Addressing the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation, Balint recalled that the development of Serbia’s innovation ecosystem is based on the Smart Specialisation Strategy for the period 2020–2027 and the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development and Innovation for the period 2026–2030.
“We are pursuing these objectives through support programmes, science and technology parks, technology transfer centres, and direct partnerships between research organisations and companies,” the Minister explained.
He emphasised that the shared goal is to strengthen links between science and industry, improve technology transfer, and ensure the practical application of research results.
“In the long term, we want to encourage the development of smaller research and development units within companies—mini-centres of sorts—that could continue operating and initiate new activities even after a Science Fund project has ended,” Balint said, adding that the aim is to develop market-oriented products and services through ongoing cooperation with scientific organisations.
According to him, insufficient cooperation between science and industry represents the greatest obstacle to further strengthening Serbia’s innovation ecosystem, and improving this cooperation is one of the priorities set out in the aforementioned strategy.
“We have good examples and successful projects, but it is important for cooperation to be continuous and systematic,” he stressed, adding that strategic documents therefore place increasing emphasis on technology transfer and strengthening links between science and industry.
Regarding regional cooperation, the Minister noted that regional and European networking is a natural continuation of national programmes and smart specialisation priorities.
He stated that partnerships developed through national programmes should be linked to the preparation of joint European projects, including those under the Horizon Europe programme.
Regional exchanges of experience, he explained, can improve support for research teams and facilitate the identification of new partners, while access to laboratories and testing with different users can help prepare solutions for wider application and the market.
Balint announced that, in the coming period, the Ministry would focus on strengthening the pathway from scientific results to their practical application in industry, primarily by improving technology transfer and cooperation between science and industry.
“We are also working on a Strategy for the Development of the Startup Ecosystem to further improve the conditions for the development and growth of innovative companies,” the Minister added.
In addition to Minister Balint, the meeting in Brussels was attended by Prof. Dr. Darija Kisić, Director of the Science Fund.
Source: srbija.gov.rs