At the second "Biotech Future Forum", Dr. Jelena Begović, Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, emphasized the crucial role of the state in driving biotechnological innovation.

The panel discussion, titled "The Key Role of the State in Biotechnological Innovation", attracted significant attention from numerous participants and experts in the fields of biotechnology and innovation.

"Biotechnology must provide answers," stated Minister Begović, highlighting the rapid expansion of biotechnology and its profound impact on various aspects of our lives. She particularly addressed environmental protection and sustainable goals as areas requiring special attention. "Biotechnology has a history spanning thousands of years, but today it is developing at an unprecedented pace and will continue to improve our lives in the future," she added.

During the panel, Minister Begović stressed that biotechnology is currently revolutionizing biomedicine and agriculture. "Biotechnology is crucial in the development of medicine, particularly personalized medicine. During the pandemic, we witnessed biotechnology's swift and effective responses to challenges. As a society, we now understand how to prepare with the help of biotechnology. The advancements in these fields have led to a new approach to personalized medicine," she said.

One of the key topics discussed was biosecurity. "Data has become the new gold, and data collected through biotechnology significantly improves healthcare systems. Biotechnology can address the growing problem of antibiotic resistance through personalized treatment approaches. Additionally, we are on the brink of a significant step in using artificial intelligence to predict future events in nature and society," Minister Begović concluded.

The panel also featured H.E. Mohamed bin Taliah, Director of Public Services for the Government of the United Arab Emirates, who spoke about innovations in his country. He emphasized the importance of creating an environment where entrepreneurship and innovation thrive and attracting talented individuals. "We now all realize that artificial intelligence has become a subject of global interest," said bin Taliah. "In the United Arab Emirates, we have taken steps toward AI development, including appointing a Minister for Artificial Intelligence back in 2017."

The "Biotech Future Forum" brought together more than 600 participants from 30 countries, providing a platform for exchanging ideas and discussing future innovations in biotechnology. Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, in her opening remarks, stated that Serbia's support for the BIO4 Campus demonstrates its commitment to building a strong ecosystem for biotechnological innovation and its ambition to become a leader in this field. She emphasized that through the BIO4 Campus, Serbia will facilitate the transfer of technology from science to industry. Prime Minister Brnabić also announced that during the forum, a memorandum of understanding with Ginkgo Bioworks would be signed, further enhancing collaboration between the public and private sectors.

"Serbia will soon become home to the BIO4 Campus, a new bio-European center that will enable global progress with multidisciplinary goals. We expect it to host more than 1,000 Ph.D. candidates," Prime Minister Brnabić concluded.

This panel and the "Biotech Future Forum" represent significant steps toward achieving Serbia's goal of becoming a leader in biotechnology and enhancing collaboration across various sectors to create a favorable ecosystem for innovation.

Source: nitra.gov.rs/lat/ministarstvo/vesti/dr-begovic-govorila-na-prvom-panelu-ovogodisnjeg-foruma-buducnost-biotehnologije