This edition of Member Spotlight highlights the work of Edin Skaljic, CEO of FabLab B&H Innovation Center, and the organization’s innovative approach to strengthening vocational education and training (VET) through non-formal learning and applied innovation.
Bridging the gap between education and industry
Founded in 2020, FabLab B&H Innovation Center is an independent, private, non-profit research and technology organization that emerged from a grassroots, bottom-up effort to bridge the gap between education, industry, and innovation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under the leadership of Edin Skaljic, the center has emerged as a pioneering platform for applied innovation, providing a high-tech research laboratory, makerspace, and living lab environment.
FabLab B&H offers access to cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure that support education, research, and entrepreneurship. Its advanced laboratories include facilities for additive manufacturing and 3D printing, collaborative robotics, electronics and photonics, AR/VR/XR technologies, artificial intelligence, and circular technologies. Through these resources, the center enables learners, professionals, and entrepreneurs to develop the digital and green skills increasingly required in modern industries.
Addressing the challenges in vocational education
Bosnia and Herzegovina faces several structural challenges in the VET landscape, including fragmented training provision, limited access to modern equipment, and weak collaboration between education institutions, businesses, and innovation actors. As a result, young people, jobseekers, and small and medium-sized enterprises often lack flexible and practice-oriented opportunities to acquire advanced skills outside formal education systems.
FabLab B&H Innovation Center addresses these gaps by operating as a non-formal learning hub and a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) for digital and green technologies. The center responds to these gaps by combining state-of-the-art laboratories with mentoring, project-based learning, and strong participation in European innovation networks. Since its establishment, FabLab B&H has developed modular training programs, micro-credentials, and hands-on learning opportunities tailored to the needs of youth, professionals, start-ups, and SMEs.
Driving innovation through an integrated ecosystem
The FabLab B&H model represents an innovative approach to vocational excellence. Rather than competing with formal education institutions, the center complements them by providing flexible, practice-based learning opportunities. Its model brings together high-tech laboratories, innovation support services, non-formal training, and participation in European research and innovation projects in one place, allowing learners, start-ups, SMEs, and partners to collaborate more effectively.
A key feature of this approach is the use of real-world industry and community challenges as the foundation for learning activities. Participants work on practical projects that address real problems, ensuring that the knowledge and skills acquired are immediately applicable.
Promoting digital and green transformation
Another defining element of FabLab B&H’s work is the strong connection between digital technologies and sustainability. The center promotes circular and green innovation through dedicated programs such as recycling initiatives, sustainable materials research, and projects inspired by the Precious Plastic movement. By linking advanced digital tools with circular economy principles, FabLab B&H supports both technological progress and environmental responsibility.
Lessons learned and key messages
The experience of FabLab B&H offers several important insights for the development of vocational excellence:
- Ecosystem thinking is essential. Sustainable impact is achieved when an organization functions as a permanent innovation ecosystem actor rather than only participating in individual projects.
- Non-formal learning can achieve excellence. With strong standards, quality assurance, and partnerships, non-formal training programs can reach the same level of recognition and effectiveness as formal education pathways.
- Hands-on learning increases engagement. Practical projects and real-world challenges motivate learners and deepen understanding across all age groups.
- Combining digital and green agendas strengthens impact. Integrating advanced technologies such as AI, robotics, and AR/VR with sustainability and circular economy approaches aligns training with European priorities.
- Entrepreneurship and IP support are crucial. Providing guidance on intellectual property, business development, and startup support ensures that skills development leads to innovation and market opportunities.
- International collaboration accelerates progress. Participation in European networks and initiatives enables knowledge exchange, peer learning, benchmarking, and continuous improvement. It helps organizations stay aligned with emerging trends, build strategic partnerships, and adapt successful practices to local contexts.
Looking ahead
Through the leadership of Edin Skaljic, FabLab B&H Innovation Center continues to expand its role as a hub for digital and green innovation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By combining advanced technology infrastructure with collaborative learning and entrepreneurship support, the center demonstrates how non-formal education can play a vital role in strengthening vocational excellence and preparing communities for the future of work.
Why is it important to be part of the ETF Network of Excellence (ENE)?
What value does this bring to you and your organization?
Being part of international networks such as the ETF Network of Excellence is very important for FabLab B&H because it connects us to knowledge, partners, and opportunities that we could not access alone. These networks allow us to learn from good practices across Europe, benchmark our work, and continuously improve our approach to vocational excellence, digital skills, and green innovation.
For our organization, this brings both strategic and practical value. It helps us build credibility, develop partnerships, participate in collaborative projects, and stay aligned with European priorities. Through study visits, exchanges, and major events, we gain new ideas that we can adapt to the local context in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In our view, international collaboration is not just beneficial, it is essential. If we want to create relevant, future-oriented learning ecosystems, we need to be connected, open, and actively involved in communities that are shaping the future of education and innovation - Edin Skaljic.
Edin Skaljic, https://www.linkedin.com/in/skaljic/
FabLab, in ENE ATLAS https://openspace.etf.europa.eu/ene-atlas/fablab-bosnia-and-herzegovina
Find the FabLab Good Practice description available on ENE ATLAS: FabLab B&H Innovation Center: A Non-formal Centre of Vocational Excellence for Digital and Green Skills in Bosnia and Herzegovina, https://openspace.etf.europa.eu/ene-atlas/fablab-bosnia-and-herzegovina
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