Serbia-Switzerland innovation forum on December 11 in Belgrade – Memorandum of understanding also to be signed between BIO4 Campus and Novartis

The first Serbia-Switzerland innovation forum will be held on December 11 in Belgrade, with more than 30 speakers to participate, announced Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Jelena Begovic. After a meeting with Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Serbia Anne Lugon-Moulin, Begovic pointed out that the forum, with the theme of “Tomorrow’s Pioneers – Joint Innovations for a Sustainable Future”, would discuss science and technology parks, intellectual property protection and the BIO4 Campus.

Begovic stated that a memorandum of understanding between the BIO4 Campus and Novartis, one of the world’s five largest pharmaceutical companies, with extremely strong innovative activity in the field of biomedicine, would be signed at the gathering. According to her, the aim of the signing of this document is the deepening of the cooperation between Serbian science institutions and large international companies which can stimulate the development of Serbia’s science and economy.

The minister said that, during the conversation with the Swiss Ambassador, it had been concluded that the development of innovations was one of the priorities for both countries, so that the economy and the society would develop.

Begovic noted that the Swiss government had offered more than EUR 4 million in investments for the infrastructure and the increasing of the capacities of the science-technology parks in Belgrade, Nis and Cacak, but also for Serbia’s startup ecosystem.

More than 220 companies have received direct or indirect assistance from the Swiss government, and thanks to the “Rising Stars” project, more than 100 new startups have been founded, she specified and added that there had also been investments in the tenants in the science-technology parks, as well as in exporting companies.

According to her, Serbia’s startup ecosystem alone has realized an income of EUR 42 million, thereby contributing to the growth of our economy.

The minister pointed out that it was also necessary to strengthen the cooperation with Switzerland in the fields of intellectual property protection and further development of science-technology parks and ecosystems.

Lugon-Moulin noted that Switzerland had been supporting Serbia for almost a decade in the sector of innovation and science and that it had decided to raise this fruitful partnership to an even higher level. She said that, during the meeting with minister Begovic, they had also talked about the challenges and strengths of the two countries regarding innovations and science.

Ministarstvo nauke, tehnološkog razvoja i inovacija Republike Srbije

Naučno tehnološki park Čačak

Naučno tehnološki park Niš d.o.o. Niš

Naučno-tehnološki park Beograd

NOVARTIS PHARMA SERVICES INC BEOGRAD

BIO4 d.o.o. Beograd

Ministry of Science Technological Development and Innovation

BIO4 Campus Belgrade

Novartis

Jelena Begović

Anne Lugon Moulin

Science Technology Park Niš

Science Technology Park Čačak

Science Technology Park Belgrade

first Serbia Switzerland innovation forum