The program is aimed at strengthening cooperation between scientific research organizations and industry through the development and implementation of innovative artificial intelligence-based solutions, with the goal of ensuring that scientific research results find practical application in industry, business, and the public sector. All projects must focus on one of the following priority domains: artificial intelligence, information and communication technologies, food for the future, future machinery and manufacturing processes, and creative industries.
The program’s horizontal themes include digitalization, energy transition, sustainable energy systems, and health.
All information related to the Program, application requirements, and конкурс documentation is available on the Calls page at the LINK.
During the presentation, participants were introduced to the eligibility requirements, funding model, project application process, as well as opportunities for establishing partnerships between companies and scientific research organizations aimed at developing new products, services, technological solutions, and modernizing business processes.
Bojana Krstić, Head of the Innovation Department at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that connecting science and industry is one of the key prerequisites for Serbia’s accelerated technological and economic development.
“Our country has high-quality research institutions, experts, and a growing IT and innovation sector, while at the same time industry is increasingly recognizing the need for digital transformation and business modernization. However, we can fully realize our potential only when knowledge from laboratories and research centers is successfully transferred into real industrial applications,” said Krstić.
She added that the Serbian Chamber of Commerce continuously works on connecting domestic companies with relevant institutions, faculties, institutes, and international partners, and that through the work of the Council for Science and Industry Cooperation, it actively supports the development of collaboration between research organizations and companies.
“Artificial intelligence today is finding applications in almost all sectors — from manufacturing and automation, through logistics and energy, to agriculture, medicine, finance, and services. Through data analysis, process optimization, and the development of new digital tools, AI is becoming an important driver of productivity and innovation,” Krstić pointed out.
The program “Science for Industry – Application of Artificial Intelligence in Industry through Scientific Partnerships – From Lab to Market” supports applied research with demonstrable potential for real-world implementation, including the development of pilot projects, prototypes, demonstrators, software solutions, datasets, technical and technological improvements, as well as solutions that may become subject to intellectual property protection and further commercialization.
The program is financed from the budget of the Republic of Serbia and funds from the SAIGE project — a partnership project of the Republic of Serbia, the European Union, and the World Bank aimed at strengthening scientific research and innovative entrepreneurship in Serbia.
Eligible applicants are consortia consisting of at least one accredited scientific research organization from Serbia and at least one business entity registered in the Republic of Serbia. The industry partner must provide a minimum of 15 percent co-financing of the project through financial or in-kind contributions.
A consortium may consist of up to five members, including a maximum of four scientific research organizations and one industry partner, while the number of research team members is not limited.
The public call for project proposals is open, and applications must be submitted exclusively electronically through the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia Portal no later than June 15, 2026, by 12:00 noon.
The application process is conducted in two phases — submission of a preliminary proposal followed by a full project proposal.
Source: CCIS