GITEX is expanding into Southeast Europe with the launch of GITEX AI Belgrade, a three-day technology and investment event scheduled for May 25 to 27, 2027, at the Belgrade Fair. Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and organized by inD, the event will be the official technology and business event of EXPO 2027 BELGRADE. Organizers expect over 700 companies and startups, more than 200 investors managing US$50 billion in assets, and executives from over 120 countries.
Southeast Europe's Growing Technology Sector
Southeast Europe's technology sector continues to gain economic importance and international reach. ICT represents 9.6% of gross value added in Serbia, 8.2% in Bulgaria, and 7.6% in Romania, compared with a European Union average of 5.3%, according to SeeNext data cited by the organizers. ICT services account for more than a quarter of total services exports in all three countries, with combined exports exceeding €18.3 billion.
Venture Capital Momentum Supports the Launch
Venture capital investment across Southeast Europe increased nearly 40% year on year to €398.3 million in 2025. GITEX AI Belgrade aims to capitalize on that momentum by providing regional companies with access to investors and commercial partners from outside their domestic markets. The event will focus on AI, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies with an emphasis on international connections.
SEE 100 Program Connects Startups to Global Capital
Startups will have a dedicated route into the event through SEE 100, a new initiative developed with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. The program will select 100 startups from Serbia and the wider Southeast European region and connect them with investors, buyers, and technology companies participating in the global GITEX network. That network spans six continents and 14 international markets, bringing together around 18,200 technology companies and 5,050 investors managing more than US$3.5 trillion in assets annually.
National Delegations and Market Access
National delegations will also participate in the 2027 edition. A Romanian pavilion is already planned, giving Romanian technology companies a dedicated space to showcase products and connect with potential investors and commercial partners. The format is designed to help emerging ecosystems across Southeast Europe access global distribution and capital through one centralized event.
Serbia Strengthens Its Regional Tech Position
Serbia's ICT services exports reached a record €4.55 billion in 2025, roughly 12 times their 2012 level. According to figures cited by GITEX, 41% of Serbian startups are already working with AI, while Belgrade and Novi Sad rank among Central Europe's top 10 startup ecosystems. Serbia is also planning around €70 million in AI-related investment through 2027, according to Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.
Leadership Views on Regional Integration
Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of GITEX, said the value of GITEX AI Belgrade extends beyond new connections and visibility. She noted the event's ambition to connect businesses with international buyers, investors, technology companies, and policymakers. Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, said the goal is to help Serbian industry integrate AI, become more productive, and move from manufacturing to creation.
GITEX AI Belgrade will provide Southeast European companies with a structured gateway to global investors, buyers, and technology partners during EXPO 2027. The event builds on a period of record ICT exports, rising venture capital, and growing AI adoption across the region. Organizers expect the first edition to strengthen Serbia's position as a technology hub connecting Southeast Europe with larger international markets.