Nis soon to become National Center for Certification and Testing of Autonomous Vehicles and Drones

After the eighth E-mobility Forum was held at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade, organized by this faculty and the National Association for Autonomous and Electric Vehicles (NAAEV), Ivan Vulovic, President of the NAAEV Board of Directors, stated that the initiative to determine the status of the Smart Mobility Center - Nis project as a project of special importance for Serbia would be submitted to the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure in the coming days. As he explained, this project has been part of the Serbian Mobility Development Strategy and the accompanying Action Plan since its initiation in 2020 and, as such, is one of the key steps towards improving the country’s technological and industrial position.

The central event was the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the renowned companies Bozankaya and Hybrid Innovations, which opened up new opportunities for joint projects, research and student internships in the field of electromobility. The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Vladimir Popovic, PhD, Vice President and CTO of Bozankaya Emrah Dal and Director of Hybrid Innovations Abdulhamid Yildirim. Emrah Dal emphasized the importance of the development of public urban transport, as well as strategic cooperation with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, which is important for the advancement of innovation and the development of new technologies, as well as for the creation of professional staff who will lead the energy and technological transition in the region in the future.

– The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is the largest and oldest scientific and research institution in the field of mechanical engineering in the Balkans, and we are proud of our tradition. This year we enrolled 700 new students, which is a truly fantastic success in a complex year. We are a small country, but with a strong engineering tradition, knowledge and staff. The growing importance of electromobility is additionally emphasized by the current geopolitical circumstances and the challenges brought by the energy crisis – said Dean Popovic.

Asked why Nis was recognized as an ideal location for the establishment of a national 5G/6G center for autonomous mobility, Popovic says that this city has a unique combination of prerequisites - a strong university and technical base, favorable traffic and infrastructure conditions, as well as an exceptional geostrategic position on Corridor 10, at the crossroads of roads connecting the four seas. These factors naturally position it as a potential national and regional center for testing, research and development of autonomous vehicles and drones.

– In addition to a clear state strategy and rapid institutional support, it is necessary to strengthen the connection between the academic community and the economy, develop partnerships and implement innovative financing models. Such an approach would enable the attraction of investments, retention of young talents and accelerated growth of high-tech industries, along with the balanced technological development of Serbia – he says.

As he adds, the development of “CPM-Nis” will contribute to the creation of highly qualified jobs in the fields of engineering, IT, energy, robotics and aerospace technologies, as well as the strengthening of startup ecosystems and industrial partnerships.

– At the same time, the domestic economy gains access to testing, certification and validation capacities that currently do not exist in the region, which significantly increases its competitiveness and accelerates the implementation of innovations – says Popovic.

By positioning “CPM–Nis” as a regional center for autonomous vehicles, drone technology and smart transport, conditions are created for attracting foreign partners and investments, he notes.

– The center becomes a national hub for the development of autonomous, electric and smart mobility, opening up space for the development of green technologies and new business models in the field of transport and energy – emphasizes Popovic.

In addition to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) and PM particle emissions and improving traffic safety, the center will enable the wide application of drones in the public interest, from surveillance and space management to monitoring critical infrastructure and agriculture, to support security and emergency services. At the same time, the capacities of universities and educational institutions will be strengthened, regional cooperation will be improved and strategic infrastructure of national importance for the state, industry and the academic community will be built. The “CPM–Nis” project proposal has the potential to provide Serbia with an internationally recognizable role in the field of smart and autonomous mobility, with faster implementation, efficient use of funds, and a significant development effect for Nis and the entire country.

Mašinski fakultet Beograd

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

Nacionalna asocijacija autonomnih i električnih vozila

National Center for Certification and Testing of Autonomous Vehicles and Drones Nis

Smart Mobility Center Nis

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade

National Association for Autonomous and Electric Vehicles

NAAEV

Ministry of Construction Transport and Infrastructure

Bozankaya

Hybrid Innovations

Ivan Vulović

Vladimir Popović

Emrah Dal

Abdulhamid Yildirim