On 8th May 2025, the Institute Mihailo Pupin (IMP) hosted a World Café event as part of the Erasmus+ RE-FEM project. The event provided a dynamic space for open dialogue between women entrepreneurs and key stakeholders to identify actionable recommendations to enhance the status and support systems for women entrepreneurs in Serbia.
The World Café Serbia discussions were organised across five thematic tables and five discussion rounds, each lasting 20 minutes. Dr. Sanja Popović Pantić, Head of the Centre for Research on Science and Technology Development at IMP and national coordinator of the RE-FEM project in Serbia, opened the event by introducing the project’s objectives and activities, and concluded it with a summary of the key takeaways.
Discussions focused on five key thematic areas relevant to women’s entrepreneurship.
Support for Women-led StartUp and ScaleUp Enterprises through Access to Finance, Informal Education, and Business Networking
The discussions highlighted the need for financial inclusion of women entrepreneurs by removing institutional barriers, improving the visibility of available support, and empowering women through informal education and business networking. Proposed measures included designing support schemes based on the actual needs of beneficiaries, providing more favourable financial conditions, promoting alternative financing models such as business angels, subsidising invisible labour (e.g. childcare), and strengthening both women’s self-confidence and institutional support, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
Rural Entrepreneurship
Participants highlighted the specific challenges faced by women in rural areas, such as limited access to digital tools and the lack of systemic entrepreneurship education. Recommendations included better institutional coordination, the development of digital learning platforms, reform of the education system, support through intergenerational cooperation, and a more proactive role of local authorities in identifying and addressing the needs of women in their communities.
Digital Transformation
Participants agreed that general digital initiatives do not adequately address the needs of women entrepreneurs. Proposed solutions included personalised training programmes supported by artificial intelligence, the creation of a dedicated platform for connecting digital marketing interns with businesses, and the development of a national digital dashboard for women in business. Further recommendations included subsidised access to advanced AI tools and ongoing support for building digital marketing and AI capabilities, seen as essential for strengthening the competitiveness of women-led enterprises in the digital economy.
Women’s Entrepreneurship and Education with a Focus on Male-dominated Sectors
Discussions pointed to the importance of introducing entrepreneurship as a school subject and modernising the education system, while improving access to support, training, and resources, especially in smaller towns and rural areas. The focus was also on developing practical skills and creating employment policies that better consider gender differences. Additionally, strengthening the connection between education and the labour market, aligning and evaluating strategies, and promoting positive role models in the media were seen as helpful for increasing women’s participation in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
Investment and Development
Recommendations were grouped according to the stakeholder perspective—women entrepreneurs called for more mentoring opportunities, export-readiness training, and easier access to financial instruments, while institutional representatives emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships and improved coordination among support mechanisms. Both groups agreed that greater visibility, strategic targeting, and long-term planning are crucial for effective development. Furthermore, investment in women’s entrepreneurship must go hand-in-hand with access to information, skills development, and structured, data-driven monitoring of impact.
The World Café event successfully brought together diverse voices and fostered collaborative dialogue, highlighting both systemic barriers and innovative solutions to advance women’s entrepreneurship across different sectors and contexts in Serbia.