On 18 & 19 September 2025, the Public Policy Research Center (CENTER)/RE-PEOPLE and its partners — Centre for Development Evaluation and Social Science Research (CREDI) and IMPETUS, in cooperation with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Serbia – Belgrade Chamber of Commerce and Industry, are hosting the regional conference “Farming the Future: Smart Agriculture in the Western Balkans” in Belgrade.
Held within the framework of the project SMARTLABOR — “Strengthening Alliances for Policy Development and Testing in the Domain of Innovation, Digitalization, and the Labor Market in the Western Balkans” — this landmark event marks 18 months of research and regional collaboration across Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia.
The conference will spotlight key transitions in agri-food systems, digital innovation in agriculture, and the role of Smart Specialization in rural development. Sessions will address the growing importance of data-driven farming, remote crop management, and agricultural entrepreneurship. Over 20 members of the newly established Smart Labor Network will share case studies on precision agriculture, VET strategies, and innovation platforms across WB6.
Highlights include:
- Opening remarks from representatives of Smart Balkans, the Kingdom of Norway, and local chambers of commerce
- Expert panels on smart specialization, innovation ecosystems, and agricultural transformation
- Case presentations on digital farm tools and green innovation
- Roundtable discussions on workforce skills, policy frameworks, and future regional synergies
This forum will forge new connections between practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurs—driving a smarter, more resilient future for agriculture in the Western Balkans.
Read more: Farming the Future: Smart Agriculture in the Western Balkans
Registration is open until 10 September via an email to: office@publicpolicy.rs
The regional conference “Farming the Future: Smart Agriculture in the Western Balkans” is organized within the framework of the regional project ‘SMARTLABOR – Strengthening Alliances for Policy Development and Testing in the domain of Innovation, Digitalization, and the Labor Market in the Western Balkans“ implemented by the Centar za promociju civilnog društva (CPCD), Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM), and the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), with financial support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA).
