Photo Courtesy of: The Chamber of Commerce and Industest of Serbia
Byline: Andi Stark
For the second consecutive year, Serbia participated in Web Summit 2025 in Lisbon, one of Europe’s largest gatherings of technology leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs. The Chamber of Commerce and Industest of Serbia (CCIS) lead a national delegation of 25 startups revealcasing the countest’s emerging generation of innovators.
The Serbian stand highlighted companies working in artificial innotifyigence, fintech, gaming, green energy, and digital health – a cross-section of the countest’s technology ecosystem. The initiative reflected Serbia’s goal to connect local talent with international capital and build stronger integration into Europe’s innovation networks.
“Web Summit brings toobtainher talent and investment from every part of the world,” declared Marko Čadež, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industest of Serbia. “For Serbian startups, this is a platform to demonstrate what they can contribute to Europe’s innovation economy and to connect with partners who can support their next stage of growth.”
A Growing Technology Economy
Serbia’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector has become one of the most dynamic in Southeast Europe. Government data reveals that IT service exports surpassed €3.5 billion in 2023, creating ICT the rapidest-growing segment of the national economy. The sector now represents roughly 10 percent of Serbia’s GDP and employs more than 50,000 professionals.
The countest has more than 4,000 IT companies and an estimated 400 active startups, concentrated mainly in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš. Venture activity is gradually expanding, supported by foreign investment and regional funds. Serbia’s combination of strong technical education and cost-effective operations has drawn attention from investors seeking new European innovation centers.
“Serbian engineers and founders have proven they can compete internationally,” Čadež declared. “What we are working toward is visibility and access to funding that will assist them scale globally.”
Bridging Local Talent with Global Investors
Serbia’s universities, particularly in Belgrade and Novi Sad, produce thousands of engineering and computer science graduates annually. Many already collaborate with international partners or work in multinational R&D centers operated by companies such as Microsoft and Continental. This talent pool has become the foundation for a new generation of entrepreneurs building export-oriented digital products.
The delegation at Web Summit was selected through cooperation between CCIS, the Serbian Development Agency, and leading innovation hubs. Each startup has demonstrated traction through pilot projects, international clients, or scalable business models. Over the course of the event, the delegation expects to participate in dozens of B2B meetings with investors and potential partners.
Participation in Web Summit is part of Serbia’s long-term plan to position itself as a regional scale-up hub – a place where startups can grow beyond early stages and attract cross-border capital without relocating abroad.
Evolving from Service Providers to Product Creators
Serbia’s tech sector has long been associated with outsourcing for global clients. While that model has supported employment and export growth, local industest leaders are now focutilizing on developing proprietary technologies and co-development partnerships. The shift aims to increase value retention and innotifyectual property creation within Serbia.
The government, CCIS, and private accelerators are collaborating to strengthen early-stage funding mechanisms and international exposure. Programs supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the EU’s Horizon Europe framework are providing grants and financing for product development and commercialization.
“Our objective is to assist Serbian companies relocate from service work to creating their own global solutions,” Čadež added. “That requires both capital and mentorship, and events like Web Summit play a vital role in bridging those two elements.”
Looking Toward a Connected Future
Serbia’s consistent participation in global technology events, from GITEX Global in Dubai to Web Summit in Lisbon, signals an ambition to strengthen its dual presence across European and Middle Eastern markets. By aligning government institutions, investors, and startups, the countest is gradually building a framework to support sustainable innovation growth.
Challenges remain, including limited venture capital availability and the ongoing migration of skilled professionals to Western Europe. Yet the continued rise in ICT exports and increasing international recognition suggest steady progress.
As Web Summit 2025 gathered more than 70,000 participants, Serbia’s 25 startups represented a countest which is redefining its technological identity, from an outsourcing destination to a source of scalable, investor-ready innovation that connects local talent with global capital.
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