Publications

GIS in Serbia: A Policy Tool for Smart Cities and Sustainable Development

Belgrade
GIS in Serbia is becoming a crucial tool for sustainable urban planning and evidence-based governance. By integrating spatial data, policymakers can monitor environmental quality, improve resource allocation, and enhance transparency. Case studies from Pančevo, Belgrade, and Novi Sad show how GIS supports pollution management, citizen participation, and energy transition. With proper investment in data infrastructure and skills, Serbian cities can align with European sustainability goals while ensuring healthier communities.
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Trees-as-Infrastructure: How Urban Nature Builds Cool, Green and Resilient Cities

Stuttgart
Trees-as-Infrastructure is redefining how cities integrate nature into urban planning. By treating trees as critical infrastructure, this approach enhances climate resilience, reduces heat and flooding risks, and improves community well-being. The methodology, tested in Stuttgart, offers a scalable model for greener, healthier, and more sustainable cities worldwide.
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AI in Smart Cities: How Artificial Intelligence Transforms Urban Life

Ai in smart cities
Artificial intelligence is transforming smart cities by optimizing mobility, energy, safety, and citizen services. From digital twins to predictive analytics, AI in smart cities enables more adaptive and sustainable urban systems. Yet its success depends on addressing challenges and ethical considerations to build trust and accountability.
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New Rules Reshape Serbia Pellet Market and Quality Standards

wood pellets
The article explores how new rules are reshaping the Serbia pellet market, setting unified standards for quality, safety, and transparency. Only top-quality A1 and A2 wood pellets are now allowed on the market, while B-class products are banned. The regulation is expected to strengthen local producers, improve competitiveness, and support the transition to sustainable heating solutions.
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Cross-Border Smart City Ecosystem: How Helsinki and Tallinn Built a Shared Future

smartphone with buildings
Helsinki and Tallinn joined forces to build a cross-border smart city ecosystem that bridges innovation and sustainability. Through the EU-funded FinEst Twins project, the cities piloted real-world solutions for clean energy, data, mobility, and healthcare. This model shows how collaboration across borders can scale urban resilience and improve quality of life worldwide.
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Guangzhou’s Innovative Practice: The Mixed Traffic Lane Mode

guangzhous-innovative-practice-the-mixed-traffic-lane-mode
Guangzhou has pioneered the Mixed Traffic Lane Mode as an innovative response to rising electric bicycle use and limited road space. By merging motorized and non-motorized traffic within designated lanes, the model improves traffic order, enhances safety, and optimizes urban mobility. Early results from pilot projects show reduced congestion, safer conditions, and more efficient use of road resources, positioning this approach as a scalable solution for dense urban environments.
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Building a Balkan Regional Platform for the SDGs : Interview with Kosta Živanović

Kosta Zivanovic
How can the Western Balkans deliver the SDGs amid war, heat, and rapid technological change? In this interview, SDF President Kosta Živanović details th e Forum’s 2025 agenda—competitiveness in turbulent times, the energy paradox, near-shoring and resilient supply chains, and scaling AI and clean tech. He explains why Belgrade can act as a regional hub and how SDF connects local actors to global standards to turn goals into practical action on energy, food systems, and governance.
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Balkan Green Cities: Greening the Urban Fabric and Why It Matters

Athens
Across eight Balkan green cities, we compare total green infrastructure and accessible urban green using EEA metrics and municipal datasets. The piece traces how geography and planning traditions shape outcomes, then spotlights flagship projects—from Athens’ Ellinikon to Belgrade’s Linear Park and Tirana’s Orbital Forest. We conclude with tiered, finance-aware recommendations that help city leaders turn green on paper into green on foot.
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Korea–Serbia Strategic Energy Development Forum: A New Chapter in Bilateral Energy Cooperation

Korea–Serbia Strategic Energy Development Forum
The Korea–Serbia Strategic Energy Development Forum, held in Belgrade on September 2, 2025, brought together officials, experts, and industry leaders. The event focused on nuclear power, hydrogen technologies, and renewable projects, underlining Serbia’s energy security as a national priority. For Korea, the forum opened new opportunities to expand cooperation and share expertise in Europe.
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