Čadež in Doha: Serbia Has a Globally Competitive Startup Ecosystem

The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež, stated at Web Summit Qatar 2026 in Doha that Serbia today has a strong and globally competitive startup ecosystem. This is confirmed by the growth of software exports and the increasing presence of Serbian innovative companies at major global technology events, including the participation of eight Serbian startups at this year’s Web Summit, held from February 1 to 4.

Speaking on a panel dedicated to building regional companies with global impact at Web Summit Qatar 2026—one of the most important international technology conferences in the Middle East—Čadež emphasized that significant structural changes have taken place in Serbia over the past decade, most clearly reflected in software export figures.

“Ten years ago, Serbia’s software exports amounted to around €350 million, while today they exceed €5.1 billion annually,” Čadež said, adding that Serbia now has around 30,000 engineers.

He recalled that the foundations for this growth were continuous investments in digital infrastructure, supercomputers and data centers, as well as the introduction of programming as a mandatory subject in primary schools. According to him, these steps have contributed to the arrival of research and development centers of leading global companies in Serbia.

Addressing the challenges, Čadež noted that Serbia has a strong base of knowledge and innovation, but that additional efforts are needed in sales and the global positioning of domestic technological solutions. As he pointed out, conferences such as Web Summit are an important platform for connecting Serbian startups with investors and international partners. He added that years of operating in complex economic conditions have contributed to the resilience and innovativeness of Serbian companies.

Speaking about future priorities, Čadež stressed the need to continue investing in infrastructure, supercomputers, and data centers, strengthen cooperation with the scientific community, and build a strong link between expert knowledge and advanced technologies.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia is organizing, for the first time, the participation of Serbian startup companies at Web Summit Qatar 2026, held from February 1 to 4, 2026, in Doha. The conference brings together more than 30,000 participants, 1,500 startups, 700 investors, 350 speakers, and around 600 media representatives from over 120 countries.
Serbia is presenting itself through the national exhibition area “Serbian Island,” where eight Serbian startups from the fields of the digital economy, industry, security, and healthcare are showcasing their solutions: Smart Part, SpiceAds, MyFlow, Baby FM, Marina Int, Protokol, CyberParent, and Advanced Security Technologies.
These companies have the opportunity to present their innovations to investors, global corporations, and institutions, as well as to participate in numerous B2B and B2G meetings, further strengthening the international visibility of Serbia’s startup ecosystem.