The third International conference AI_4_LIFE: Biotech Future Forum, organized by the Government of the Republic of Serbia in collaboration with the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation, the Office for IT and eGovernment, the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the World Economic Forum, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with the support of the BIO4 Campus, was held on October 24-25 in Belgrade.
This year’s conference brought together over 1,000 participants from more than 15 countries, along with 66 international speakers, including government representatives, academics, scientists, research institutions, and industry leaders.
“We are living in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where innovations define every aspect of our lives. In this regard, we must ask ourselves: are we ready to lead these changes, or will we merely watch from the sidelines? Serbia has chosen not only to participate but to lead. Our commitment to innovation is evident through initiatives like the BIO4 Campus, which aims to position Serbia as a key European and global center for biotechnology,” the Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation, Dr Jelena Begović concluded.
The conference covered topics such as national strategies for AI development and application and its impact on healthcare, agriculture, and environmental protection. Special emphasis was placed on big data processing, genetic innovation, and new opportunities in the healthcare system, increasingly relying on biotechnology and artificial intelligence.
The World Economic Forum’s Executive Director, Mirek Dušek, praised the Serbian government’s commitment to advancing the biotechnology agenda, highlighting the importance of its partnership with the World Economic Forum. “Serbia provides leadership and a significant contribution to the global dialogue promoted by the Forum, aligning with our mission to foster positive change and improve the state of the world. The Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Serbia has become a reliable partner in this effort, leading World Economic Forum initiatives to shape global policies, programs, and frameworks for responsible biotechnology development,” he said.
Dušek emphasized the importance of the Biotech Future Forum, stating that the convergence of biotechnology with artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and robotics is key to driving transformation, leading us towards safer, more secure, and more prosperous societies. The Biotech Future Forum provides a crucial platform for discussing the transformative potential of these technological innovations and exploring how to harness them for the greater good.
UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Director for Europe and CIS, Ivana Živković, said that the Pact for the Future, recently adopted by the UN General Assembly, reaffirmed the world-wide commitment to sustainable development, digital cooperation and advancing technological capacities to benefit all people and protect our planet.
Participants included major global figures, such as Dr. Christopher Voigt, head of the Department of Biological Engineering at one of the world’s most prestigious scientific institutions, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Dr. George Yancopoulos, founder of Regeneron, a company considered a leader in the modern pharmaceutical industry.
The conference was closed by the Director of the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Serbia, Jelena Bojović.
