As part of her first visit to Serbia, Xiaoqing Yu, World Bank Country Director for the Western Balkans, visited the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, where a joint meeting of institutions dedicated to the development of science and innovation in Serbia was organized. On this occasion, the institutions’ activities and plans related to the implementation of the SAIGE Project were presented.
The World Bank has allocated 43 million € through the “Serbia Accelerating Innovation and Growth Entrepreneurship Project – SAIGE” to support scientists, researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs in Serbia, of which 26 million € have been allocated for the programs of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia.
Mrs. Xiaoqing Yu pointed out that it is very important that the development of science and innovation are important priorities of institutions in Serbia: “We live in a society that requires quick reactions to pressing challenges, and that is why it is more difficult than ever to develop long-term strategies and plans. However, despite these challenges, I am glad that in Serbia there is continuous support for the development of science and innovation, and we are very pleased that the World Bank participates in investing in these areas,” said Xiaoqing Yu.
Dr. Milica Djuric-Jovicic, acting director of the Science Fund, reflected on the results of the work of the Science Fund and the funded projects: “The Science Fund of the RS is a young institution that has only existed for three years, but during that time it achieved significant results, with the strong help of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the World banks and the European Union, as well as the entire scientific community. Thanks to this support, the Science Fund currently has 8 open programs to support scientific research projects in all scientific fields, with a total budget of 72.5 million €”.
During the meeting, two projects from the SFRS “Program for Excellent Projects of Young Researchers – PROMIS“ were presented. The PsyCise Project led by Dr. Marin Jukic, for which 200.000 € was allocated, developed the personalized use of drugs in the treatment of psychiatric patients, thus solving the current problem of inappropriate antidepressant therapy. The InfoBomat Project led by Dr. Zorana Kovacevic, with a budget of 89.000 €, developed a herbal preparation based on domestic essential oils that is used in the treatment of cows, which reduces the use of antibiotics in treatment and produces healthier dairy products.
Besides the World Bank Country Director for the Western Balkans Xiaoqing Yu, the meeting was attended by the World Bank Country Manager for Serbia Nicola Pontara, World Bank representatives Dusko Vasiljevic, Jasna Vukoje and Gordana Filipovic, State Secretaries of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia Prof. Dr. Marijana Dukic-Mijatovic and Prof. Dr. Ivica Radovic, Assistant Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia Dr. Aleksandar Jovic, Director of SAIGE Project (Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia) Prof. Dr. Viktor Nedovic, Director of the Innovation Fund of the Republic of Serbia Dr. Ivan Rakonjac, Director of the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering Dr. Jelena Begovic, Director of the Institute of Electrical Engineering “Nikola Tesla” Dr. Dragan Kovacevic and Acting Director of the Science Fund Dr. Milica Djuric-Jovicic.
