The Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia participated in the annual meeting of the Global Research Council (GRC), an organization that gathers the most prominent national research funding agencies and science funds from all over the world.

The meeting was held in the Hague, from May 29 to June 2, and was hosted by the Dutch Research Council, which organized the event in cooperation with the Sao Paulo Research Foundation. More than 160 participants attended, including 63 heads of research funds.

This year’s event focused on two topics: “How to reward and recognise scientists“, and „Principles and practices for funding research in the field of climate change“. During the event representatives ratified a declaration of principles and practices on these topics. Several side events and regional meetings were organised in parallel, on topics such as research assessment, research integrity, researchers at risks, transdisciplinary research, as well as the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Dr. Milica Đurić-Jovičić, acting director of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, presented the accomplishments, programs, and procedures of the Science Fund. In addition to strengthening cooperation with European funds, the Science fund representatives had particularly significant discussions during working groups with international partners and heads of research funds. Procedures, co-initiatives, quality of research, good international practices, as well as challenges for researchers were discussed. The result of this gathering, besides exchange of knowledge and expirience, was the development of research networking platforms and new bilateral and multilateral cooperation funding programs.

Science Fund also participated in a side event entitled “Making Research Assessment Reform a Global Endeavor” organized by Science Europe in cooperation with the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (COARA).