Archives: Актуелности

The Serbia – Italy Business Forum was held at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade, bringing together around 500 businesspeople from 250 Serbian and 200 Italian companies. The forum was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia with the support of the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Trade Agency, with the aim of strengthening business cooperation and networking between business entities from the two countries.

During the forum, three panels were held, dedicated to key topics. The first panel focused on the circular economy and energy transition, the second on agri-technology and industry 5.0, while the third addressed the topics of physical and digital infrastructure.

The second panel was attended by representatives from the fields of science and innovation, among which were the Managing Director of the Science and Technology Park Niš, Milan Ranđelović, PhD, together with the Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, Jelena Begović, PhD, and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Aleksandar Martinović. On the Italian side, the forum brought together experts and leaders from various institutions and companies, including representatives of executive boards, technical centers, and international organizations – Dominga Cotarella, member of the executive board of Coldiretti, Cristina Tinelli, Director of EU and International Cooperation, Alessandra Romanò, General Manager of BF International, Davide Della Bella, Deputy Director of the Ucimo Technical Center, and Fabrizio Contento, representative of CIHEAM Bari.

The Science and Technology Park Niš has previously initiated negotiations on the establishment of a technology center in Niš in cooperation with the Ucimo Technical Center, which would contribute to the further development of innovations and technological projects. Also, within the panel, representatives of the company Ariston, an STP Niš member, which has already launched the construction of a large factory in this city, shared their experiences. During the forum, the opening of a research and development center within the Science and Technology Park Niš, which is already supporting the company Ariston in the soft landing process, was discussed.

The Serbia – Italy Business Forum confirmed the importance of bilateral cooperation through the exchange of knowledge, investments, and innovations, creating new opportunities for economic growth and technological progress.

The Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation continues to improve the innovation ecosystem in Serbia through cooperation with the Science and Technology Park Niš (STP Niš), with the aim of strengthening the capacity of Regional Innovation Startup Centers (RISC) and encouraging technological entrepreneurship, especially in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.
As part of this initiative, today, in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, in the presence of Minister Jelena Begović, an Agreement on the Development of the Innovation Ecosystem in Kosovo and Metohija was signed between STP Niš, the Regional Innovation Startup Center Zubin Potok and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

The Managing Director of STP Niš, Milan Ranđelović, PhD, emphasized the importance of this cooperation for the improvement of the regional innovation ecosystem, emphasizing that the integration of various actors into a single support system will contribute to the rise of the number of startups and the strengthening of the entrepreneurial spirit, not only in the AP Kosovo and Metohija, which has already shown potential in its work, but also in the Region of Southern and Eastern Serbia.
The continuation of the successful cooperation with RISC Zubin Potok, initiated within the project “Raising the Capacities of Regional Innovation Startup Centers in Cooperation with Science and Technology Parks”, has enabled the creation of conditions for the implementation of three new projects. One will be focused on the improvement of innovation activities, while the remaining two will aim to popularize and promote innovations both in the Region of Southern and Eastern Serbia, as well as in the territory of AP Kosovo and Metohija, with the support of STP Niš.
Milan Vučinić, Director of RISC Zubin Potok, emphasized that the announced projects are not only an investment in innovation, but also in the future of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. “The signed Agreement enables the implementation of projects that will contribute to the development of innovations, the IT sector, and education in the Kosovska Mitrovica region. The projects will create new jobs, which will contribute to strengthening the economy”, he said, adding that the main goal of signing the Agreement is to enable young people to develop their ideas in Kosovo and Metohija in order to build a sustainable future through innovation.

These projects will include activities aimed at developing the organizational and technical capacities of startup centers, improving business models, organizing educational programs and mentoring support for startup teams. Numerous events such as hackathons, meetups, conferences and roundtables are also planned, which will enable the exchange of experiences and networking with actors of the innovation ecosystem.
“The Regional Innovation Center Zubin Potok acts as a key driver of development, while the Science and Technology Park Niš, with its expertise and experience, provides significant support for the implementation of these projects,” said Minister Begović.
In addition to promoting successful examples from practice and cooperation with related organizations, this initiative aims to inspire new entrepreneurs and create a more favorable environment for the development of innovations in Kosovo and Metohija.

Minister Begović reminded that in 2024 and 2025, the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation provided 15 million dinars to support Zubin Potok through projects in AP Kosovo and Metohija, and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija provided 24 million, while in 2025, a total of 13.7 million dinars was allocated to improve the innovation ecosystem in Kosovo and Metohija through projects.

The Ministry will continue to implement these activities in 2025, with the launch of new projects focused on improving innovation activity and promoting innovation. It is expected that these initiatives will significantly contribute to the development of the startup ecosystem, increase the number of successful innovation projects and stimulate economic growth in the region.

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.