Acting Director of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr. Darija Kisić, participated as a panellist at the Sixth Belgrade Think Tank Conference entitled “Geopolitical Notes of the Contemporary World: Music or Alarm?”, held on 22 June 2026 at the Palace of Serbia.
The conference was organised by the Institute for Belt and Road Studies Belgrade, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Serbia. The event brought together representatives of state institutions, the academic community, international organisations, and experts in the fields of geopolitics, economics, and international relations.
During the first panel, dedicated to global geopolitical changes and emerging international trends, Prof. Dr. Darija Kisić addressed the role of science, research, and international cooperation in a period of profound global transformation. Referring to contemporary concepts such as technological sovereignty and science diplomacy, she emphasised that, despite the increasing prominence of new terminology in public discourse, the fundamental challenges remain unchanged—how to preserve development, stability, and cooperation in a rapidly evolving world.
Speaking about current developments, she highlighted that technological progress creates numerous opportunities for growth while simultaneously introducing new challenges. She particularly noted that digital communications enable the almost instantaneous transfer of information across the globe, but also facilitate the rapid spread of misinformation.
Prof. Dr. Kisić underlined that the modern world is undergoing profound changes that affect the ways people live, work, and communicate, while certain values remain enduring and universal. She identified order, hard work, discipline, integrity, and dedication as the foundations of sustainable development.
A significant part of her address focused on the cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China. On that occasion, she stated that relations between the two countries are built on sincere friendship, mutual trust, and respect, emphasising that Serbia is recognised in China as a reliable partner.
From the perspective of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr. Darija Kisić particularly highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation with Chinese universities and research institutions. She noted that Chinese partners demonstrate a high degree of openness to various forms of collaboration, including joint research projects, student and academic exchanges, and the development of joint scientific programmes.
She also stressed that in the field of science and innovation, the size of a country is not a determining factor for success, emphasising that great ideas are not defined by territory, population, or geopolitical influence, but by the knowledge, creativity, and dedication of researchers.
Prof. Dr. Kisić concluded her remarks by expressing the expectation that future joint programmes between Serbia and China in the fields of science and research will contribute to internationally significant achievements and further strengthen scientific cooperation between the two countries.
