Brnabic: We have shown we can be centre of excellence

NOVI SAD - We have opened the headquarters of a European centre that will bring new values and innovation not only to Serbia, but to the region and the world as well, Serbian PM Ana Brnabic said at the opening of the BioSense development institute in Novi Sad on Wednesday.

Serbia has demonstrated it can be a centre of excellence in a field that is very important for future development of our country - digital agriculture, Brnabic noted.

"That is, in fact, an intersection or a synergy between technology and agriculture, something that is necessary and required in times of climate challenges and climate change to ensure agriculture is sustainable," she said.

The opening ceremony was also attended by EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel, who said the BioSense institute would be the shining light of future research in Serbia as well as in the Balkans.

She said biotech was an essential factor of everyday life.

The BioSense institute is a project worth 30 mln euros and the EU has donated half the amount.

The next step is the construction of a BIO4 institute in Belgrade, a multidisciplinary project in the wider region.