The international forum “Future of Biotechnology” (Biotech Future Forum), organized by the Government of the Republic of Serbia in cooperation with the World Economic Forum, the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the BIO4 campus, was held at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade.
The forum was opened by Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, who noted that last year’s conference laid the groundwork for Serbia to become a biotechnology hub. Opening remarks were also made by Mirek Dušek, Executive Director of the World Economic Forum, and Matthias Korman, Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), while UNDP Administrator Akim Steiner addressed the participants via video message.
A special program at this year’s forum, the Green Showroom, was dedicated to green biotechnology. Through panel discussions, the focus was on challenges and solutions for sustainable development in agriculture, environmental protection, and energy. The program included a digital exhibition featuring startups, small and medium-sized enterprises supported by UNDP initiatives, the European Union, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Highlights included the “Energy Cube” project by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Niš, “Eko Bio Invest” with an innovative eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic, and a plastic biodegradation project using insects by Belinda Animals and the Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković.” Projects supported by the StarTech program, implemented by NALED, in the areas of green and digital economic transformation, were also showcased.
The “Future of Biotechnology” forum was a significant step towards positioning Serbia as a leader in biotechnology and fostering collaboration across sectors to create a conducive environment for innovation. The event gathered over 600 participants from around 30 countries, including representatives from governments, academia, scientific and research institutions, and businesses. Discussions spanned topics such as biotechnology, bioinformatics, bioengineering, and biomedicine.
