The first French-Serbian Innovation Forum was opened today in Belgrade, with the message that investing in science and innovation is not an expense and that Serbian-French cooperation in the field of innovation has great potential.
The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Serbia, Mr Emanuele Giaufret, pointed out that investing in innovation, research and development is crucial for the future development of small and medium enterprises, especially for the knowledge-based economy.
“Financing innovation should be seen as an investment in the country’s future and the well-being of its citizens, not as an expense! The European Union supports research and innovation not only because of the competitiveness of our economies, which is an important aspect, but also because of providing a better standard for citizens, a better quality of life for all,” said Giaufret.
“The EU will continue to support reforms in the field of innovation, technology transfer, science and research and development, with the goal of making Serbia more competitive at the European and global level,” the Ambassador pointed out.
Serbian Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development, Mr Branko Ružić, said at the opening that the Forum was a good opportunity to gather researchers, investors, companies and students to discuss the potential of Serbian-French cooperation in the field of innovation.
“In previous years, our country has become a place where innovative projects and solutions have been developed, research centres have been opened as well as business and technology incubators and science and technology parks. These are the places where young people can present and realise their innovative ideas,” Ružić said.
French Ambassador to Serbia, Mr Pierre Cochard, said that the goal of the Forum is to strengthen cooperation between Serbian and French researchers and companies, as well as to highlight the opportunities that technology offers, such as artificial intelligence.
“In order to develop innovative solutions, we need three things: the way of thinking, talented students and researchers and companies and institutions, national and European, with a vision and the ability to financially support and invest in programs,” said Cochard.
He pointed out that France supports Serbian innovations and scientific research by offering scholarships.
Ambassador Cochard also presented the award to the winners of the recent hackathon, which aimed to find new solutions in the use of artificial intelligence in the field of agriculture.
The first edition of the Forum is dedicated to the digitalisation of industrial processes and the future of agriculture and food production, and within three round tables, the Forum participants are going to talk with the key active participants in innovation and technology transfer in Serbia and France.
The European Union provided direct support to the ecosystem of innovation, research and development and start-up in Serbia in the amount of 88.3 million euros, which initiated a reform that will significantly increase the competitiveness of the Serbian economy. The EU has so far allocated 47 million euros for the development of the Innovation Fund in Serbia, and 31.5 million euros for the Serbian Science Fund, while at the same time supporting the development of science and technology parks in Serbia.
