Serbia’s innovation ecosystem brings together 200+ institutions, labs, science and technology parks, local hubs and incubators across the country.
Science and technology parks
The innovation community in Southern and Eastern Serbia is rapidly growing around the Science and Technology park Niš, currently hosting around 70 companies and more than 1,000 engineers. An expansion project is in preparation to accommodate new tenants and research labs. The city is also developing the TehNis innovation district, linking faculties, institutes, STP Niš, and resident companies into a compact urban innovation zone.
In Belgrade, the Science and Technology park supports startups and scaleups, with programs for incubation, acceleration, and internationalization. The park connects corporates and R&D teams and acts as a gateway to global markets.
Science and Technology park Novi Sad is co‑located with the University of Novi Sad and the Faculty of Technical Sciences, with strong ties to industry and applied research. The park focuses on commercialization support and services that translate academic knowledge into marketable products.
In Čačak, the Science and Technology park enables collaboration between industry and academia, providing infrastructure, mentoring, and technology-transfer support for innovative SMEs and new ventures. The park also features a production hall where young technology companies develop prototypes and prepare products for the market.
Capacity expansion: Several STPs are currently planning or executing expansion projects to meet growing demand. In addition, an Industrial‑technology park in Kruševac is under construction, with the latest government announcements placing completion in 2026.
Major innovation infrastructure projects
State Data Center & National AI Platform (Kragujevac): High-performance computing resources hosted in the Tier-4 Government Data Center support applied AI and data-driven research. The platform has earned international recognition and continues to expand as part of a broader national compute strategy.
Ložionica Creative Hub (Belgrade): A large-scale redevelopment project transforming the historic Ložionica complex into a creative and innovation hub that blends culture, design, and technology. It will host startups, studios, and creative industries, contributing to Belgrade’s growing innovation infrastructure.
MIND Park (Kragujevac): A 190-hectare industrial-technology park is being developed by the MIND Group, combining engineering, advanced manufacturing, and logistics. It is envisaged to become a regional eco-industrial hub with several thousand employees.
Innovation District (Kragujevac): A new, open innovation zone being developed next to the Government Data Center. The district will consist of multiple buildings and serve as a regional focal point for digital industries, research collaboration, and public-private innovation.
BIO4 Campus (Belgrade): Serbia’s flagship biotech hub planned to bring together national institutes, core laboratories, and industry partners in one location to advance bio-R&D and bioconvergence. The campus will position Serbia as a leading regional center for biotechnology and life sciences.
TehNis Innovation District (Niš): A city-level ecosystem effort connecting the University, faculties, and institutes with Science and Technology park Niš and resident companies, forming an integrated innovation corridor around the park.
National strategies supporting innovation and growth
Serbia’s policy framework prioritizes smart specialization, digitalization, and research commercialization. Key strategic documents are coordinated and mutually reinforcing, focusing on three national priorities: (i) targeting public investment toward sectors with comparative advantages such as ICT, biotech, creative industries, and sustainable food systems; (ii) enhancing AI readiness through education reforms and public digital infrastructure; and (iii) strengthening the startup and scaleup pipeline with tailored financial instruments and acceleration programs. This integrated policy environment ensures continuity between talent development, R&D, and commercialization.
Startup support programs
Serbia has developed a structured and collaborative support system for startups that spans all stages of growth – from idea validation to international expansion. The ecosystem is shaped by cooperation between the public sector, private investors, academia, and international partners. Programs combine funding, mentorship, and access to networks, helping founders transform innovative ideas into scalable businesses.
Key initiatives include Raising Starts, Smart Start, and Launcher which provide early-stage grants and mentoring; SEE UP accelerator, StarTech grants, and co-investment grant schemes Katapult and Katalitik focus on accelerating high-growth ventures; and Matching Grants, supporting R&D commercialization through the Innovation Fund. Community-based initiatives also play an important role – Garaža, founded by the team behind Tenderly, has built Serbia’s first peer-to-peer startup support network, connecting founders and operators through a pay-it-forward culture. International programs such as Star Venture (EBRD), Founder Institute, X2.0 (EU deep-tech), and the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program connect Serbian startups with global markets and expertise. There are also several corporate programs and accelerators such as Univerzum (Mozzart), D Incubator (Delta Holding), A1 Partnering, and OTP Connect.
VC & business angels – fueling innovation
Since 2021, Serbia has developed a growing VC ecosystem: TS Ventures, South Central Ventures, Omorika Ventures, and Fifth Quarter Ventures. In parallel, the DSI Business Angel Network unites 50+ active members, who have to date invested €1.3M in 13 promising startups, adding smart capital and mentorship to the ecosystem.
Digital Transformation
One of the core pillars of the national innovation agenda, digital transformation is aimed at modernizing Serbia’s public and private sectors. Established in 2018 by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), the Center for Digital Transformation (CDT) drives SME digitalization nationwide by leading programs that help small and medium enterprises adopt digital tools, improve business processes, and strengthen competitiveness through consultancy, training, and an ISO‑17024 consultant certification scheme. Together with the CCIS, CDT also promotes Serbia’s tech ecosystem internationally by coordinating participation at major innovation fairs and tech expos.
The Office for IT and eGovernment builds and operates the state’s core digital infrastructure and services: the eGovernment/eID platforms, the Tier‑4 Government Data Center in Kragujevac, and the National AI Platform. In 2025, Serbia signed agreements to expand data‑center capacity (adding up to 40 MW) and upgrade national compute for AI workloads. Its focus extends to expanding data‑center capacity, enhancing cybersecurity, and ensuring that public digital services reach citizens and businesses efficiently.
