The Serbian government announced on October 19 that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US biotech company, Ginkgo Bioworks, on the establishment of a startup accelerator.

The MoU, formalised at the international Biotech Future Forum conference in Belgrade, aims to turn Serbia into a hub for bioeconomic innovation.

This accelerator will leverage Ginkgo's experience and cutting-edge technologies to provide support to Serbian startups.

Participants will have access to the company's research and development (R&D) services, streamlining project progress and obviating the need for extensive resources and infrastructure.

Startups and established companies will have the opportunity to make use of the state-of-the-art BIO4 campus in Serbia.

This facility is poised to position the country as a leading force in global scientific accomplishments, solidifying its status as a epicentre for the burgeoning field of bioeconomy within Europe, a government statement said.

Under the planned partnership, companies based at the BIO4 campus will be granted access to Ginkgo's platform, complete with a range of incentives designed to catalyse innovation and progress.

Ginkgo aims to become a comprehensive synthetic biology R&D collaborator for BIO4-based companies engaged in the pharmaceutical, food and specialty chemicals sectors.

Businesses located within the BIO4 campus will have opportunity to employ a dedicated professional team and tap into Ginkgo's specialised expertise on-site.

Additionally, the signed MoU outlines plans for research and the development of partnerships aimed at bolstering biosecurity capacities in Serbia. 

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic underscored the growth of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, asserting that it has become the fastest-growing sector in Serbia.

The export of ICT services is poised to reach nearly €4bn this year. The export of ICT services in 2022 surged by 45%.