Imagine Sarajevo in the 1970s—a city that didn’t just follow global trends but actively created them. At a time when much of the world was only beginning to understand the potential of personal computers, Sarajevo was already developing its own.
This is the story of how Energoinvest helped place the city on the global map of technological innovation.
During the 1970s, engineers at Energoinvest took on an ambitious challenge: to understand, deconstruct, and rebuild computer technology. By studying systems like IBM, they began developing their own solutions—without relying on foreign licenses.
The result was the IRIS PC, the first computer developed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It represented a breakthrough moment not only for Sarajevo, but for the entire region, proving that local knowledge and expertise could compete on a global level.
IRIS PC 16: A Symbol of Innovation
In the 1980s, Sarajevo took an even bigger step forward with the development of the IRIS PC 16. This advanced machine was faster, more stable, and equipped with greater memory capacity than many comparable systems of its time—including those produced by IBM.
The IRIS PC 16 became a symbol of technological ambition. Although it cost as much as a Yugo car, it represented far more than a product—it embodied an entire vision of the future built in Sarajevo.
Sarajevo’s Global Impact in Technology
Energoinvest’s influence extended far beyond the development of computers. The company produced key components, including motherboards for international markets, and developed advanced software systems used in countries such as the People’s Republic of China.
Perhaps most remarkably, Sarajevo became a center of knowledge transfer. More than 5,000 engineers from China were trained through collaboration with Energoinvest, demonstrating the city’s global reach in science and technology.
Founded in 1951, Energoinvest grew into a powerful industrial and research system with 11 research centers, laboratories, and institutes. It became a true hub of innovation—a ‘city of knowledge’ that few places in the world could match at the time.
Discover Sarajevo’s Innovation Story at Planet Sarajevo
Today, this fascinating chapter of technological history is preserved at Planet Sarajevo, one of the most unique museums in Sarajevo and a must-see for visitors interested in innovation, history, and culture.
Through immersive storytelling and multimedia experiences, Planet Sarajevo reveals how Sarajevo contributed to the development of global technology—long before the digital age fully emerged.
A City That Created the Future
The story of Energoinvest is more than a story about computers. It is a story about vision, courage, and the belief that a city can shape its own future.
Sarajevo did not wait for innovation to arrive—it built it.
Planet Sarajevo is realized with the support of BH Telecom, Sarajevska Pivara, NLB Bank, Kömmerling, as well as the Federal Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the City of Sarajevo.