LocationsIPC Trebinje: More than just a workspace – a hub for ideas and a vibrant community
December 16, 2024
Mirjana Mucović
The owner of the web agency WebHerzz, Mirjana Mucović, has been using the premises of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IPC) Trebinje since its opening in the summer of 2024. She says she is very satisfied with the space, which meets all her needs and facilitates her business operations.
“I heard about IPC through news portals announcing its launch, and I was immediately interested. I’ve been running my agency for four years, and before, I worked in a standard office setting where I didn’t have as much space as I do now. Like other users, I have access to meeting rooms, call rooms, relaxation spaces, and other amenities. Previously, I only had one desk in a small space, but now it’s a completely different feeling—it’s more professional. When clients visit and see the spacious environment, it immediately gives a serious impression. There’s also a kitchen if they want coffee or tea, and most visitors are amazed that something like this exists in Trebinje,” says Mirjana Mucović.
A financial boost for entrepreneurs
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IPC) was built as part of the Project for Improving Performance of Local Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PIPLS), funded by Sweden and implemented and co-financed by the United Nations Development Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP BiH), with the support of three cantons and 22 local self-government units. The center spans 200 square meters on the first floor of the Trebinje Bus Station and is open to individuals working in information and communication technology and creative industries.
“For me, IPC is not just a workspace designed to meet the needs of IT professionals but also a meeting place for exchanging experiences with colleagues from various industries. Through these new connections, I’ve gained numerous contacts with new clients, and the space has truly met all my expectations. Moreover, unlike before, I don’t have fixed monthly expenses—I only pay rent, which has been a significant financial boost for me. There’s also a supportive team that makes our daily work as pleasant as possible,” shares Mucović, whose Trebinje-based agency provides online services to clients across Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region, and even Europe and beyond.
“We work with the Football Club ‘Leotar’ from Trebinje, and in digital marketing, my biggest client is the Football Association of BiH, for whom we manage social media. For web design, I have regular clients from Trebinje in various industries, as well as international clients, such as a large accounting agency from Switzerland.”Mirjana Mucović
“Sometimes, it’s just nice to have a work atmosphere”
The IPC space is also used by Petar Milanović, a programmer from Trebinje working for a Swiss company specializing in sending SMS messages, which dispatches 18 million messages daily worldwide. Having worked in hubs in Mostar, Podgorica, and Novi Sad, he says IPC Trebinje offers everything he had in those spaces. He emphasizes that finding such a workspace in Trebinje was essential for his work:
“This space means a lot to me because if it didn’t exist, I would have created something similar myself. Before IPC, a few friends and I set up a similar concept, but not with these capacities. It’s important for me to have a space where I can separate work from home life, get up in the morning, and go to work. If I had my own office, organizing, maintaining, and securing the space—especially given the expensive equipment—would take additional time. Also, sometimes it’s just nice to have a work atmosphere, to be around others doing similar work, and to share ideas with them.”Petar Milanović
Petar Milanović
Dragan Milošević
Ensuring comfort and community
Dragan Milošević, the manager of IPC Trebinje, says the center has been operational since early April this year, with a satisfactory number of temporary and permanent users from the start.
At first, we had more temporary users, but it has since evolved into a community with four to five regular users, along with remote workers who come to Trebinje with their families on vacation and use our space as needed. We also host digital nomads from the region, the US, Italy, Denmark, and other countries. Regular users are mostly from Trebinje, primarily from the IT sector, while those using the space temporarily represent various professions. The center is open 24/7 with an access card system. As the manager, I’m here on weekdays from 7 AM to 3 PM, but I’m always available online.”Dragan Milošević
The center features a coworking area with 12 workstations, two offices for online meetings, a projector with a screen, and smaller and larger rooms for B2B meetings. These rooms can be combined into a larger space for up to 20 people, ideal for workshops, presentations, or larger meetings. There’s also a relaxation area that can easily be transformed into a presentation space or an informal meeting room.
“Our main goal is to make people feel comfortable here, foster a sense of community, connect them with each other, and link the IPC with the Development Agency of the City of Trebinje, which manages the center, as well as with the city itself. The center is also part of Trebinje’s tourism offering. We promote it as a place for a working vacation, and we’ve already hosted users from all over the world. We have a website, a Google Business Page, and social media channels, and people also find us through organic searches using keywords related to coworking spaces. The proximity to Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi also brings daily visitors,” adds Milošević.
Opportunities for education
Nataša Tučić, a member of the PIPLS project implementation team for Trebinje, highlights that IPC provides vital support for local economic development and innovation by offering a flexible and modern work environment for freelancers, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs:
“Since its establishment, IPC has become a gathering place for young professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners by providing access to work infrastructure, technical support, and networking opportunities. The initial feedback from users has been very positive—IPC has proven to meet the needs of the local community while also attracting visitors from other areas who want to combine their stay in Trebinje with work,” says Tučić, adding that the space also offers educational and development opportunities:
“This academic year, a new study program, ‘Information Systems and Technology Engineering,’ was introduced at the Faculty of Production and Management in Trebinje, with support from the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad. In the future, we expect greater demand for the facilities and benefits provided by IPC. The center, managed by the City of Trebinje’s Development Agency (TREDEA), is set to grow as a dynamic community offering additional services to support economic development and position Trebinje as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.”
The Project for Improving Performance of Local Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PIPLS) aims to improve access to essential public services through better management and increased investment in local infrastructure.
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