Official press release
Energy & Investment Days 2026 brought together government representatives, energy companies, financial institutions, investors and technology experts at the Novi Sad Fair on 14–15 October to discuss energy investment and infrastructure development across the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe.
The 15th edition of the event was organised by the Provincial Government of Vojvodina and Novi Sad Fair, with E³ International, Balkan Energy Connect and New Polis as programme partners. The conference was opened by Slobodan Cvetković, General Director of the Novi Sad Fair, with representatives of national, provincial and local authorities attending.
A major focus of the conference was the growing importance of electricity networks for the region’s energy transition. Discussions looked at the need to modernise grids, strengthen cross-border interconnections, expand storage and make better use of digital technologies as renewable generation continues to grow.
Rade Mrdak, Adviser to the Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia, stressed the importance of moving from energy-transition goals to concrete, financially viable projects. He pointed to the need for a stable regulatory framework, modern grid infrastructure, access to finance and stronger project preparation.
The panel “The Grid Ahead – Strategic Priorities for Western Balkan Power Systems”, moderated by Marko Gostović of PowerGrid Engineering, brought together Rade Mrdak from Serbia’s Ministry of Mining and Energy, Saša Popović of ODS ElektroKrajina, Nebojša Vučinić of Elektromreža Srbije, Irena Bašanović of CGES AD, Nikola Grubor of MT-KOMEX and Diego Rodas of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa). The discussion covered grid capacity, flexibility, digitalisation and cybersecurity, with speakers underlining that reliable networks are becoming increasingly important for both energy security and future investment.
Financing was another major theme. The panel “Financing Strategic Energy Infrastructure”, moderated by Bonnie Norman, President of E3 International, looked at how public institutions, international financial institutions and private investors can work together to bring more energy projects to the market. Participants included Jovana Joksimović from Serbia’s Ministry of Mining and Energy, Ognjen Popović from the Ministry of Finance, Mauro Di Veroli from the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, Damien Sorrell of the European Investment Bank, Matthew Andris of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and Carsten Sandhop of KfW Serbia.
The discussion focused on project preparation, regulatory stability and the conditions needed to attract financing. Damien Sorrell of the European Investment Bank highlighted the importance of developing strong, bankable projects and reducing the risks that can delay investment. Mauro Di Veroli, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, also stressed the importance of cooperation between the EU, financial institutions and Serbian authorities in addressing key challenges in the energy sector and supporting Serbia’s EU accession process.
The programme also featured a dedicated session, “Delivering the Grid Ahead: U.S. Technology and Project Delivery in the Western Balkans.” The discussion explored how American technology, engineering expertise and project delivery experience can support grid modernisation across the region, while strengthening cooperation between international companies and regional utilities, institutions and project developers. Particular attention was given to practical implementation, investment needs and opportunities for U.S. solutions in upcoming infrastructure projects.
Alongside the main programme, the EUKI project’s closing event focused on energy communities and citizen participation, connecting broader energy infrastructure priorities with local initiatives.
The event also featured an international energy exhibition, project presentations, a Startup & Innovation Corner and a series of facilitated B2B meetings developed through Balkan Energy Connect and New Polis. The meetings were designed to connect institutions, companies, financiers and project developers around specific opportunities.
Lena Bratić, founder of Balkan Energy Connect, said the event showed the value of bringing the right people together around concrete opportunities. “Balkan Energy Connect is meant to keep that process going throughout the year – connecting people, projects, institutions, technology providers and investors across the region. The facilitated B2B meetings were an important part of that. They helped move conversations beyond the conference room and into practical follow-up. For us, the real value of the event is in what happens next.”
Energy & Investment Days 2026 closed with a strong focus on what comes next: better prepared projects, stronger networks, closer regional cooperation and more direct links between institutions, investors and companies.