Serbia could become the first country in Europe to produce humanoid robots this year, President Aleksandar Vucic said on February 2, after meeting representatives of AGIBOT Innovation and Minth Group in Belgrade.

Speaking at the Chinese Cultural Centre, where the companies presented humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence, Vucic said Serbia was discussing the possibility of hosting a robot manufacturing plant, calling it one of the country’s biggest potential investments.

“Serbia could become the first country in Europe to make such robots,” Vucic told reporters, adding that the project would involve both hardware and software and require significant energy capacity, including up to 600 megawatts of electricity.

AGIBOT Innovation, a Chinese technology firm specialising in humanoid robots and artificial intelligence, and Minth Group, a major global automotive parts supplier, said they plan to make Serbia a production hub for the European market. Minth already employs more than 3,000 people in Serbia through its factories in Loznica and Šabac.

Vucic said a government working group would be formed to assess whether Serbia can support the investment logistically and energetically, with a decision expected within weeks. If approved, production could begin as early as September or October, he added.

The president estimated the investment at around €100mn and said Serbia would also need to develop so-called “data factories” to train robots, which require vast amounts of computing time and data.

William Shi, CEO of Agibot Europe, was quoted by news agency Tanjug as saying the company plans to start serial production of between 1,000 and 2,000 humanoid robots in Serbia this year or next, citing the country’s stable business environment as a key factor in the decision.

The companies said Serbia could become a European centre for humanoid robotics, with plans extending beyond manufacturing to include talent training, robot-as-a-service operations and research facilities. They added that Europe currently has no mass production of humanoid robots, which are made mainly in China and the United States.

Vucic said the government would disclose further details once it is clear whether Serbia can accommodate the project, which he described as a potential boost to economic growth and technological development.