Ambassador Vladimir Božović, PhD, at Innovation Day in Philadelphia: Connecting Diplomacy, Science, and Business

The program brought together members of the Consular Corps Association of Philadelphia, of which Consul General Božović is also a member, as well as ambassadors, consuls general, and representatives of business, scientific, and healthcare institutions. The visit focused on exploring Philadelphia's innovation potential and opening new opportunities for international cooperation.

Participants gathered at Philadelphia's renowned Union League, from where the delegation proceeded to the headquarters of Urban Outfitters at the Navy Yard. During the opening plenary session, discussions with company representatives focused on global sourcing, product development, creative ideas, and innovation.

The delegation then visited Ghost Robotics, also located at the Navy Yard, where participants learned about advanced robotic technologies and their practical applications. A working lunch was held with international physicians and researchers from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia — the first children's hospital in the United States — and Penn Medicine, featuring presentations on innovative achievements in medicine and scientific research.

The professional program concluded with a visit to the GRASP Laboratory at the PERCH research facility within Penn Engineering, where participants were introduced to research activities in robotics, automation, sensing, and perception, as well as opportunities for research and institutional cooperation.

During the opening plenary session, Ambassador Vladimir Božović, PhD, addressed the participants:

“Good morning, everyone.

I am Ambassador Vladimir Božović, Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in New York and President of the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York. Since the beginning of my presidency, I have placed business networking and economic diplomacy at the very heart of our Society's activities.

Today, I am also here on behalf of our Society, which brings together representatives of countries whose colleagues are also with us today, including Greece and Mexico. Dear Christa, I extend my warmest greetings and sincere appreciation for your outstanding work and dedication to the Consular Corps of Philadelphia.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to our hosts. I see this place as a space where ideas flourish and a remarkable vision has been brought to life. I wish to pay particular tribute to our most senior host in this room, whose vision is truly inspiring.

It is precisely for this reason that I would like to share a few words about Serbia.

We recently held elections, and I sincerely believe that Serbia is now bringing a new idea to Europe. The student movement represents a fresh political idea in a European environment that, I would say, has been rather lacking in new political ideas.

I want to connect the new student leadership and the young people who will lead my country with all of you and create opportunities for cooperation.

Two years ago, my country was struck by a terrible tragedy. A canopy collapsed at a reconstructed railway station, killing 16 innocent people. The cause was corruption: the reconstruction had been carried out by a state-owned company and a Chinese company, without public procurement procedures, transparency, or adequate oversight of public spending.

The tragedy caused profound grief and prompted a strong public response. Students launched protests demanding accountability, a genuine fight against corruption and organized crime, the proper functioning of institutions, and the rule of law.

Like many people in Serbia, I expressed strong sympathy and support for these young people and their demands.

The students decided to persevere. They demonstrated to Europe, America, and the entire world how young people can stand up for their beliefs without large budgets, financial or international backing, or access to major media platforms.

For two years, they persevered across Serbia, facing attacks, violence, imprisonment, and numerous forms of pressure and injustice.

The Serbian people recognized their determination. In the elections held on October 25, the student movement — a movement, not a political party — achieved a major victory. The Student List won 140 of the 250 parliamentary seats, securing a decisive parliamentary majority. This list will form Serbia's new leadership.

The student movement and the Student List represent a new brand of Serbia, one that should be introduced internationally, beginning here in Philadelphia, followed by New York, Washington, and Chicago, as well as other centers across America, Europe, and the world.

I hope that their international presentation, together with the strategic dialogue with the United States, will be among the priorities of the new Foreign Minister and the diplomacy of Serbia's new Government.

I felt it was important to share this with you here, in a place that brings together ideas and business opportunities. As Serbia's Consul General, I wanted to inform you about developments in my country and the prospects emerging for future cooperation.

Once again, thank you very much. I am confident that we have a highly productive day ahead of us, and I look forward to our future cooperation.”

The Consul General's remarks were met with very positive reactions from the participants and encouraged further discussion about Serbia's future and opportunities for cooperation. In their concluding comments, the hosts expressed confidence that young people could contribute to Serbia's transformation and create new opportunities for business connections, including potential cooperation with Urban Outfitters.

Throughout the visit, Ambassador Božović highlighted the considerable potential of the Republic of Serbia, particularly its IT industry, innovation sector, and creative and entrepreneurial initiatives. He placed special emphasis on opportunities to connect Serbian companies, scientists, and young professionals with Philadelphia's business and research institutions.

The visit concluded in a spirit of openness to continued engagement and the development of cooperation with this historic city of innovation, one of the principal birthplaces of the United States of America.

Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, home to a significant Serbian community and the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, fall within the consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in New York.

The Consulate General will continue to promote connections between Serbia and the institutions and companies of this region, as well as cooperation with the Serbian community, with the aim of strengthening economic, scientific, and cultural ties.