Strengthening cooperation between Slovenia and Serbia in the field of smart industry
Date of publication: 12.05.2026
The Slovenian Ambassador to Serbia, Dr. Slobodan Šešum, will visit the Smart Manufacturing Innovation Center for the Western Balkans (SMIC) in Novi Sad on May 13. The visit will receive media coverage from RTV Vojvodina and RTV Slovenija, further confirming the importance of the initiative to strengthen economic, developmental, and technological cooperation between Slovenia, Serbia, and the wider Western Balkan region.
SMIC was established in Novi Sad in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and with the support of the Republic of Slovenia, with the aim of accelerating the digital transformation of industry in Serbia and the wider Western Balkan region. The project was also supported by the Slovene Enterprise Fund.
The center was created as a result of cooperation between experts from Serbia and Slovenia in the field of industrial transformation; today, it represents a regional platform for connecting companies, research institutions, and experts in the field of Industry 4.0.
In 2026, SMIC became the regional branch of the global UNIDO AIM alliance for the Western Balkans, further strengthening its integration with international initiatives in the field of artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
Today, SMIC connects more than 130 partners and cooperates with more than 200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), primarily from Western Balkan countries, supporting knowledge exchange, competency development, and the implementation of modern technologies in industry.
In its operations, it cooperates with the University of Ljubljana, the University of Novi Sad, and the Competence Center for Advanced Control Technologies, placing a significant emphasis on bridging research knowledge and industrial needs.
The center’s activities include:
- education and training,
- engineering and consulting support for companies,
- access to modern technologies,
- research and development in the field of advanced manufacturing.
With the support of UNIDO and the Republic of Slovenia, SMIC also strives to improve SME access to funding for digital transformation projects, including financing opportunities from European programs.
This message also serves as an invitation to Slovenian companies and research centers to join the Smart Manufacturing Innovation Center. By establishing a joint presence in the Western Balkan market and collaborating on research and development projects, they can further strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem and take advantage of new developmental and market opportunities.
More information regarding the involvement of your company can be obtained from the Competence Center for Advanced Control Technologies (KC STV).
