The kick-off conference for the project "Bridging Borders: Enhancing Public Administration for Cross-Border Business Growth" was held on March 18th, at the premises of the Incubator of Creative Industries Enter Koprivnica. Funded under the Interreg Hungary-Croatia Programme, the project brings together partners from both countries to reduce administrative barriers and create a supportive environment for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the border region.

The project is led by Enter Koprivnica (Croatia), in a consortium with the Business Incubator of Virovitica-Podravina County (BIVPC, Croatia), the Zala County Foundation for Enterprise Promotion (ZMVA, Hungary), and Somogy-Flandria Nonprofit Kft. (SFN, Hungary).

During the conference, the partners presented the key activities to be implemented over the next 18 months. The primary output of the project will be the establishment of "Border Connect Business Points"—centralized physical hubs where entrepreneurs can receive legal and administrative guidance for doing business across the border. Additionally, a digital platform and an expert database will be developed to facilitate networking and information exchange.

The implementation starts immediately, with a comprehensive analysis of legal and administrative systems beginning in April. May will be marked by the first thematic workshop dedicated to empowering women in cross-border business. Furthermore, the partners agreed on an innovative approach to education: organizing events where local entrepreneurs will learn about the business culture and customs of the neighboring country, guided by experts and entrepreneurs who already operate successfully on both sides of the border.

The project is financed from the Interreg VI-A Hungary-Croatia program, its total value is 289,214.98 EUR (231,371.97 EUR EU contribution) of which 84,131.01 (67,304.81 EUR, 80% co-financed) applies to Enter Koprivnica. Project duration: 01/02/2026 - 31/07/2027.