Open competition for scientific projects prior to 2015 made official - EUR 800m for science

(Božidar Đelić)

Total of EUR 800m will be spent on scientific projects and infrastructure within next five years. Half of that money will be invested in the buildings and equipment of science institutions and apartments for scientists, while the rest will be spent on salaries and resources for the work on projects.

This was said by Božidar Đelić, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Science and Technological Development, on Sunday, at the Scientific Community for Serbian Future meeting. He also signed and made official the commencement of the Open competition for funding scientific projects within next five years.

- I promise that the funds intended for science will be distributed carefully - Đelić said in front of over 3,000 scientists in Sava Center.

- Our intention is to strengthen the currently weak ties between the science and the economy and that the latter starts setting aside significant funds for the former, as it is the case in all developed countries.

Preventing the outflow of young experts and returning successful Serbian scientists from all around the world is seen by Đelić as a special challenge.

- We can either watch our best scientists leave one by one or get organized and find partners to make it possible for young people in our country to work for the world's top institutes.

The funds for science are still insufficient, but, as Đelić promised, much more money from the budget, the economy sector and from European funds will be invested in scientific projects in the years to come.

Upon the presentation of the Development Strategy for the next five years, separate sessions were organized for each of the priority areas. The event was attended by the authorized ministers and the representatives of Serbian Academy of Science and Arts, universities, institutes and the economy.