From June 14 to 15, the international scientific conference “Digital Bridges: The Development of AI and the IT Sector – Serbia and Russia in the Context of BRICS and a Multipolar World” was held in Belgrade, Serbia. The event took place at the Ragusa Hub International Youth Center, established with the support of the World Youth Festival Directorate and the Gorchakov Fund.

The conference brought together 23 speakers from Russia, Serbia, and other countries in both in-person and online formats. Participants included representatives of scientific institutions, universities, IT companies, media organizations, and international public associations.

The conference became one of the key Russian–Serbian platforms for experts and youth dedicated to digital cooperation, artificial intelligence, and technological development. Participants discussed prospects for strengthening professional dialogue between Russia and Serbia, expanding educational and humanitarian ties, and exploring new opportunities for cooperation in the emerging multipolar world.

Particular attention was drawn to the presentation by Yury Lindre, Head of the Information and Analytics Department at the Center for Global IT Cooperation. The expert delivered a report on the transformation of the modern digital environment, growing trends toward internet fragmentation, and issues related to digital sovereignty. His presentation also addressed the development of national digital ecosystems, the preservation of cultural identity in the digital space, and prospects for human–AI interaction.

“Russia is home to both a Cyrillic top-level domain and the Runet, a comprehensive system built on a unique cultural code and respect for our values, traditions, and worldview. Today, it is especially important not to lose ourselves in the global digital space and to preserve our ethnocultural identity. At the same time, modern technology requires not only technical expertise but also an understanding of the cultural context. Our Serbian friends should remember their rich history and learn to adapt to the new digital world while preserving their own civilizational identity,” noted Yury Lindre.

The presentation of the Slavic.Tech platform by its founder Dragan Džikandić also generated considerable interest. The idea for the project emerged following his participation in the World Youth Festival and aims to create a unified platform for cooperation among experts, entrepreneurs, and young professionals from Slavic countries. He noted that initiatives such as Slavic.Tech help build new bridges between nations, bringing together experts, young leaders, and companies while demonstrating that the traditional friendship between Serbia and Russia has a place in the digital age as well.

A separate section of the conference focused on international cooperation in the media sector. Aleksandr Babushkin, a representative of Yugra Media Holding, spoke about their experience of implementing Russian–Serbian educational and media projects in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra. His presentation explored modern digital communication tools, the development of youth media, and opportunities for launching joint international initiatives.

Conference participants discussed prospects for cooperation between Russia and Serbia in artificial intelligence, digital economy, and workforce training for high-tech industries. They also discussed the development of international youth projects and academic exchange programs.

The World Youth Festival Directorate organized the conference together with participants of international youth festivals held in Russia. These participants included Gina Vesić, Director of the Bitije Publishing House, and Dragan Džikandić, Founder of the Slavic.Tech platform.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival took place in Sirius on March 1-7, 2024, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.

In line with the Russian President’s instructions to preserve and further develop the legacy of the World Youth Festival, festival events are now held annually across the Russian Federation. In 2025, the World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod, bringing together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. In 2026, the International Festival of Youth will welcome 10,000 participants. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will take place in 2030.

The World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work to strengthen international youth cooperation and develop a global community of young people committed to shaping a better future.