A Sustainable Future for the Economy – Successful Conference on the Circular Economy and Green Transition Held
Organized by the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Novi Sad, the Vojvodina Chamber of Commerce, and the Vojvodina European Affairs and Development Fund, the professional conference entitled **“Circular Economy and Green Transition: Challenges and Opportunities”** was successfully held on September 30, 2026, at the premises of the Vojvodina Chamber of Commerce.
This significant event brought together numerous representatives of the business sector, the academic community, decision-makers, and relevant institutions, with the common goal of mapping key challenges and identifying new opportunities arising from the environmental transformation of the domestic market.
Opening the conference, the participants emphasized that the green transition is no longer merely a matter of environmental awareness or following global trends, but rather a prerequisite for the survival, modernization, and strengthening of the competitiveness of the domestic economy.
Assistant Professor Dragana Novaković from the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Novi Sad emphasized that the primary objective of the event was to bridge theory and practice in order to develop concrete and applicable solutions for businesses.
“The conference focused on all the elements that make the pillars of the circular economy effective: optimal use of resources, a drastic reduction in waste, the transition to renewable energy sources, and attracting green investments,” Novaković stated.
Ivana Đurica, Head of the Territorial Cooperation Programmes Sector at the Vojvodina European Affairs and Development Fund, also addressed the participants, noting that the green transition is not only an environmental objective, but also shapes EU regulations, investments, and programmes, while placing an obligation on Serbia to prepare measurable projects in the fields of energy, circular economy, agriculture, and nature protection.
“Changes in the field of circular economy and the green transition bring new requirements, but also opportunities to improve production processes, use resources more efficiently, and develop new solutions. This is particularly important for Serbia and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, given the potential of our agriculture, energy sector, and economy as a whole… We are also entering a new programming perspective of the European Union. Together with other institutions, we will make use of all available resources to take full advantage of the opportunities it brings and achieve the best possible results, so that we can keep pace with the times ahead,” Đurica emphasized.
The conference participants agreed that Vojvodina has exceptional potential for implementing circular economy solutions, but that systematic success requires continuous cooperation between the state, the academic community, and the real sector. The green transition was recognized as a historic opportunity for the technological modernization of businesses, enabling them to gain easier access to demanding European and global markets.
The organizers announced that they would continue their work on educating business representatives and establishing joint platforms that will provide professional and technical support to companies in the process of implementing environmental standards.
