AGP Executive Report

Digital Manipulation: A new study documented coordinated fake accounts on X amplifying pro-government messages and attacking Serbian journalists, underscoring the role of online influence campaigns. Industrial Technology: Chinese machinery maker Haitian has opened a €120 million Serbian plant, bringing production closer to European customers and highlighting the country’s engineering base and supply-chain role. Cybersecurity: Three labs reported that Pegasus spyware targeted a Belgrade university rector and a prosecutor before the vote, raising serious concerns about surveillance. Research & Robotics: Serbia and the EU are deepening research and innovation ties, while Chinese investment is also supporting the country’s humanoid robotics sector.

Innovation Agenda: Serbia’s victorious Student List has pledged to expand education and innovation, with physicist and science journalist Slobodan Bubnjević expected to join parliament. The group says major changes must wait for a lawful transfer of power. Spyware Concerns: Three labs reportedly confirmed that Pegasus spyware targeted a university rector and prosecutor before the election, renewing concerns about surveillance and the integrity of public institutions. Research Links: The EU and Western Balkan partners have agreed to deepen research and innovation cooperation as part of the region’s integration push. Robotics: Chinese investment is helping Serbia develop humanoid robotics, another sign of growing technology ties.

Energy: Serbia relied on imports for more than a quarter of its electricity in October, costing EPS about €100 million, as lower hydropower output cut domestic supply. Medical technology: TempraMed signed an exclusive deal to distribute its temperature-protection products for insulin and other medicines in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Cybersecurity: Three labs reportedly confirmed that Pegasus spyware targeted a Belgrade University rector and a prosecutor before the election, renewing concerns about digital surveillance. Research: The EU and Western Balkan partners agreed to deepen cooperation in research and innovation, supporting closer regional links with Europe.

Defence Technology: Serbia has released the first footage of its M-25 heavy self-propelled mortar firing. Developed by the Military Technical Institute, the 203mm weapon is mounted on a six-wheeled truck. Cybersecurity: Three research labs say Pegasus spyware was used to target a Serbian university rector and a prosecutor before the election, raising fresh concerns about surveillance of public figures. Digital Work: A Belgrade forum hosted by the Foreign Investors Council examined how workplace technology is changing labour relations and the need for regulation to keep pace. Research Links: The EU and Western Balkan partners are stepping up cooperation on research and innovation as part of closer regional ties.

Digital Workplace: Serbia’s Foreign Investors Council met in Belgrade on Oct. 27 with government and business representatives to discuss how technology is changing work and how regulation should keep pace. Spyware and Elections: Three research groups reported that Serbian intelligence used Pegasus, Cellebrite tools and a state-built Android implant against at least 15 people during the election cycle, including a university rector and an anti-corruption prosecutor. Research Links: The EU and Western Balkan partners agreed to deepen cooperation in research and innovation, supporting regional ties and Serbia’s EU integration. AI Investment: Telekom Srbija Group is accelerating AI investment and expanding technology partnerships in the United States.

Cybersecurity: Researchers reported that Pegasus spyware infected University of Belgrade Rector Vladan Đokić’s iPhone days before Serbia’s election, adding to reports of surveillance targeting Serbian activists and officials. AI Investment: Telekom Srbija says it is accelerating AI investment and expanding technology partnerships in the United States. Robotics: Chinese investment is helping Serbia develop humanoid robotics, according to a report published this week. Research Links: The EU and Western Balkan partners are deepening cooperation in research and innovation to support regional integration. Civic Tech: A platform designed to help women get home safely is also drawing attention to technology’s role in everyday security.

Cybersecurity: Check Point reports that 17% of organizations in Serbia have been affected by PHP2Shell vulnerabilities, among the highest rates globally. Telecoms are the most exposed sector worldwide. Research Links: The EU and Western Balkan partners are deepening cooperation on research and innovation, tying regional collaboration to EU integration. Robotics and AI: Chinese investment is supporting humanoid robotics development in Serbia, while Telekom Srbija is expanding AI investment and U.S. technology partnerships. Digital Surveillance: Reports that Pegasus spyware targeted a Serbian university rector and a prosecutor shortly before the election raise fresh concerns about surveillance of public institutions.

Research Partnerships: The EU and Western Balkan partners are deepening cooperation in research and innovation, linking regional collaboration with closer EU integration. Cybersecurity: Pegasus spyware was reportedly found on the phones of a Serbian university rector and a prosecutor shortly before the election, renewing concerns about surveillance of public figures. Telecom AI: Telekom Srbija says it is stepping up AI investment and expanding technology partnerships in the United States. Robotics: Chinese investment is helping Serbia develop humanoid robotics, an emerging area for the country’s tech sector.

Online Disinformation: Serbia’s High-Tech Crime unit asked police to identify who posted an edited video that recast 2012 election remarks as a warning about the 2026 vote. Spyware: Researchers reported Pegasus infections on the phones of a Belgrade university rector and a prosecutor shortly before the election, raising fresh concerns about surveillance of Serbian public figures. Research Ties: Serbia and five other Western Balkan partners joined an EU declaration to strengthen research careers and innovation ecosystems, with a joint action plan to follow. Energy Technology: Serbia is weighing nuclear power after lifting its decades-old ban in 2024; small modular reactors are among the options under discussion, though costs, safety and potential sites remain major questions.

Spyware Concerns: Researchers reported Pegasus infections on the phones of a Serbian university rector and a prosecutor shortly before the election, renewing concerns over surveillance of public figures. Research Cooperation: Serbia joined an EU–Western Balkans declaration to strengthen research careers and innovation ecosystems, with a joint action plan in preparation. Science Minister Bela Balint said Serbia aims to deepen ties between researchers and businesses and expand company R&D. AI and Robotics: Telekom Srbija is accelerating AI investment and U.S. technology partnerships, while Chinese investment is helping develop humanoid robotics in Serbia.

Research Cooperation: Serbia and the EU’s Western Balkan partners agreed to strengthen research careers and innovation ecosystems and prepare a joint action plan. Serbia’s science minister said closer ties between researchers and businesses remain a key challenge. Spyware: Researchers reported Pegasus infections on the phones of Belgrade University rector Vladan Đokić and a prosecutor, raising concerns about surveillance of Serbian public figures. AI Investment: Telekom Srbija says it is accelerating AI investment and expanding technology partnerships in the United States. Robotics: Chinese investment is helping Serbia develop humanoid robotics, another sign of the country’s growing technology ambitions.

Spyware and Security: Researchers reported Pegasus infections on the phones of a Serbian university rector and a prosecutor shortly before Sunday’s election, adding to concerns about digital surveillance of government critics; authorities deny unlawful spying. Research Cooperation: Serbia joined an EU–Western Balkans declaration to strengthen research careers and innovation ecosystems, with a joint action plan in preparation. Critical Materials: Serbian researchers are part of a six-country EU project mapping supply chains for materials vital to batteries and other technologies, aiming to identify weak points and alternatives. AI Investment: Telekom Srbija says it is accelerating AI investment and expanding US technology partnerships to develop digital services.

Research and Innovation: Serbia’s caretaker science minister Bela Balint told a Western Balkans meeting in Brussels that the country’s 2026–30 science strategy will support technology parks, research-business partnerships and company R&D units. He identified weak links between science and business as a key obstacle. Surveillance Technology: Researchers found Pegasus spyware on the phones of University of Belgrade rector Vladan Đokić and prosecutor Rade Bajić before Sunday’s election. Đokić’s phone was infected through a zero-click attack; a previous SHARE Foundation report said at least 14 people in Serbia were targeted. Robotics: Chinese company Minth has begun mass-producing humanoid robots in Šabac, its first such production base in Europe. The facility assembles and tests robots for industrial tasks, with potential for Serbian engineers and suppliers to gain expertise. Science Education: Serbia’s 2025 PISA results show 43% of students fall below basic scientific literacy, scoring an average 429 points against the OECD’s 482. Critical Materials: Serbian researchers are part of an EU-funded team mapping supply chains for materials vital to technologies such as electric-vehicle batteries.

Cybersecurity: Researchers from Citizen Lab and Serbia’s SHARE Foundation found Pegasus spyware on the phones of University of Belgrade rector Vladan Đokić and prosecutor’s office associate Rade Bajić. Đokić’s phone was infected through a zero-click attack, raising fresh concerns about surveillance of government critics ahead of Sunday’s election. Robotics: Chinese-owned Minth Group has begun mass production of humanoid robots at its Šabac complex, in a roughly $23 million first-phase investment. The Serbian factory is the company’s first European production base for the robots; a key test will be whether local engineers and suppliers gain a role beyond assembly. Engineering Safety: A review of plans for the Expo 2027 complex in Surčin flagged more than 270 errors, including a garage-roof slab load estimate that a civil engineer says was far below the actual load. Experts questioned whether later changes resolved the risk.

Cybersecurity: Citizen Lab and Serbia’s SHARE Foundation confirmed Pegasus spyware infected University of Belgrade Rector Vladan Đokić’s phone; prosecutor Rade Bajić also received an Apple warning that his phone was targeted. The findings raise fresh concerns about digital surveillance of Serbian officials and critics. AI: OpenAI is bringing ChatGPT ads to Serbia as part of a 26-country expansion. Ads will appear on Free and Go plans, while paid Plus, Pro and Enterprise plans remain ad-free. Expo Engineering: A review of Surčin’s Expo 2027 construction documents found more than 270 issues. One engineer estimates the load on a garage slab is 266% above calculations, and experts question whether a later design change fixed the problem. Border Technology: Serbia and China discussed using new technologies to speed passenger processing at border crossings ahead of Expo 2027, alongside expanded police cooperation and cybercrime training.

AI and Advertising: OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT ads to Serbia and 25 other countries, bringing the total to 89 markets. Ads will appear on Free and Go plans; paid tiers remain ad-free. Cybersecurity: Citizen Lab and Serbia’s SHARE Foundation confirmed Pegasus spyware infected University of Belgrade Rector Vladan Đokić’s phone. Prosecutor Rade Bajić, who worked on a politically sensitive corruption case, received an Apple spyware alert, but infection has not been confirmed. Local Innovation: A civic-tech platform is helping women get home safely. Telecom and AI: Telekom Srbija is accelerating AI investment and expanding US technology partnerships to grow its digital services.