Serbia and Israel took a significant step towards enhancing their technological collaboration with the signing of a Joint Declaration on technological innovation. The agreement was formalized by Mihailo Jovanović, Director of the Office for IT and eGovernment of the Government of Serbia, and Shlomi Kofman, Director of the Directorate for International Cooperation at the Israel Innovation Authority. The ceremony, attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, marks a new chapter in the bilateral partnership between the two nations.
The Joint Declaration, supported by the World Economic Forum (WEF), aims to advance the biotechnological capabilities of both countries and foster collaborative efforts in regulatory development. This initiative is designed to accelerate innovation in biotechnology and related fields, building on the established cooperation between Serbia’s and Israel’s Centers for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Since their collaboration began in 2022, these centers have focused on the exchange of technological knowledge and innovation strategies.
Mihailo Jovanović emphasized the significance of the declaration, stating, “This agreement will greatly enhance bilateral development across various technological domains between Serbia and Israel.” He highlighted the ongoing construction of the Innovation District in Kragujevac, Serbia, which will feature dedicated spaces for IT business incubators, startups, artificial intelligence applications, robotics development, and a center for science and digital advancement.
Jovanović also noted that the Office for IT and eGovernment, along with its Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is tasked with creating and maintaining a registry for genetic, biomedical, and other research-critical data. This registry will support advancements in biotechnology, bioinformatics, and related fields.
The partnership between Serbia and the WEF, established in 2022, has been instrumental in driving forward digitization in healthcare and biotechnology. The Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, operating under the ITE Office, plays a central role in coordinating projects that enhance the development, testing, and application of new technologies for societal benefit, leveraging artificial intelligence.
Looking ahead, Serbia will host the third International Conference “Artificial Intelligence in the Service of Life: The Future of Biotechnology” in Belgrade this October. The event will attract global experts in biotechnology and artificial intelligence, with notable contributions from Israeli speakers and companies, further solidifying the collaborative efforts between the two nations.
This Joint Declaration marks a pivotal moment in the technological and biotechnological partnership between Serbia and Israel, setting the stage for future innovations and advancements.
