Serbia: Development of Innovation Infrastructure

Nikola Tesla International Airport in the Serbian capital Belgrade has become the first in the world to allow free charging of electric car batteries using solar-powered devices. This is one of the most tangible results of the cooperation between the authorities of the Balkan country and the French company Vinci, the concessionaire managing the Belgrade airport. According to the press release, “five solar stations and ten charging stations for electric vehicles have been installed in the Premium Parking P1 area of the airport’s parking lots.” Each solar station can charge the batteries of two cars at the same time.

The Serbian government pays great attention to the development of innovative infrastructure and high-performance communication routes. As Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in Budapest after meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and signing a joint political declaration, “the high-speed rail link will be put into operation no later than March 2026, connecting the two capitals – Belgrade and Budapest.” The Serbian head of state emphasized that the trip between the two capitals will take only two hours and forty-five minutes.

Vucic also discussed with Orban the construction of an oil pipeline in Hungary. “The feasibility study will be completed by December 10. We have allocated resources. Our share will amount to about 150 million euros,” said the Serbian President. Belgrade is also working on “continuing to lease gas storage facilities” in Hungary. Finally, Vucic asked the Hungarian prime minister to consider Serbia’s purchase of “a 5-10% stake in the Paks NPP built in Hungary by Russian state company Rosatom.”

In addition to the joint political declaration of the two countries, signed by Vucic and Orban after the meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council, the two delegations signed 6 other agreements and protocols in the fields of justice, culture, European integration, innovation, and diplomacy.