SERBIAN
TECH ECOSYSTEM
A fast-growing European tech and innovation hub, powered by world-class talent, global R&D centers, and a growing startup ecosystem.
6.7M (30% under 30)
110.000
€4.1B
+360%
~750
30+
+105%
COUNTRY SNAPSHOT
Conveniently located, with
worldwide access
Population
6.7M
Time zone
UTC+1
Flights to
116
destinations
Serbia is a Parliamentary Republic with Belgrade as its capital city, and a territory of 88,499 km². In January 2014, Serbia formally started negotiations to join the EU.
Population
Serbia counts 6.7 million citizens in 2024, with 30% under 30 – around 2 million young people, and a diaspora of several million worldwide. Together, they form a talented, motivated, and globally connected base for future growth.
Where time and place work together
Serbia’s CET (UTC+1) time zone and geographical position at the crossroads between global East and West, North and South, place it in an ideal position for international cooperation. Serbia shares the same time zone with 40+ countries who combined have 780 million people and 18% global GDP, including Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and the Nordics. This enables the Serbian Tech sector to have seamless real-time collaboration with Europe, Africa, and MENA, and being 6 hours ahead of the US East Coast offers companies a competitive edge in maintaining efficient global teamwork.
Internationally connected
Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport is connected to over 116 international destinations. Direct connections include major cities across Europe, Asia, US, and MENA: Dubai, Shanghai, Chicago, Tokyo, Tbilisi, as well as Vienna, Amsterdam, Zurich, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Budapest, Warsaw… Other Serbian international airports offer direct flights to additional 75 destinations in 33 countries.
Visa policy & entry
Since 2014, Serbia has allowed visa-free entry for travelers with Schengen, UK, EU, or US visas or residence permits, for stays of up to 90 days within six months. In April 2025, the country introduced digital travel authorizations (e-visas), to simplify and speed up entry, with online validity checks available through official gov platforms. For those requiring a visa, applications can be submitted at Serbian diplomatic-consular missions or electronically via the official Foreigners Portal (welcometoserbia.gov.rs) using a registered eID account. (www.eid.gov.rs).
English speaking nation
In Serbia, English is widely spoken, especially among young people, since it is taught from the 1st grade in nearly all primary schools and is compulsory throughout education. As a result, people aged 15-30 can generally study, work, and collaborate fluently in English, making international communication easy and positioning Serbia as attractive for foreign companies and investors. English is particularly dominant in the technology and innovation sectors, where it serves as the everyday working language. According to the EF English Proficiency Index 2024, Serbia ranks 24th out of 116 countries with a score of 568, well above the global average.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Engineering excellence & investments
fueling innovation and growth
GDP growth
2017-2024
2.4% →3.9%
y/y
GDP per capita
2021-2024
€8,184 → €12,508
FDI doubled
2017-2024
€2.55B → €5.21B
Startups
~750
Steady GDP growth (2017-2024)
Serbia’s economy shows strong momentum, with real GDP growth rising from 2.4% in 2017 to 3.9% in 2024 – proof of steady and accelerating development. GDP per capita rose from €8,184 in 2021 to €12,508 in 2024, marking a strong leap of more than 50% in just three years and reflecting Serbia’s growing economic strength and rising productivity. Serbia achieved a healthy 3.9% real GDP growth in 2024, confirming steady economic momentum.
Growing direct foreign investments
From 2017 to 2024, Serbia more than doubled its foreign direct investment inflows – from €2.55 billion to €5.21 billion, marking a robust growth of 105%. This surge has brought a wave of fresh capital, cutting-edge technologies, and thousands of new jobs, reinforcing Serbia’s position as an attractive destination for global investors. At the same time, we have seen an increase in Serbian investments abroad – from €130 million to €611 million – indicating a growing tendency of industry and the Tech sector to expand beyond national borders and compete on the global stage. IBM Global report recognized Serbia as the top country worldwide for estimated jobs created from FDI per million inhabitants, for 3 consecutive years (2017-2019).
Rapidly growing startup scene
Serbia’s startup ecosystem has shown steady post-pandemic growth, with the number of startups increasing by ~25% y/y over the last several years. The total value of Serbia’s startup ecosystem rose by 75% between H2 2020 and H2 2022, reaching USD 910 million in the following period 2023. Serbia is currently home to an est. 750 active startups. This expansion reflects growing investor confidence and the country’s strong innovation potential. Serbian startups are increasingly active in high-tech and AI-driven fields, supported by a maturing network of hubs, accelerators, and support programs.
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.
Smart incentives for R&D and innovation
The government has offered a wide range of tax benefits designed to support R&D, startups, and investment. Measures include R&D tax benefits, IP Box, tax exemptions for founders, and tax advantages for companies and business angels investing in startups.
Serbia on the global stage
Serbian startups and innovation organizations maintain a strong presence at GITEX and Web Summit, with national pavilions and B2B programs organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) and the Center for Digital Transformation (CDT). Other ecosystem players have efforts dedicated to visibility at Slush, VivaTech, Machine Can See, Go2Web, and other global events, creating year‑round opportunities for partnerships, customers, and investment.
Global recognition and rankings
Serbia demonstrates solid performance across key international innovation benchmarks. In the European Innovation Scoreboard 2025, Serbia ranks among the top performers in the Western Balkans, achieving more than 150% of the EU average in product innovation and strong growth since 2018. According to the Global Innovation Index 2025, Serbia is 7th among 36 upper‑middle‑income economies, with particular strength in knowledge and technology outputs and ICT services exports. In the Government AI Readiness Index 2024, Serbia is positioned among the top 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, recognized for its early adoption of a national AI strategy and advanced digital infrastructure. The Startup Genome Report highlights Belgrade and Novi Sad as emerging regional startup hub with an ecosystem value approaching USD 1 billion, driven by B2B SaaS, gaming, and AI startups.
TALENT & EDUCATION
Skilled professionals powering the digital economy
New IT
engineers
every year
4,000
Coding from the age of
11
Students
250,000
Serbia’s talent pool is one of the country’s strongest competitive advantages – combining high technical expertise, affordability, and a strong work ethic. The country has around 250,000 students enrolled in higher education and produces nearly 39,000 graduates each year, of which more than 18,000 come from STEM fields, including approximately 4,000 new IT engineers. Serbia is home to 32 universities and academies (20 public and private universities and 12 academies of applied studies) and offers more than 260 accredited IT study programs across all levels of higher education. In Serbia, English is taught from the first grade and is widely used among young professionals, enabling seamless cross-border collaboration, especially in tech and innovation, where it functions as the everyday working language.
Education foundations
Serbia has a strong and inclusive education system that fosters early digital literacy and technology skills. Coding was introduced as a compulsory subject in elementary schools in 2017, starting at the age of 11, with a curriculum focused on algorithmic literacy and programming skills. Specialized IT classes have been created in Serbian high-schools to provide an educational framework for the country’s future tech talent. The number of specialized IT classes reached 44 classes in 36 high-schools, providing advanced computer science education to 800+ students per generation. This early focus on programming and digital education ensures a strong pipeline of future engineers, innovators and problem-solvers.
Global talent recognition
Serbian professionals are increasingly visible across the global tech landscape. Engineers, developers, data scientists, and researchers from Serbia contribute to leading international companies and R&D centers in fields such as AI, gaming, blockchain, and biotech. The consistent reputation of Serbian developers for creativity, reliability, and technical precision continues to attract demand from leading technology firms in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Education-to-Industry pipeline
Serbia’s higher education institutions maintain strong partnerships with industry through internships, applied research, and dual-education programs. Technical and STEM faculties actively collaborate with technology companies, offering joint innovation labs, hackathons, and practice-based learning. The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), supports dual-education pathways that give students hands-on experience and improve employability.
Upskilling and lifelong learning
The national strategy for continuous education promotes digital reskilling and lifelong learning as key pillars of economic transformation. The Center for Digital Transformation (CDT) and NALED have a strong focus on improving SME competitiveness through programs that help small and medium enterprises digitalize their operations, introduce e-commerce, and build internal digital capacities. International partners such as EBRD and GIZ further enhance these efforts by funding programs that strengthen workforce adaptability and digital inclusion.
Diaspora engagement
Serbia’s global diaspora acts as a vital bridge for knowledge exchange, investment, and mentorship. The organization Serbian Entrepreneurs, founded in Silicon Valley in 2016, is a global network of successful Serbian business leaders and tech founders. It promotes entrepreneurship and connects diaspora professionals with startups and innovation hubs in Serbia through mentorship, investments, and ecosystem partnerships. The organization “Returning Point” (Tačka Povratka) serves as the national platform that connects Serbian professionals abroad with opportunities in academia, innovation, and public administration back home. These initiatives enable the circulation of knowledge and capital and reinforce Serbia’s position as a country that leverages its diaspora for innovation-driven growth.
TECH SECTOR
Strong tech growth is transforming Serbia into knowledge-based economy
ICT exports in 2024
€4.1B
ICT exports 2017-2024
360% growth
Serbia’s tech workforce
110,000
Global R&D Centers
30+
Exponential ICT export growth 2017-2024
Serbia’s Tech sector has demonstrated exceptional and sustained growth over the past two decades, contributing about 10% of GDP. ICT exports rose a remarkable 360%, from €899 million in 2017 to €4.133 billion in 2024. This growth is primarily related to the export of computer services, which rose from €760 million to €3.890 billion (412%). Surpassing traditionally strong Agriculture in recent years, the Tech sector is becoming the most important drivers of Serbia’s export economy and a cornerstone of its digital transformation.
Tech workforce doubled 2018-2025
The number of people employed in the sector rose from below 40,000 a decade ago to over 110,000 today, reflecting an average annual growth rate of ICT specialists in employment of more than 9%. Tech specialists now represent over 4% of Serbia’s total employment, a share comparable to many EU member states. This rapid expansion has turned the ICT industry into a cornerstone of Serbia’s digital transformation and one of its most dynamic sectors.
30+ global R&D centers in Serbia
Serbia has become a regional hub for research and development, attracting 30+ global leaders across technology, gaming, automotive, biotech, food, and advanced manufacturing. Companies such as Microsoft, Siemens, Bosch, Polygon, Schneider Electric, Nortal, Epic Games, Take-Two, Yandex, Rivian, Continental, and Ubisoft, have established R&D centers in Serbia, recognizing its extraordinary talent pool and innovation potential. These investments strongly position Serbia as a strategic destination in the SEE for product development and cutting-edge innovation.
Global markets for Serbian IT
Serbia’s IT services are strongly positioned globally, with the EU as the leading market (over 60% of total trade) and other key markets including the US, Switzerland, and the UK. Serbian software and digital solutions now reach more than 70 countries. Alongside international R&D centers, a group of homegrown service companies, including HTEC Group, Vega IT, Saga, Devtech, Quantox, Levi9, ComTrade, Asseco and CREATEQ, deliver software engineering and digital transformation projects for clients worldwide. Together, these firms anchor Serbia’s reputation as a reliable technology partner and key outsourcing destination in Europe. The OECD recognizes Serbia as a regional leader in digital transformation, while ICT exports now account for around 10% of national GDP. Homegrown digital platforms like Inspira Group, demonstrate Serbia’s ability to build and scale market-leading marketplaces and talent communities domestically and across the region.
Rapidly growing startup scene
Serbia’s startup ecosystem has shown steady post-pandemic growth, with the number of startups increasing by ~25% y/y over the last several years. The total value of Serbia’s startup ecosystem rose by 75% between H2 2020 and H2 2022, reaching USD 910 million in the following period 2023. Serbia is currently home to an est. 750 active startups. This expansion reflects growing investor confidence and the country’s strong innovation potential. Serbia’s startups are increasingly active in high-tech and AI-driven fields, supported by a maturing network of hubs, accelerators, and support programs.
KEY SUB-SECTORS
Gaming
Biotech
AI
Blockchain
Gaming
Serbia’s gaming sector has scaled rapidly, combining steady studio formation with global reach. In 2023, the 15 largest domestic gaming companies generated €214 million in revenue (+22% YoY), while games made in Serbia surpassed 290 million cumulative downloads. The ecosystem counts 100+ active studios with 4,500+ professionals. Women represent 31% of the workforce and lead a third of teams in gaming. With 44 titles released and 84 in development, the pipeline remains healthy despite a more cautious hiring outlook. The industry is supported by the Serbian Games Association (SGA), a national non-profit organization founded in 2018 that connects studios, talent, and investors, and promotes Serbia’s gaming sector internationally.
Biotech & Life Sciences
Serbia is building a concentrated life‑sciences hub around the new Bio4 Campus in Belgrade, designed to co‑locate research, clinical, and industry partners. Phase A1 spans 165,000 m² and, together with Phase A2, represents a €500 million national investment in buildings and equipment, including eight core facilities and 300+ research labs. Future tenants of Bio4 Campus include leading national academic and research institutions, with a combined 1,000+ PhDs expected to work on-site. First occupancies are planned for 2027-2028. Bio4 lists global partners such as Roche, AstraZeneca, MSD, BGI, Pfizer, Merck, signaling strong international connectivity across biomedicine, biotech and bio‑IT. BioSense Institute in Novi Sad is an EU-backed Centre of Excellence in digital agriculture (ANTARES) which operates a 7,000 m² research building and Serbia’s first Digital Farm, advancing agri-tech, remote sensing and bio-IT from lab to field.
AI
Serbia was the first country in Southeast Europe to adopt a National AI Strategy (2019) and has started including AI in education from 2021. The Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research and Development of Serbia (IVI) was founded in 2021 and seven new AI master programmes were launched in 2022. The National AI Platform, managed by the Office for IT & eGovernment, runs in the Tier‑4 State Data Center in Kragujevac and was recognized by the OECD as a Top‑10 public‑sector innovation in 2023, out of 1000+ projects from 94 countries. In 2025, the government signed a €50 million contract with Eviden (Atos) to build a National AI Factory that combines a dedicated AI supercomputing system with an AI Center of Excellence, expanding compute and applied‑AI capacity for public institutions, universities and industry.
Blockchain & Web3
Serbia combines a highly skilled Web3 developer base with one of the most progressive regulatory frameworks in Southeast Europe. The Belgrade‑founded startup Tenderly has become a globally used full‑stack Web3 developer platform, and the strong contribution of Serbian blockchain engineers to development of Celsius Network and Polygon (Matic) has placed Serbia on the global blockchain map. According to Startup Genome, the ecosystem ranks among the Top 5 activation-phase ecosystems for blockchain. In 2023 the blockchain community launched Odličan3 Supercluster, a collaborative innovation ecosystem platform that accelerates the commercialization and global scaling of blockchain and digital technologies. Together with active meetups and venture activity, these players anchor a regulated yet fast‑moving blockchain ecosystem.
ACQUISITIONS
Serbia’s innovators are making their
mark worldwide
Dren Bio by
Sanofi
Orgnostic by
Culture Amp
Wonder Dynamics by
Autodesk
Nordeus by
Take-Two
3Lateral by
Epic Games
Frame by
Nutanix
INNOVATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Serbia invests in innovation as the driver of progress
National Data
& AI platform
4 Science
& Tech parks
Flagship project Bio4 Campus
4 VC funds & 50+ business angels
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.