Pathways to Bioeconomy and Bioconvergence Perspectives from Serbia and Israel 2025

Introduction The World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution network spans 21 national and thematic centres, each working to accelerate the responsible adoption of exponential technologies. These centres share a common mission: to advance transformative innovations in areas such as bioconvergence, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health while generating positive impact across sectors. By harnessing this global network, the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution centres collaboration and knowledge exchange, ensuring that emerging technologies are deployed in ways that benefit society while upholding ethical standards. The role of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Serbia in advancing bioeconomy The Government of the Republic of Serbia and the World Economic Forum jointly established the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Serbia in 2022. It began operating under Serbia’s Office for Information Technology and e-Government, with a strong emphasis on biotechnology and AI applications in healthcare. As such, the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Serbia is actively contributing to bioeconomy growth through initiatives focused on digitalizing health and genetic data, as well as the use of this data in research. By developing legislation and building infrastructure for the secure storage and responsible use of this data, the centre is paving the way for transformative advancements, including personalized medicine and data-driven bio-solutions.1 The centre’s leadership in the Bioeconomy Initiative (which was launched at the Biotech Future Forum 2023 in partnership with the World Economic Forum) represents a key milestone. As co-leader of this global effort, Serbia plays a central role in shaping policy dialogue and developing frameworks that support the adoption of bioeconomy solutions. The centre leads the policy group within the initiative, working to create an environment that drives innovation while promoting ethical and sustainable practices.2 Beyond its policy leadership, the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Serbia catalyses international collaboration through the Biotech Future Forum, using the platform to highlight the bioeconomy’s potential to drive economic growth, sustainability and technological advancement. Now a national initiative, the Biotech Future Forum emphasizes Serbia’s commitment to this field, convening leaders from government, industry and academia.3 In parallel, the centre actively supports start-ups in the biotechnology and AI sectors by connecting them with the World Economic Forum’s global network,4 enhancing visibility, enabling collaboration and helping to integrate Serbian innovators into the international ecosystem. The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Serbia’s story is one of vision, action and tangible impact. By building infrastructure, shaping policies and empowering innovators, the centre is not only preparing Serbia for the future of bioeconomy but actively defining that future. The role of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Israel in advancing bioconvergence Established in 2019 through government resolution, the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Israel (part of the World Economic Forum’s global Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution network) was created to position Israel at the forefront of responsible technological innovation. Operating under the Israel Innovation Authority and supported through robust public- and private-sector engagement, the centre serves as a national and international platform for shaping future policies, cultivating cross- sector collaboration and accelerating ecosystem growth through the development and scaling of groundbreaking technological solutions. The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Israel leads strategic initiatives that tackle global challenges and drive economic development. Its Alternative Protein Initiative positioned Israel as a global food technology leader, as highlighted in an international report published by the centre outlining this strategy to advance alternative proteins.5 The Israel National Drone Initiative (INDI) pioneers next-generation air mobility through a regulatory sandbox and cross-border collaboration (including a joint webinar with the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India).6 To connect local As exponential technologies evolve, global cooperation ensures they benefit society through responsible, ethical and transformative implementation. Pathways to Bioeconomy and Bioconvergence 6