Archives: Актуелности

Today, the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, visited the construction works on the new building of the Science and Technology Park Niš, which have entered the final phase, and the completion of the works is expected at the end of January 2026.

During the tour, the President of the National Assembly emphasized that the Republic of Serbia has a special focus on the development of scientific and research institutes, emphasizing that one of the key centers of this development will be the Science and Technology Park Niš, after the completion of the second phase of construction. As she stated, strengthening cooperation between cities such as Niš, Kragujevac, where an innovation district is being largely established, and Kruševac, which will have its own Regional Industrial Technology Park next year, is of exceptional importance for balanced regional development and better connection of scientific, research, and innovation capacities across the country.
The expansion of the Science and Technology Park Niš capacities will create conditions for the work of more than 70 companies, which will employ over 1,500 highly educated experts. The new complex will include three institutes and six modern laboratories, which will further strengthen the research and development infrastructure of southern Serbia. In the coming period, the Science and Technology Park Niš will, in close cooperation with academia and researchers, work on the identification of key laboratories, the competencies of the faculty, researchers, and mentors, as well as on defining specific niches with the greatest development potential. On this basis, the formation of virtual centers of excellence is planned, which will connect knowledge, science, and industry.

This strengthening of the capacity and functional role of the Science and Technology Park Niš represents one of the key steps towards the realization of the TehNis concept – a comprehensive innovation district that positions Niš as a regional center for science, technology, and innovation. TehNis will encompass more than 70,000m² of modern space intended for research, development and high-tech entrepreneurship, with a special focus on three areas of national importance: cyber-security, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy sources.
By investing in modern research infrastructure, connecting academia and the economy, as well as creating conditions for the stay and return of top experts, Niš is systematically positioning itself as one of the carriers of technological and economic development in Serbia. By implementing the second phase of construction and further developing the TehNis concept, lasting and sustainable foundations are being created for regional development, international competitiveness, and long-term growth based on knowledge and innovation.

On Thursday, November 13, the results of a pilot action implemented within the framework of the international project Be Ready, aimed at improving urban greenery and applying innovative tools for sustainable urban development, were presented at the Europe House in Niš.

The pilot action included four key activities:

• greening central city locations,
• forming a new line of trees near the Puppet Theatre,
• regular maintenance of existing plantings,
• an innovative seedling donation campaign.

Green canopies were installed at King Milan Square and five tall deciduous trees were planted, while a new line of seven evergreen seedlings was formed near the Puppet Theatre.

Two digital innovations developed within the project attracted particular attention – a Web GIS application for planning and monitoring greening, and an improved mobile application called Eko Lovac, which allows citizens to gain insight into the state of urban greenery and more easily report necessary interventions.

A panel discussion was also held as part of the event, with the participation of representatives of the City Administration for Local Economic Development and Investments, the Science and Technology Park Niš, the Public Utility Company Medijana, and representatives of the private sector. The importance of cooperation between institutions, public enterprises, and the innovation ecosystem in developing sustainable solutions for the city of Niš was emphasized.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, the Science and Technology Park Niš, in cooperation with the Startup Center Niš and the Regional Innovation Center Zubin Potok, successfully implemented the program “STARTUP QUEST: Going Global”, designed to support the internationalization of promising startups from Serbia.

As part of the program, ten selected startups received comprehensive professional, financial, and logistical support for participation in three leading international technology conferences – How to Web in Bucharest, Web Summit in Lisbon and Slush in Helsinki. During their participation at the Web Summit in Lisbon, the startups were also presented at the national stand of the Republic of Serbia, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, which further contributed to their visibility and institutional support for their appearance on the global market. By participating in these globally relevant events, startups were given the opportunity to directly present themselves to investors, corporations, technology leaders, and representatives of the startup ecosystem from different countries, which significantly improved their international visibility and recognition.

Through the Startup Quest program, participants made numerous business contacts and started conversations with potential partners, clients and mentors, while exchanging knowledge and experiences with startup communities across Europe and the world. Attending international conferences provided them with better insight into contemporary market trends, investor expectations, and best practices in the development of innovative technological solutions, which is an important step in the further development of their products and business models.

The program’s special contribution is reflected in strengthening presentation skills, business positioning and preparation for entering international markets, thereby empowering startups for the next stages of growth, scaling and attracting investments. The “STARTUP QUEST: Going Global” program has thus achieved its main goal – to facilitate access to global markets for promising startups from Serbia, connect them with relevant actors of the international innovation ecosystem, and lay the foundations for their sustainable long-term development.

The public call for participation in the S4AI Hub program, “Innovation Camp for Digital Transformation”, for which micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as small mid-cap companies, can apply, remains open until December 1. The program allows participants, with the support of an expert team, to identify challenges in digitalization, define project ideas and develop a working version of a solution for digital transformation.

Companies that want to improve their business by applying artificial intelligence and Industry 5.0 technologies, registered in the Republic of Serbia with up to 499 employees, annual turnover of up to 100 million euros or balance sheet of up to 86 million euros are eligible to participate. The program is free of charge for selected companies and includes professional support, consulting and mentoring in the development of innovative digital solutions. The goal is for companies to gain a clearer insight into their own digital maturity and identify opportunities to improve competitiveness through digital transformation.

Applications are submitted electronically via the online form, which is available HERE.

The new deadline for submitting applications is December 1, 2025, or until the available funds are used up.

For additional information, please contact us by email: info@s4ai.rs

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.