At the Entrepreneurial Incubator of Sisak-Moslavina County, PISMO powered by A1, in early June 2024. The financing agreement for the first phase of the Gaming Industry Center project, worth €26,337,392.25, was signed. The agreement was signed by the then Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds, Šime Erlić, the Director of the Central Financing and Contracting Agency, Dragan Jelić, and the Director of the SMŽ Regional Coordinator, Andreja Šeperac. The signing was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, the Minister of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, Marin Piletić, the Prefect of Sisak-Moslavina County, Ivan Celjak, and the Mayor of Novska, Marija Kušmiš. The guests were welcomed by Andreja Šeperac, who thanked everyone who contributed to the signing of this agreement, as well as all those who made it possible for the Gaming Industry Center to become the largest project ever in Novska and Sisak-Moslavina County.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, emphasized the importance of this project for the future development of the national economy and highlighted its long-term benefits:
“By adapting to new trends and new development directions, Novska and Sisak-Moslavina County have positioned themselves as centers for the gaming industry. A high school program for Video Game Development Technicians has been introduced, Inina’s building in Novska has been converted into a student dormitory housing students from all over Croatia, and work is also underway in Sisak on the Regional Competence Center of the Technical School. You are working on partnerships with universities and contributing overall to the development of the academic community. There is no doubt that the Gaming Industry Center project will be unique. It will attract such an influx of young people that we will be surprised by everything that has been initiated from the entrepreneurial incubator in Novska. As a Government, in the past period, we have made greater strides for this project than anywhere else, given that this county has been hit by numerous disasters. The regional map of Sisak-Moslavina County has been changed. The entire area offers the best conditions for investors. And with projects like this, there is no cause for concern for Sisak-Moslavina County.”
In recent years, Croatia’s gaming industry has recorded growth in revenue, profit, and employment, as well as an increase in the number of people wanting to join this fastest-growing economic sector. This is precisely why the Gaming Industry Center project was designed – a sort of campus, a continuation of the successful PISMO powered by A1 gaming incubator, which will cover nearly 9 hectares of land in the Novska Entrepreneurial Zone.
The then Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds, Šime Erlić, emphasized the key role of EU funds in the implementation of this project and the Just Transition Fund, from which the project is financed. “If any project can truly mark the beginning of a new development era in the growth of both Novska and Sisak-Moslavina County, it is this strategic project of the Government of the Republic of Croatia – the construction of the Gaming Industry Center in Novska. It is the first project financed by the Just Transition Fund. Unique, because there is nothing similar on the map of Europe, and this is truly commendable for everyone involved in this project. Its goal is to drive transformation towards new industries, supporting the development of new technologies, new jobs, and increasing competitiveness for the entire country,” Erlić stated.
The Gaming Industry Center, the first of its kind in Europe, includes a gaming industry incubator and accelerator, infrastructure for university programs in the field of gaming, as well as all associated student and sports facilities. The project begins with the construction of infrastructure and the establishment of study programs, a student dormitory with 201 beds, and a range of sports facilities such as a swimming pool, a sports hall, outdoor sports fields, a power plant, and road connections.The Prefect of Sisak-Moslavina County, Ivan Celjak, expressed his satisfaction with this significant investment in the county: “The implementation of the gaming campus is an extremely important project for both Novska and Sisak-Moslavina County. The primary focus is the acquisition of knowledge, given that the first phase of the gaming campus construction involves the building of the faculty, the student dormitory, and accompanying sports and recreational facilities. We can expect the arrival of young people, families, and companies who will develop their personal and professional skills. We are confident that they will find both work and a home in Novska, given that the current activities and successes of the PISMO Entrepreneurial Incubator already indicate this.”
