The Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia will support 20 projects within Green Program of Cooperation between Science and Industry, in the next two years, in which 215 researchers from 37 scientific research organizations will participate.

The modern world is facing a big challenge when it comes to the pollution of the environment – water, air and soil are becoming more and more endangered resources. Science will play a key role in the fight for a healthier planet that we will leave to future generations. Through the development of innovative solutions, science can help create a world where man and nature can function together in a sustainable way. However, in order for scientific research to find a way to practical application, it is very important that scientists together with the industry develop solutions that can be applied in every aspect of society: from industry to everyday life.

Bearing in mind the importance of this mission, Science Fund has opened the Green Program of Cooperation between Science and Industry, which is intended to provide practical support for the cooperation of science and the industry, based on the use of available scientific potential, as well as support for sustainable development and raising the level of environmental quality. The program is based on the Program DEVELOPMENT and is in line with national strategies, as well as the European Union strategy “Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All” and the action plan “Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil”.

Based on the two-stage evaluation of projects performed by international reviewers, 20 scientific research projects were approved for financing within the Green Program of Cooperation between Science and Industry.

The total budget of the approved projects is 3,500,000 €, and the funds are provided from the budget of the Republic of Serbia. The minimum approved project budget is 140,503.21 €, while the maximum approved project budget is 191,237.93 €.

As leading scientific research organizations in project implementation will participate organizations from Belgrade (12), Novi Sad (6), Kragujevac (1), Čačak (1), and scientific research organizations from Belgrade, Novi Sad, Bor, Novi Pazar and Kosovska Mitrovica participate as partners in the project implementation.

The projects approved for funding will develop solutions in various fields over the next 2 years that will contribute to the reduction of air, water, and soil pollution. The topics that the research teams will deal with concern the restoration of degraded ecosystems, the reduction of environmental pollution caused by organic pollutants, microplastics, waste, pesticides, and other harmful substances.

Another area that the researchers will deal with includes solutions that will contribute to the development of sustainable industrial systems and business models that reduce environmental pollution. The focus is on cleaner technologies and the digital transformation of the industry – the development of models based on artificial intelligence that will enable the industry to deal more effectively with the emission of gases and harmful substances.

When it comes to waste management – scientists will develop solutions that will contribute to more efficient management of plastics, batteries, hazardous chemicals, persistent organic pollutants, and heavy metals.

You can download the final ranking list of projects approved for financing HERE.

The projects PIs received the official evaluation of their projects via email. In the coming period, Science Fund will inform the PIs, whose project proposals have been approved for funding, about the next steps and the preparation of documentation for signing the contract on financing the implementation of projects.

We congratulate to all research teams and research organizations which projects are approved for funding. We thank all the participants for their effort and interest in the Green Program of Cooperation between Science and Industry.