Tanja Kuzman, the new director of the Digital Serbia Initiative, has identified enhancing local and global connections within Serbia’s startup community as a primary objective. In an interview with Forbes Magazine, she outlined her vision for the ecosystem, Serbia’s standing in the startup landscape, and the anticipated growth of the IT sector.
Progress and potential in the digital ecosystem
Reflecting on the last five years, Kuzman noted significant advancements in Serbia’s digital and startup ecosystems, highlighting consistent year-on-year growth and double-digit increases in exports. “We play a crucial role in the global market, and our importance continues to rise. There is still immense potential to realize and many tasks ahead on how to harness that potential to create value globally,” she stated.
Fostering connectivity
While acknowledging the progress made, Kuzman emphasized that Serbia’s startup ecosystem is still under-recognized and requires more work. The Digital Serbia Initiative aims to support startups in accessing international markets and to elevate emerging talents from the region. Her focus will be on improving local connectivity within Serbia and establishing ties with successful global ecosystems. “We want to leapfrog our development rather than progress incrementally,” she added.
Kuzman pointed to France’s rise in the digital startup sector over the past few years as an inspiring example. She also stressed the importance of learning from established ecosystems in the USA, UK, Germany, and some Asian countries.
Bringing technologies to citizens
On the subject of making new technologies more accessible, Kuzman explained that many citizens already use digital tools developed by local startups, often without realizing their origins. These tools enhance workplace efficiency and expedite tasks.
In the near future, her focus will be on educating the public about new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, and its impact on both personal and professional lives. “We will work with our members to create educational materials accessible to everyone, including videos that help people understand and utilize new technologies,” she said.
Looking ahead
Kuzman noted that Serbia’s IT industry experienced a 30% increase in exports last year and expects this trend to continue, projecting double-digit growth in early 2025. The acquisition of local IT companies by larger foreign firms is a testament to their success and integration into global systems.
Upcoming insights
In addition to discussing the startup ecosystem, tonight’s show will cover the rise of online commerce in Serbia, consumer habits, Air Serbia’s new route to Shanghai, and the ambitious skyscraper project in Dubai aimed at breaking multiple records. Viewers will also get to know the first five wealthiest Americans.
