At the sitting held on 16 October, the Committee on Science and Technological Development considered the Draft Strategy of scientific and technological development of the Republic of Serbia in the period from 2009 to 2014. The sitting was chaired by Srboljub Zivanovic, Committee Chairman.

Presenting the Draft Strategy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic said that the document expresses a vision of Serbia as an innovative country whose scientists achieve European standards, contribute to the society’s overall level of knowledge and improve technology-based economic development.

Minister Djelic stated that the Draft Strategy defines seven priorities - biomedicine, new materials and nanoscience, environmental protection and climatic change, energy production and energy efficiency, agriculture and food, information and communication technologies among others. Research and improvement of relations between scientists from the domain of humanities and political decision makers are also among the priorities. He said that, so far, scientific knowledge has not been used enough to improve social policy, adding that science should contribute to affirm Serbia’s national identity. According to him, the Draft Strategy emphasises the need to establish partnership with institutes, faculties, the diaspora and society as a whole.

Djelic stressed that the science budget is insufficient and that funds from international scientific institutions, primarily the European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and World Bank, shall be used to implement the planned projects in the next three to five years,.

Minister Djelic reminded that the Draft Strategy was released at the end of June and the document has been subject to public discussion ever since.

Accepting the Draft Strategy of scientific and technological development of the Republic of Serbia in the period from 2009 to 2014, the Committee members pointed out the document’s strategic importance for Serbia. They emphasised the need to allocate more funds for science and research, among others by involving the economic sector in scientific research financing.