International Conference AI_4_LIFE: Biotech Future Forum Officially Opened
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Đuro Macut, PhD, officially opened the fourth International Conference AI_4_LIFE: Biotech Future Forum, organized by the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in cooperation with the Office for IT and eGovernment, the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, NALED, the World Economic Forum, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the support of the BIO4 Campus, at Ložionica in Belgrade.
The conference gathered more than 1,000 participants, including representatives of the academic and scientific community, business sector, startups, medical professionals, investors, and policymakers.
“Previous forums have shown that through joint efforts of the government, science, and industry, we can create a strong biotechnological ecosystem. Serbia continues to set higher goals, accelerate development, strengthen cooperation, and become recognized as a biotechnology nation. Digitalization of healthcare is also high on our agenda — we have adopted a new law on electronic health records and the national genetic data registry. In this way, Serbia joins global trends in personalized medicine. We are also proud of the BIO4 Campus, the largest national project connecting science, healthcare, and industry. It already enables our scientists to work on developing next-generation medicines in cooperation with leading global companies, with the plan to soon gather more than 5,000 students and 1,000 PhDs, becoming a center of knowledge and innovation unique in the region,” said Đuro Macut, PhD, Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia.
“For the fourth consecutive year, we are holding the Biotech Future Forum, an event dedicated to knowledge, innovation, progress, and technologies that will shape the decades ahead. Serbia has already defined digitalization and innovation as key pillars for economic growth and societal development. Our priorities include artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and information and communication technology infrastructure. Our goal is to strengthen Serbia’s position as a regional leader in digital transformation and enhance its standing in the international market. Many startup companies are already using artificial intelligence in diagnostics and agricultural genomics, while the government is defining new regulatory frameworks for health data and healthcare digitalization,” said Mihailo Jovanović, PhD, Director of the Office for IT and eGovernment. He added that the Biotech Future Forum serves as a foundation for integrating biotechnology into Serbia’s economic strategies, building trust-based regulations, and opening doors for investments in sectors that redefine how we grow food, produce energy, and care for human life.
“The fourth Biotech Future Forum is the best example of what can be achieved when science, policy, and industry unite around a shared goal. The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution of Serbia has successfully built a strong bridge between national ambitions and global collaboration, shaping how biotechnology and artificial intelligence can deliver tangible benefits to society,” said Kelli Omundsen, Director for Digital Inclusion and Member of the Executive Board of the World Economic Forum.
“Biotechnology combined with artificial intelligence enables us to envision medicine tailored to each patient, crops that thrive despite harsh climate conditions, and biomaterials that restore ecosystems. At the same time, these new technologies raise challenging questions about regulation, ethics, and equal access. The UNDP supports countries around the world in addressing these challenges and building a digital future that is safe, inclusive, and human-centered,” said Haoliang Su, Acting Global Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He added that in Serbia, this includes support for the work of the Office for IT and eGovernment, the establishment of the State Data Centre in Kragujevac, the creation of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the use of AI to improve public services, and the expansion of digital literacy in schools and local communities.
This year’s Biotech Future Forum is dedicated to the concept of modeling — from drug discovery and clinical trials to personalized medicine, from new investment strategies in biotechnology to how smart models drive innovation. The forum also explores how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare and everyday life, demonstrating the predictive power of models in creating a healthier and smarter future.
Photos: Marina Jančević
