatory requirements to achieve successful business operations in international markets.
Doc. Dr. Mario Panjičko, owner of a company managing industrial waste streams and a professor at the Faculty of Food Technology, J.J. Strossmayer University in Osijek, shared insights from both the academic and entrepreneurial sectors in Croatia, highlighting how EU funds and practices can be leveraged to develop sustainable business in small and medium-sized enterprises. Doc. Dr. Lazar Pavić from the University of Maribor presented his views on how sustainability development in industry positively affects the supply and sustainability of services, such as tourism.
The panel “Smart Cities in the Service of the Economy” included Nikola Kukrić, Assistant at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of East Sarajevo and Director of the company Digital Ozone d.o.o.
ONEX Connect 2025 was organized in partnership with the European Enterprise Network (EEN), providing a direct link to European policies supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and innovation.
Following the working sessions of the forum, participants took part in B2B sessions, offering opportunities for concrete networking and the initiation of further cooperation.
