Research: strengthened scientific collaboration between Italy and Serbia
Scientific collaboration between Italy and Serbia is being strengthened. The Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, and the Serbian Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation, Jelena Begović, inaugurated the second Italy-Serbia Scientific Forum in Trieste at Area Science Park, with the participation of over 100 researchers from both countries.
Following a bilateral meeting, the ministers signed a joint declaration confirming the importance of cooperation in research and innovation, based on the MoU signed in Belgrade in 2023, as well as the promotion of researcher mobility, support for joint research programs, and bilateral scientific events. The document also highlighted the great success of the first call for joint research projects focused on the following areas: High Performance Computing and Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Agri-food Technologies, and Sustainable Economy. Over 80 applications were received and are currently under evaluation. The selected projects will be co-financed by both countries (for a total of 2 million euros) at the beginning of 2025.
Today’s event continues the path started in March 2023 in Belgrade when Area Science Park participated in the first edition of the Science Forum. In December 2023, during the Innovation Forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the capital between Area Science Park and the science and technology parks of Belgrade, Niš, Čačak, and Novi Sad. This memorandum further develops a longstanding cooperation with Serbia that began in 2015, focusing on technical assistance in the fields of technology transfer and economic development. The goal is to pool scientific and technological capacities, such as those generated by research infrastructures and technological platforms, for example, on topics like life sciences, energy transition, and innovative materials.
“The Italy-Serbia scientific forum represents, for Area Science Park and for the entire Scientific and Innovation System of Friuli Venezia Giulia, an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the two countries and create new opportunities for the exchange and sharing of knowledge and best practices,” said Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park. “In particular, for the institution I lead, hosting, and especially participating in the forum, means expanding the areas of exchange and dialogue with research centers, universities, and science and technology parks, with which we have previously developed innovation projects. Today, our attention is focused on research and technological infrastructures, where Area has been investing in recent years, which by their nature are places for aggregation and sharing of knowledge.”