Nikola Stanišić: Mercury.AI Builds the Future of Video Surveillance
Interview: Nikola Stanišić, Head of Sales, Mercury.AI
New camera factory will create more than 700 new jobs for engineers, technicians, and highly qualified workers. In doing so, the company is positioning Southeast Europe as a serious player in the global video surveillance and security technology market.
By: Damir Muharemovic
a&s Middle East: Mercury.AI has announced plans to build a new camera manufacturing facility in Serbia. Why is this project so important for the company and for the region?
Stanišić: This factory represents a major strategic milestone, not only for Mercury.AI but for the entire regional technology ecosystem. For years, Serbia has been recognized primarily as a source of top-tier software engineering talent. With the Mercury.AI Factory, we are demonstrating that the same level of excellence can be achieved in advanced hardware production. The project will create more than 700 new jobs for engineers, technicians, and highly qualified workers, contributing directly to knowledge retention and workforce development in the region. In doing so, we are positioning Serbia and Southeast Europe as a serious player in the global video surveillance and security technology market.
By analyzing pedestrian flow, traffic patterns, crowd formation, environmental risks, and public safety indicators, cities gain actionable insights rather than just video footage.
a&s Middle East: Mercury.AI is also known for its software solutions. How does hardware manufacturing complement your existing portfolio?
Stanišić: Our software platforms already transform standard cameras into intelligent sensors. By producing our own cameras, we can optimize the entire pipeline, from optics and sensors to analytics and decision-making. This ensures higher reliability, better performance in challenging environments, and faster deployment for customers. Hardware and software are no longer separate domains; they are parts of a single, unified security ecosystem.
By combining advanced AI software with high-performance hardware, we enable safer cities, more efficient operations, and faster decision-making. Building a new factory shows our clear intent to shape the future of smart video intelligence worldwide.
a&s Middle East: What sets Mercury.AI apart, and how does it redefine the video surveillance industry?
Stanišić: Mercury.AI is a true one-stop shop for security systems. We deliver everything in one place: our own cameras, a robust Video Management System (VMS), and AI-powered detectors — fully integrated into a single platform. This all-in-one approach gives customers maximum flexibility and seamless scalability, from small installations to large enterprises and city-wide deployments. With Mercury.AI, there is no need to integrate multiple vendors or systems; one partner and one platform cover the entire security workflow, from video capture to intelligent analysis and real-time action.
a&s Middle East: With new risks like drones, hybrid threats, and climate disasters, why are traditional security systems failing, and how does Mercury.AI tackle them?
Stanišić: Traditional systems are not designed for the new age of threats. Our technology solutions are a direct response to the emerging need for advanced hardware, intelligent VMS, and insightful analytics. By producing our own cameras, Mercury.AI ensures higher reliability, better performance in complex environments, and faster, more effective responses.
a&s Middle East: Beyond classic security use cases, where do you see the biggest impact of your technology?
Stanišić: One of the most significant impacts is in Smart City initiatives. Our video intelligence solutions help cities move from passive monitoring to proactive urban management. By analyzing pedestrian flow, traffic patterns, crowd formation, environmental risks, and public safety indicators, cities gain actionable insights rather than just video footage.
a&s Middle East: Smart City is a broad term. How do Mercury.AI solutions fit into official frameworks and standards?
Stanišić: Smart City development today is guided by measurable KPIs (ISO 37122 and U4SSC) defined by organizations such as the UN. Our solutions directly support these frameworks, especially indicators related to urban safety, mobility efficiency, emergency response time, and infrastructure resilience. This alignment is critical for municipalities, particularly those working with public funding or international development programs.
a&s Middle East: Public safety has become a major focus in the security industry, especially in urban environments. Can you give us examples of how your software contributes to improving public safety?
Stanišić: Certainly. Beyond general urban monitoring, our AI solutions play a critical role in enhancing school safety. The system can detect unauthorized individuals entering school grounds, identify potential threats such as weapons, and recognize violent behavior in real time. It also alerts authorities to unattended objects that could pose a risk, like suspicious bags or packages. By leveraging existing cameras, we help schools create a safer environment for students, staff, and visitors, while providing authorities with actionable insights for proactive prevention.
a&s Middle East: Privacy is also a critical topic in video surveillance. How does Mercury.AI address this concern?
Stanišić: Privacy is foundational to our design philosophy. Our systems comply fully with GDPR requirements. For example, facial recognition operates exclusively on anonymized vector data, not stored images. This ensures individuals cannot be reconstructed or identified outside authorized use cases. Advanced security must never come at the expense of civil liberties.
a&s Middle East: Finally, how do you see Mercury.AI’s role evolving in the global security and surveillance market?
Stanišić: Our vision is to deliver fully integrated, intelligent security systems that go beyond surveillance. By combining advanced AI software with high-performance hardware, we enable safer cities, more efficient operations, and faster decision-making. Building a new factory shows our clear intent to shape the future of video intelligence worldwide.
