Archives: Актуелности

The Kopaonik Business Forum, the most significant economic event in Serbia and the region, was held for the 33rd time this year, bringing together representatives of government institutions, the business community, the financial sector, academia, and the innovation ecosystem.

As part of the Forum program, the panel “Transforming Industry for the Intelligent Age” was held, organized in partnership between the Kopaonik Business Forum, the Serbian Association of Economists, and the Science and Technology Park Niš. The panel was moderated by Milan Ranđelović, PhD, Director of Science and Technology Park Niš.

The discussion focused on how industry can remain competitive amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, as well as the role innovation ecosystems and public-private cooperation play in this process.

Panel participants included Stefan Bađa, Co-founder and Head of Accelerator and Global Partnerships at HUB 201; Jelena Bojović, Program Director for Public Policy at NALED and the World Economic Forum; Michaela Lafont, Programme and Project Coordinator for AI Innovation and Policy Coordination at the European Commission; Todor Mladenov, Member of the Board and Executive Director of Sofia Tech Park; Dragoslav Pavlović, Mayor of the City of Niš; and Ivan Pavlović, Project Manager of S4AI European Digital Innovation Hub.

During the discussion, it was emphasized that industrial transformation is no longer a topic of the future, but a process that is already actively taking place worldwide. The competitiveness of the economy increasingly depends on companies’ ability to integrate artificial intelligence into their business and production processes, as well as on the existence of ecosystems that enable the practical application of new technologies.

Milan Ranđelović highlighted the importance of connecting industry, innovation centers, and the public sector in building sustainable ecosystems. According to him, such partnerships bring benefits to local communities, create new jobs, and stimulate economic growth. He also emphasized that it is important to implement artificial intelligence in both the public and private sectors, through the engagement of local governments, research institutions, and technology parks. This approach would allow Serbia to keep pace with global trends by leveraging existing infrastructure and motivating all stakeholders involved in the development of intelligent industry.

Participants also reflected on the practical challenges companies face when introducing AI solutions. It was particularly noted that the process of scaling these technologies often begins with basic infrastructure—such as structured data and well-organized systems.

It was also pointed out that in many organizations digital tools remain fragmented, systems often do not communicate with each other, and automation is limited to individual processes. As a result, outcomes frequently depend on a small number of experts, while scaling solutions across entire organizations remains a significant challenge.

 

The Science and Technology Park Niš hosted the new Ambassador of Pakistan to Serbia, H.E.
Mr. Faraz Zaidi, during his first official visit to our city. On this occasion, we introduced the
Ambassador to the capacities, work, and services that STP Niš provides to its members, partners,
and the external community.
During the visit, the future development plans of the Park, current projects, and key activities
aimed at strengthening the startup ecosystem, supporting innovation, and developing
technological entrepreneurship were presented.
The discussions with the Ambassador were led by Assistant Directors Ivan Pavlović and Miloš
Grozdanović, who also presented the “TehNis” project – an initiative that represents an
important step towards improving the innovation infrastructure and creating an enabling
environment for the development of new technologies, talents, and competitive technological
solutions.
The visit produced an open and constructive conversation, discussing the possibilities of future
cooperation and strengthening ties between Pakistan and Serbia in the fields of innovation,
technology, and entrepreneurship.

Science and Technology Park Niš is one of the partners in the cross-border project “Scaling the Regions”, an initiative of Serbia and Bulgaria aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in their growth, expansion, and improvement of their business in a greener and smarter global market. The essence of the project is to create more connected and efficient support ecosystems, which enable better cooperation between national, regional, and local organizations, foster digital transformation, and transition to more sustainable business and integration of SMEs into international supply chains. The main objective of the project is to strengthen advisory and support services for small and medium-sized enterprises, increase the innovation capacity of companies and develop competitiveness, including the tourism sector, while improving networks and knowledge exchange in the cross-border region.

For the occasion of the official launch of the project, on January 22, 2026, a formal contract award ceremony was held at the premises of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works of the Republic of Bulgaria in Sofia, attended by the Director of the Science and Technology Park Niš, Milan Ranđelović, PhD, Deputy Director Ivan Pavlović, and members of the STP Niš project team. The ceremony was also attended by other representatives of partner organizations and institutions.

After the ceremony, workshops were organized aimed at better understanding the program rules, reporting methods, and successful implementation of project activities.

The consortium for this project consists of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA), the Regional Chamber of Commerce of the Niš, Pirot, and Toplica Administrative Districts and the Science and Technology Park Niš. The project lasts 36 months and officially began on December 13, 2025.

Since its establishment, the Science and Technology Park Niš has been continuously developing cooperation with the faculties of the University of Niš, with the aim of promoting technological entrepreneurship, strengthening mutual cooperation, and knowledge exchange between academia and the economy.

In this context, the Science and Technology Park Niš and the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Niš have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the aim of developing joint activities in the fields of social sciences and humanities, as well as their applications in economy and technology.

This partnership enables the implementation of joint research and educational projects, support for students and alumni through professional internships, and the development of professional skills, as well as the organization of events that connect academic work, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, with a special focus on the development of interdisciplinary approaches, the exchange of knowledge and good practices. This way, both institutions advance scientific research, encourage innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit, while at the same time provide students with the opportunity to actively participate in projects that have a concrete impact on the local community and beyond. By involving faculties of social sciences in the design and implementation of joint initiatives, the prerequisites for long-term development, the spread of innovation culture, and a stronger connection of academia with the economy and society as a whole are created.

Towards the end of the year, a joint gathering of all startups that participated in various international conferences during the year as part of the “STARTUP QUEST: Going Global” program was organized at the Science and Technology Park Niš. This meeting was designed as a space for an open exchange of experiences, ideas, and recommendations, with the aim of assessing the effects of the program and drawing concrete lessons for future cycles.

During the meeting, startups shared their impressions of the How to Web, Web Summit, and Slush conferences, talking about the key differences in the event format, audience type, and opportunities that each conference offers. Special emphasis was placed on the contacts made with investors, corporate partners, potential clients, and other startups, as well as on the real opportunities that arose from these contacts, whether it be in the form of further discussions, pilot projects, or planned partnerships.

The exchange of experiences was also focused on practical aspects of the presentation – from preparation and positioning at the event itself, through the ways of leading conversations and networking, to the importance of timely follow-ups after conferences. Startups shared specific advice and recommendations on what worked, what they would do differently next time, and how to make the most of their presence at such global events.

The gathering further contributed to strengthening the community within the Startup Quest program, connecting teams that had different experiences and focuses, but a common goal – entering the international market and further growth. The conclusions and recommendations from this meeting represent a valuable input for improving future support programs, as well as for an even more systematic preparation of startups for their appearance on the global stage.

*The STARTUP QUEST: Going Global program, under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, was implemented by the Science and Technology Park Niš in cooperation with the Startup Center Niš and the Regional Innovation Center Zubin Potok.