Archives: Актуелности

The three-day visit of the economic and scientific delegation from the Chinese city of Chongqing marked the beginning of more intensive cooperation between Serbia and China in the field of science, technology, and innovation. The organization of the visit, initiated by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation and the Science and Technology Park Niš (STP Niš), represents an important step in establishing stronger ties between scientific, educational, and economic institutions of the two countries.

The result of the negotiations so far is the formation of the Technology Transfer Center (TT Center) in Niš and Chongqing, which was formalized by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation at the end of last year between the Chongqing Research Institute, the Academy of Science and Technology in Chongqing and STP Niš. During the visit, the Chinese delegation visited scientific and economic institutions in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš, where meetings were held with key stakeholders with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation further.

In the first part, discussions were held with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education, in order to familiarize the Chinese delegation with the national framework for cooperation in the field of student and researcher mobility, as well as the application of innovations in agriculture. During these discussions, special emphasis was placed on the integration of technological development into the education system and supporting the development of Industry 5.0 through education from the earliest ages.
A key part of the visit was the presentation of investment opportunities for Chinese technology development companies in Serbia. At a meeting with the Development Agency of Serbia, Chinese representatives were briefed on procedures and incentives for foreign investment, while at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, growing economic sectors and areas of potential cooperation were discussed. In addition, exchange programs, internships, summer schools and accreditation of doctoral studies that will be accepted in both countries were discussed with technical faculties in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš, in order to encourage cooperation between the two countries, while discussions were initiated with the Metropolitan University on the development of AI centers and the application of artificial intelligence in various fields. Cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence and its application in joint projects were also discussed in talks with representatives of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the BioSense Institute.

The central event of the visit was the opening ceremony of the Technology Transfer Center in Niš, in the Science and Technology Park Niš, whose plaque was jointly unveiled by representatives of the Chongqing Research Institute and STP Niš. During this ceremony, an agreement was made to create a consortium for the development of talents necessary for intelligent manufacturing. The TT Center will serve as the main link between industry, academia, and research institutes, thus stimulating the transfer of scientific and technological achievements and their application in industry.
The defined goals and further plans include the exchange of scientific and technological knowledge, the development of joint research projects, support for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the organization of academic and entrepreneurial events that will promote innovation and entrepreneurship. By establishing a database of technological projects and talents, both sides are opening the door to new market opportunities and long-term cooperation.

The second Italy-Serbia Science Forum, held at the AREA Science Park in Trieste, represented a significant step in connecting science, innovation, and industry between the two countries. For the Science and Technology Park Niš, this was an extraordinary opportunity to present itself as one of the actors in the development of the innovation ecosystem in Serbia.
The STP Niš managing director, Dr. Milan Ranđelović, PhD, participated in the panel discussion Frontiers of Discovery: Unleashing Science and Innovation, where he shared his experiences and visions on how scientific and technological achievements can trigger economic and social development. The emphasis was placed on creating new opportunities for cooperation with Italian partners, and also on improving existing initiatives through the application of cutting-edge research. The importance of involving startups, academia, and companies in joint projects that will contribute to strengthening the innovation culture in the region was highlighted.

The first Italy-Serbia Science Forum was held in Belgrade in March 2023, bringing together leading experts, scientists, and innovators from both countries. At that point, the foundations were laid for deepening cooperation in the field of science and technology, with the aim of creating new opportunities for knowledge exchange and the development of innovations. This second forum in Trieste continued that mission, emphasizing the importance of long-term cooperation for economic and social progress.

From November 21 to November 25, 2024, the Chongqing International Talent Exchange Conference was held in the Chinese city of Chongqing, which brought together over 10,000 participants from all over the world. A delegation of the Republic of Serbia, led by Prof. Miroslav Trajanović, PhD, State Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, and Miloš Petrović, Assistant Director for Infrastructure and Investments from the Science and Technology Park Niš, also participated.
During the conference, a significant Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation was signed between the Research Institute of the Chongqing Institute of Technology in Harbin, the Academy of Science and Technology in Chongqing, and the Science and Technology Park Niš. As the crowning achievement of this partnership, a plaque was ceremonially unveiled marking the establishment of the China ChongQing-Serbia Technology Transfer Center.

This memorandum lays the foundation for intensive cooperation in the fields of innovation, technology transfer, and sustainable development. The aim is to promote bilateral technology transfer and transformation between Serbia and China, with the support of scientific and technological projects that will enable economic and social progress in both regions.
The cooperation will focus on advancing innovations in smart manufacturing, bioengineering, robotics, new energy sources, artificial intelligence, and creative industries. Based on the principles of long-term partnership and mutual benefit, this initiative has the potential to significantly contribute to the development of the innovation ecosystem in Serbia and China.

The Science and Technology Park Niš continues with initiatives that connect the domestic innovation community with global partners, creating new opportunities for development and global positioning.

Global Entrepreneurship Week at STP Niš: Focus on Exports to the Far East

Global Entrepreneurship Week, which is already underway and will last until Wednesday, November 20, at the Science and Technology Park Niš, brings opportunities for the development and growth of domestic innovative companies and startups. This event is organized by the Science and Technology Park Niš and NALED, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Philip Morris company.

The opening of the event was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Science and Technology Park Niš and NALED, which establishes a partnership in the implementation of activities in the field of the establishment and operation of the Pop-up Export Hub, the engagement of experts to support its functioning, as well as cooperation in the field of technology transfer. The Pop-up Export Hub in Niš is an initiative of the “StarTech” project, designed with the aim of supporting innovative and high-tech companies, primarily members of STP Niš, in positioning themselves in foreign markets.

The Director of the Science and Technology Park Niš, Dr. Milan Randjelovic, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “This is a great opportunity for all innovative companies and startups to receive support in marketing their products on foreign markets, with a special focus on the countries of the Far East. Through this event, we want to strengthen the domestic economy and enable our companies to better position themselves on the international stage, using concrete advice, practical tools and opportunities to connect with experts and potential partners.”

The Pop-up Export Hub was formed with the aim of organizing annual campaigns dedicated to specific markets through thematic Export Weeks. The campaigns include workshops and exchange of experiences with experts, trade experts and other businesses. Through these workshops and sessions, practical guides with key information and procedures for exporting are created.

The opening program included presentations by prominent representatives of institutions and companies: State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy Vladimir Arsenović, Mayor of Niš Dragoslav Pavlović, Director of STP Niš Milan Randđelović, Manager of Philip Morris Jelena Preradović Stevanović, and Director of Competitiveness and Investments at NALED Dušan Vasiljević.

The first day of the event included a panel discussion with experts as well as networking opportunities, while workshops are scheduled for November 19 and 20 that will cover:

• market research and analysis,
• customs procedures and legal aspects,
• protection of intellectual property in exports.

Within the framework of this project, special emphasis is placed on improving exports and providing practical advice on adapting products to specific market requirements.

There will also be a panel discussion titled “Challenges and Opportunities: How to Access Capital for SMEs”, where participants will be able to learn more about key topics of access to finance and alternative sources of capital for SMEs. The panel is designed as an important contribution to supporting entrepreneurs in their development and adaptation to global markets.

This event provides a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences, laying the foundation for a stronger export potential of domestic companies.

The City of Niš organized a workshop called “Local Methodological Workshop – Urban Heat Islands” as part of the “Be Ready: Urban Heat Islands Resilience, Preparedness and Mitigation Strategies” project.
This workshop is the first in a series of activities within the “Be Ready” project, which focuses on assessing the risk of urban heat islands, and the phenomenon itself forms due to the high level of construction – sidewalks, roads, and buildings that retain heat, which leads to an increase in temperature in urban areas.
The project includes the development of methodology, preparation of reports on the vulnerability and risk of heat islands, as well as the presentation of innovative measures to reduce their effects. In cooperation with partners from 12 European countries, the City of Niš and the Science and Technology Park Niš will work on the implementation of activities, after which the capacities for climate change mitigation and management will be developed. This way, we will lay the foundations for the future development of green infrastructure and harmonization with the policies of the European Union in the field of environmental protection.

The workshop in Niš brought together representatives of the public, civil, and business sectors, as well as academia, who discussed the goals and activities of the project and the expected results, and exchanged past experiences and data on the fight against climate change.
The project is supported through the INTERREG Program of the Danube Region and co-financed by the European Union.