Pro-government says Serbia's AI forum proves the country is ready for a biotech leap

Pro-government says Serbia’s AI forum proves the country is ready for a biotech leap
The fifth AI 4 LIFE: Biotech Future Forum opened in Belgrade with more than 1,000 participants from science, medicine, business and investment. The conference focuses on artificial intelligence in biotechnology and healthcare, including next-generation therapies, advanced diagnostics and personalized medicine.

The event was organized by the Serbian government and the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in cooperation with the Office for IT and eGovernment, the World Economic Forum and UNDP, with support from the BIO4 Campus.

At the opening, Mihailo Jovanović, director of Serbia’s Office for IT and eGovernment, said the country had spent the past five years building the foundation for wider use of emerging technologies. “By the end of this year, Serbia will have three supercomputers,” he said, pointing to state data centers in Kragujevac and Belgrade and a national artificial-intelligence platform.

International speakers broadened the discussion beyond Serbia’s infrastructure plans. Kelly Omundsen of the World Economic Forum said innovation must advance alongside safeguards, calling for progress “in a safe and sustainable way, in accordance with human values.” UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo focused on the global access gap, arguing that the central question is not only who develops AI, but who can use it and access computing power, reliable data and expertise.

The forum’s organizers said UNDP and Serbia have worked together for more than a decade on digitalization, including cybersecurity and Serbian-language AI tools. Demonstrations in the Interactive Hub and Immersive Room showcased biotechnology, personalized medicine, diagnostic AI and digital public services, linking the government’s infrastructure message with the international emphasis on practical and responsible deployment.