4.0 Lab Opened in Novi Sad

Representatives of small and medium-sized companies will have full insight into automation processes through the DEAL Laboratory in Novi Sad – from digitized product design and development to digitization of production and logistics processes and systems. This will be the first laboratory of its kind, not only in Serbia, but also in the entire region.

“Digital Enterprise – an Active Learning and training Lab” (DEAL Laboratory) was opened today in the Science and Technology Park in Novi Sad. The laboratory starts working thanks to the cooperation with the companies AXIOM TECH and SIEMENS, and its establishment was supported by the European Union in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Ministry of Economy of Serbia. In the future, the laboratory will represent a place for research, development and application of the latest technologies in the field of digitization and automation.

Regional EBRD Director for Western Balkans, Matteo Colangeli, emphasized that science and innovation are of great importance and are among the investment priorities of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

“This is evidenced by the financial support in the amount of EUR 80 million that we set aside at the beginning of this year for the development of the Science and Technology Parks in Niš, Čačak and Kruševac. The focus of this project is to achieve synergy between the university and economy, because this is extremely important for the revival of these smaller towns in Serbia and the development of their creativity”, said Colangeli.

The Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Plamena Halacheva, reflected on the past cooperation between Serbia and the EU in the field of innovation, recalling that 132 companies received assistance to grow, adopt new technologies and be more innovative.

“This laboratory will serve for the development of new ideas and solutions that will improve the production process and create new products and services – it will create new values. Innovation are exactly what the European Union has always supported in Serbia. The EU was the first to support innovation and science funds, the first to give grants to innovative companies and support their collaborations with research and development institutes. Of course, the EU continues to provide support and encourage the economic development in Serbia,” said Halacheva.

At the opening, Katarina Obradović-Jovanović, Assistant Minister of Economy, as well as prof. Dr Dejan Madić, Rector of the University of Novi Sad, prof. Dr Srđan Kolaković, Dean of the Faculty of Technical Sciences, prof. Dr Nebojša Gvozdenović, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Nebojša Drakulić, Director of the Science and Technology Park in Novi Sad.

Companies, researchers and students will be able to develop and test their products and systems with the help of modern digital technologies, which are available from today in the newly opened laboratory in the Science and Technology Park in Novi Sad.

The laboratory was created in response to the need to strengthen the connection between science, modern production solutions and the economy in order to support the creation and adoption of Industry 4.0 systems – the Fourth industrial revolution. The DEAL Laboratory will thus enable companies and researchers to learn about Industry 4.0 to become familiar with the latest trends in the field of digital transformation of production and logistics systems.

Watch the panel discussion on the future and innovation from this year’s EU Opportunity Week.