“Bioconvergence is not just a scientific evolution – it’s our strategic bet on the future”
A new joint report from C4IR Serbia and C4IR Israel (at the Israel Innovation Authority) highlights how both countries are shaping the future of the bioeconomy and bioconvergence, offering a practical roadmap for governments, institutions, and investors aiming to advance innovation across healthcare, agriculture, climate, and industry.
Smaller countries can be agile leaders in shaping the global discourse around bioeconomy innovation and bioconvergence through targeted investment, talent development, and international alliances, according to a new report by Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Serbia, alongside C4IR Israel at the Israel Innovation Authority.
The report, Pathways to Bioeconomy and Bioconvergence: Perspectives from Serbia and Israel, is a joint effort by the two independent centers within the World Economic Forum’s C4IR Network. It provides an in-depth look at how Israel and Serbia are advancing national frameworks in the fields of bioeconomy and bioconvergence (the fusion of biology with engineering and computational sciences).
“Disruption doesn’t happen by chance – it is the result of deliberate choices,” said Dror Bin, Chief Executive Officer, Israel Innovation Authority.
“In Israel, we’ve made a national commitment to lead where we already have relative advantage and can bring added value to the global market,” he continued.
“Bioconvergence is not just a scientific evolution – it’s our strategic bet on the future. By merging biology, engineering, AI and other technological disciplines, we are redefining innovation and building technologies that will shape global industries for decades to come.”
“While Israel has strategically advanced bioconvergence, Serbia is shaping its own path by building a bioeconomy grounded in scientific excellence, digital infrastructure, and biodiversity,” added Jelena Bojović, Director of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Serbia.
According to McKinsey, up to 60% of the global economy's physical inputs could be biologically produced within 20 years, potentially generating $4 trillion in annual economic impact.
Pathways to Bioeconomy and Bioconvergence offers a blueprint for governments, investors, and research institutions aiming to develop national strategies, design enabling regulatory frameworks, and support transformative innovations that drive both economic and societal progress.
The report further calls on global stakeholders to leverage its insights to co-create a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-driven bioeconomy. Israel and Serbia both demonstrate that with strategic vision and targeted investments in ICT and life sciences, countries of any size can become influential players within the global bioeconomy landscape.
Key insights from the report include:
- Public-private alignment is critical: Both countries demonstrate how top-down strategic planning combined with grassroots entrepreneurship can fuel innovation.
- Shared R&D infrastructure and global regulatory cooperation are vital for scaling emerging technologies responsibly.
- Smaller countries can be agile leaders in shaping the global discourse through targeted investment, talent development, and international alliances.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration among academia, industry, and government is essential for translating research into practical applications.
- Strategic human capital development creates a workforce capable of navigating multiple disciplines.
- Progressive regulatory frameworks balance innovation with safety and ethics considerations.
For Israel specifically, the report highlights how the country has positioned bioconvergence as a national strategic priority, leveraging its deep-tech industries and cross-sector R&D.
The Israeli government launched the National Bioconvergence Program in 2022, led by the Israel Innovation Authority and supported by a consortium of government and public-sector partners (TELEM). The program was established based on Israel’s strengths in biology, engineering, and computational sciences, and its potential to lead globally in integrating these disciplines. The initiative aims to create competitive advantages where these domains intersect.
The Israeli government invested approximately NIS 435 million ($133 million) in the program’s initial phase. The total investment is expected to reach NIS 2 billion ($610 million) over 10 years, combining public and private-sector funding.
To date, 1,000 professionals have been trained in bioconvergence-related programs in Israel. The number of bioconvergence companies in the country has grown from 40 in 2015 to over 160 today – an average annual growth rate of approximately 14.9% over the past decade.
These companies operate across a broad spectrum of fields including healthcare (51.5%), food technology (22.1%), agriculture (12.9%), industrial biotech, environmental sustainability, and bio-based construction. Their cross-disciplinary approach, rooted in strong academic foundations, supported by forward-thinking regulation and global partnerships, enables them to rapidly translate scientific innovation into real-world impact.
