The World Economic Forum established the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and Serbia is among the first countries in the world to have its own center. It has existed for several years and operates with significant help and support from the pioneering center in this field located in Israel
The world is in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution – a period during which technological breakthroughs and industrial disruptive technologies are blurring geographical borders and challenging existing regulatory frameworks. Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and autonomous transportation are rapidly changing our lives, creating new risks and opportunities, and raising ethical issues. Government regulations must keep up with the rapid pace of technological changes to bring progress to Israeli citizens.
To help government regulation adapt to rapidly changing technology, the World Economic Forum founded a network of Centers for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR). This network aims to create and share knowledge, experience, and best practices related to innovative technologies’ regulation by establishing collaborations between governments, leading corporations, the private sector, and experts from around the world.
The C4IR network began operation in San Francisco in 2017 and operates centers in China, Japan, and India. Alongside the official centers, there are other countries that have joined as ‘Affiliate Centers’ including South Africa, Colombia, Brazil, the UAE, Norway, and Saudi Arabia.
In January 2019, as part of Government Resolution No. 4481, it was decided that the State of Israel would join the C4IR. Accordingly, in August 2019, the Innovation Authority established the Israeli Center for Regulation of Innovative Technologies, serving as an Affiliate Center in the C4IR network.
The Israeli Center, established in 2019, promotes technological fields at the heart of the International Center’s (C4IR – WEF) activity
Participation in the network will advance the readiness of the Israeli market for new technologies, specifically innovative disruptive technologies that will significantly influence life in Israel. The Israeli center will work with local regulators to assist them in adopting flexible and innovative regulations suitable for technological developments. These regulations will allow for the promotion of innovation, research, and improved services while preserving public interests such as safety and privacy.
The Innovation Authority believes that creating a flexible, innovative regulatory environment adapted to technological developments provides a significant opportunity to advance an innovation ecosystem for growing technologies. This environment is necessary for the Israeli high-tech industry to maintain its leading technological position in these fields and to enable the State of Israel to provide its citizens with the tremendous benefits promised by technological progress.
The Israeli Center, established in 2019, promotes technological fields at the heart of the International Center’s (C4IR – WEF) activity, the development and application of which influence productivity and growth in the State of Israel. The Center promotes collaborations with the Ministries of Transport, Health, and Justice in the fields of regulation of smart transportation, autonomous vehicles, drones, Artificial Intelligence, and information economics.
The Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, located in Belgrade, is the first and only one in the Balkans
In Serbia, a similar initiative is underway. The Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, located in Belgrade, is the first and only one in the Balkans. Dedicated to biotechnology and the application of artificial intelligence in biomedicine, it aims to leverage the experience and practices of other centers in the C4IR network. As a guest at a panel dedicated to the work of Centers for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Dr. Yehudit Cohen, director of research at the Israeli National Biobank for Research (MIDGAM), highlighted the potential for collaboration. The Serbian center is in the process of creating an archive for storing genetic information, and the Israeli biobank is seen as a model of successful practice for this initiative.
This addition underscores the global reach and collaborative spirit of the C4IR network, emphasizing how international cooperation can foster technological advancement and regulatory innovation.