Minister Šibonjić Officially Opens REZ IT/AI Academy and IT Incubator in Zenica

Minister of Economy of Zenica-Doboj Canton Samir Šibonjić officially opened the REZ IT/AI Academy and IT Incubator in Zenica. The opening represents the culmination of a multi-year strategic project to build regional IT/AI infrastructure in the canton, with more than one million convertible marks invested to date in premises, equipment, and digital infrastructure. The project is led by the Regional Development Agency REZ, with the strategic support of cantonal authorities.

As part of the project, three IT/AI hubs have been built and fully equipped to date - in Zenica, Zavidovići, and Maglaj, with new locations in Kakanj and Doboj Jug planned for 2026, aiming to extend the network to all cities in the canton. The REZ IT/AI Academy is conceived as a strategic reference centre for the development and application of artificial intelligence in three segments: public administration, small and medium enterprises, and youth education. From its first day, the IT Incubator brings together five IT companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, and Germany, offering business infrastructure, mentoring support, and access to an investor network.

In building this ecosystem, cooperation has been established with institutions and experts from the Republic of Türkiye, opening opportunities for knowledge transfer, joint research, and access to Turkish technology markets. Representatives of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian diaspora from across Europe and the world, professionals with experience in global IT and AI centres, are also actively involved. Minister Šibonjić emphasised that the project's goal is to build an integrated network of IT/AI hubs that will provide all cities in the canton with equal access to digital resources, knowledge, and business opportunities.