nir-vana innovation network

This Serbian start-up is engaged in the production and sale of a device for beekeeping. They have developed and patented an innovative device that makes the bee hive ecological and anti-infestation, by removing bee ticks in an ecological and automated way. The varroa, as the biggest epidemic in the apiary world, can lead to 50% of the death rate of bee communities during the season if not treated properly. The idea for this innovation arose as a result of a problem they had themselves. The innovative solution was realized with the knowledge acquired over generations in one of the owners’ family along with formal education in the field of electrical engineering. This start-up is young, created in 2022, while the development of the innovation took two years, with the support of national innovative funds. From 2022, the company has the distributor for the Balkan market. The innovative device for organic removal of varroa is protected by the patent. The novelties of this device are the sprayer and the automation of the process. These novelties made it possible to release a certain amount of formic acid into the evaporator located in the hive at equal time intervals. Until now, formic acid was implemented manually using a sponge that was placed on the honeycomb from which formic acid was poured and required opening the hive every few days, which disturbs its microclimate. The device removes varroa on bees and bee brood, which was not the case with the existing solutions. If a beekeeper uses current non-ecological means, they will have problems like: • manually to treat varroa, then • to wait for six months to safely sell honey, which means a loss of 48 euro per a bee hive, • after a few seasons, the varroa will increase its resistance to it. If the beekeeper uses the current eco solutions, again, they will face with problems like • manually treatment • high temperature which device crates, which is harmful for the bees, • and the current application of the formic acid is efficient up to 70%. Additionally, in comparison with all the other ecological and non-ecological solutions which require 3 to 7 days of working in an apiary, the company’s innovative device requires a single visit. Aforementioned problems are solved with the company’s innovative device, which means: • a single visit to the apiary, • 90% efficiency, • no additional costs and • competitive price. The company is interested in entering EU market with the aim to help non-organic beekeepers to become organic one with the possibility to earn 60% more on selling organic honey. Therefore, the company is targeting distributors with connections to beekeeping associations through a commercial agreement. The company will provide the innovative device with adjustments if needed and promotional material and instructions.