Representatives of the Serbian business delegation visited Toronto this week, where they took part in the first Serbia–Canada Business Forum and held a series of meetings with leading companies and innovation organizations in the fields of high technology, business aviation, and advanced industry.
Among the members of the delegation was Ivan Pavlović, Assistant Director of the Science and Technology Park Niš, who presented the potential of the Serbian innovation ecosystem, as well as opportunities for international cooperation, investment, and connecting global technology centers with Niš.
During the visit, the delegation toured Bombardier, one of the global leaders in business aviation, where discussions focused on opportunities for Serbian companies to become part of international supplier chains. Particular emphasis was placed on precision metal processing, CNC machining, IT and engineering solutions, logistics, maintenance, as well as the production of electronic, cable, and cabin components.
The delegation also visited ventureLAB, one of Canada’s leading deep-tech accelerators, where models of support for technology companies were presented, along with opportunities for cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, IoT solutions, embedded systems, and research and development. A meeting between representatives of STP Niš and the ventureLAB team drew particular attention, as the first steps were defined toward cooperation in the identification, protection, and commercialization of intellectual property.
As part of bilateral discussions, Ivan Pavlović held a dedicated working meeting with representatives of ventureLAB focused on developing a long-term support program for intellectual property commercialization within STP Niš. The planned cooperation is aimed at strengthening institutional capacities for the systematic identification and evaluation of intellectual property created through research and startup activities, supporting researchers in the technology licensing process, and connecting innovations with global markets.
The future cooperation program will be based on the principles of developing a sustainable innovation commercialization system, with a focus on market-oriented technologies, early evaluation of intellectual property potential, and the gradual development of capacities through pilot activities and their subsequent institutionalization. The goal is for STP Niš to develop a credible and internationally relevant model of support for technology transfer and innovation commercialization in the coming period.
The visit also included the first Serbia–Canada Business Forum, which brought together around 40 business representatives from nearly 30 Serbian companies, as well as more than 50 Canadian companies and institutions. Through numerous B2B meetings, participants discussed concrete opportunities for partnerships, investments, and the development of joint projects in the fields of innovation, energy, artificial intelligence, and high-tech industry.
A particularly important part of the forum was the presentation by AMD, whose successful development path was presented as an example of strong cooperation with innovation ecosystems and the deep-tech community. The event also highlighted AMD’s contribution to the innovation ecosystem of STP Niš, as well as the importance of connecting global technology leaders with local research and development and startup capacities in Serbia.
The visit was organized with the support of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Canada, and the Embassy of Canada in Serbia. The delegation’s arrival was realized on Air Serbia’s first direct Belgrade–Toronto flight after 34 years, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the economic connectivity between Serbia and Canada.
