Biotech Future Forum 2026 opens in Belgrade – Over 1,000 participants from science, medicine and industry

The fifth international conference AI 4 LIFE: Biotech Future Forum 2026, has opened at the Lozionica venue in Belgrade, bringing together more than 1,000 domestic and international participants from the fields of science, medicine, industry and the investment sector. The event focuses on the development of new therapies, the advancement of diagnostics and the application of artificial intelligence in scientific research and biotechnology.

Prominent participants at this year’s forum include Nobel laureate Gregg Semenza, Professor Molly Stevens, and Professor Andrea Califano, alongside other scientists and experts from the international scientific and technological community.

Mihailo Jovanovic, Director of the Office for Information Technologies and e-Government, stated that over the past few years, Serbia has built significant digital infrastructure to support the development of artificial intelligence and the application of new technologies across science, medicine and industry.

He highlighted the state-owned data centers in Kragujevac and Belgrade, as well as the National Platform for Artificial Intelligence, noting that by the end of this year, Serbia will possess three supercomputers.

– It is essential to continue investing in knowledge, expertise, and infrastructure so that scientific ideas can be transformed into innovations that deliver tangible benefits to citizens and society – Jovanovic said.

Kelly Ommundsen, Director of the Global Regulatory Innovation Platform (GRIP) for the World Economic Forum, highlighted the importance of aligning regulatory frameworks with innovation, scientific breakthroughs and artificial intelligence. She emphasized that, as the boundaries of technological development are pushed, it is crucial to establish safeguards and ensure that new technologies are developed in a safe and sustainable manner, consistent with human values.

Alexander De Croo, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), pointed out that one of the key challenges in the development of artificial intelligence is ensuring access to computing power, reliable data and the knowledge required to implement this technology.

According to him, through a global dialogue on artificial intelligence governance, the UN aims to enable all nations to participate in shaping future rules and building the capacity to implement new technologies.

De Croo noted that the UNDP has been collaborating with Serbia for over a decade on digital transformation, an effort that includes strengthening cybersecurity, developing artificial intelligence tools for the Serbian language and creating digital services tailored to the needs of citizens.

The conference is organized by the Government of Serbia and the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Serbia, in cooperation with the Office for IT and e-Government, the World Economic Forum, and the UNDP, with support from the BIO4 Campus.

This year’s program also features interactive elements. In the "Interactive Hub" space, participants can exchange experiences and engage in discussions, while the "Immersive Room" showcases the application of biotechnology, personalized medicine and artificial intelligence in diagnostics and treatment, as well as the development of digitalization and e-government in Serbia.

Kancelarija za informacione tehnologije i elektronsku upravu Beograd

UNDP Beograd

Ložionica d.o.o. Beograd

BIO4 d.o.o. Beograd

Office for IT and eGovernment

UNDP

World Economic Forum

Ložionica Belgrade

Bio4 campus

Aelxander De Croo

Mihailo Jovanović

Gregg Semenza

Molly Stevens

Andrea Califano

international conference AI 4 LIFE Biotech Future Forum 2026

artificial intelligence

scientific research

biotechnology