The official visit to Chongqing, which took place from November 12 to November 15, 2025, was carried out via a delegation consisting of the State Secretary at the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, Marija Gnjatović, and the Assistant Director of the Science and Technology Park Niš, Ivan Pavlović. During the stay in Chongqing, an intensive program was implemented aimed at strengthening scientific and technological cooperation, industrial partnerships and technology transfer between the Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China. The visit was used to strengthen direct ties with one of the most important Chinese research centers with which STP Niš has a partnership – the Chongqing Research Institute of Harbin Institute of Technology – where working meetings were organized with the institute’s management and industry representatives.
During the very first days of the visit, the Chinese-Serbian Technology Transfer Office was officially opened, the establishment of which ensured an institutional mechanism for systematic cooperation, joint projects, and a faster flow of knowledge and technology. As a reminder, a technology transfer office was opened in the Niš Science and Technology Park earlier this year for the needs of the Serbian side. Numerous working meetings were held with the most important research institutions, including the Chongqing Research Institute-Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), during which fields with the greatest potential for direct application and joint development were identified. On this basis, the first priority areas of cooperation were defined in the domains of biomedicine, space technologies, artificial intelligence, as well as electric and autonomous vehicles, while thematic presentations by delegation members were held as part of the official program of the Chongqing International Talent Exchange Conference. On this occasion, key locations, strategic industries, infrastructure capacities and investment potential in Serbia were presented, with a focus on investments in the “TechNis” innovation district in Niš, as well as the development of the sectors of new energy sources, electric and connected vehicles, intelligent transport systems and plans for further strengthening technological infrastructure and research capacities in this field, with a special focus on investment in the Autonomous Vehicle Testing Center.
As one of the significant outcomes, it was agreed that the satellite infrastructure of the Harbin Institute would be made available to Serbia for the development of pilot projects in the field of smart agriculture, with the formation of a joint working group that would coordinate the application of high-resolution data in crop monitoring and resource management. In parallel, the possibilities of applying Chinese artificial intelligence models in education through pilot programs that would enable personalized learning and additional support for teachers were discussed.
During the stay, a series of bilateral meetings were held with the leadership of the Liangjiang New Area, where the readiness of the Chinese side to consider joint projects in the fields of new energy, smart mobility and high-tech infrastructure was emphasized. In addition, an initiative was presented to establish a Center for Testing Autonomous Vehicles within the Innovation District in Niš, which was met with a positive reaction from Chinese partners due to the possibility of regional application and development of new services.
The entire visit was implemented in a dynamic format that included working meetings, technical presentations, bilateral meetings, and field visits to industrial complexes. At every step, the aim was to concretize the agreed initiatives, define operational steps and plan joint pilot projects to be implemented in the coming period. The results achieved represent the basis for strengthening the strategic partnership further and developing projects of common interest in the fields of science, technology, industry, and education.
