The Fifth Serbian International Conference on Applied Artificial Intelligence – AAI2026, one of the most significant scientific gatherings in the field of digital technologies in the region, was officially opened today in Kragujevac.
The two-day conference, held at the Geneva Lux Hotel, is organized by the University of Kragujevac as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of its establishment. This prestigious event has brought together more than 100 participants from Serbia and abroad, as well as 16 leading international keynote speakers, including Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry Professor Dan Shechtman of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.
At the opening ceremony, the participants were addressed by: Professor Vladimir Ranković, Rector of the University of Kragujevac; Professor Janko Samardžić, Assistant Minister of Education; Nikola Dašić, Mayor of Kragujevac; Professor Nebojša Zdravković, Director of the National Accreditation Body of Serbia; and Professor Nenad Filipović, Conference Chair.
Addressing the participants, Mayor Nikola Dašić emphasized that hosting a scientific conference of this significance further confirms Kragujevac’s position as one of Serbia’s key centres of technological development and innovation. He noted that throughout its history, Kragujevac has always recognized the significance of major transformations and has played an active role in shaping the future.
Today, in the era of digital transformation, and thanks to the strategic support of the Government of Serbia, Kragujevac has become a hub of advanced digital infrastructure through landmark projects such as the State Data Centre, the Innovation District, the Science and Technology Park, and the National Artificial Intelligence Platform, said Mayor Dašić.
Professor Nenad Filipović, Conference Chair, stressed that the role of the scientific community is to translate theoretical knowledge into practical solutions that directly improve society. According to him, AAI2026 is not merely a scientific conference, but a platform where science, innovation, education and industry come together to actively shape the future.
Professor Filipović expressed his pride that Kragujevac is hosting distinguished experts from Serbia and around the world, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to create an environment in which young researchers and companies can jointly develop technologies that advance healthcare, industry, education and overall quality of life. This, he noted, is clear evidence that Serbia possesses the knowledge and potential to participate as an equal partner in global technological transformation.
Adding further distinction to this year’s programme was a lecture by Nobel laureate Dan Shechtman. He spoke about startup development and the importance of engaging young people in science from an early age. Throughout the two-day event, leading experts from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Slovenia are presenting the latest advances in artificial intelligence across medicine, finance, agriculture and industry through a series of mini-symposia and panel discussions.
Particular attention was drawn to the industry panel featuring leading companies from the region and the United States, further reinforcing the role of the Fifth Serbian International Conference on Applied Artificial Intelligence in positioning Kragujevac on the global map of knowledge-based and technology-driven cities.
