At the sitting held on 24 September, the members of the Committee on Science and Technological Development considered the Information on the activities of the scientific institutes in the Republic of Serbia presented to them by representatives of the Ministry of Science and Technological Development.

The Ministry’s State Secretary Snezana Pajovic stressed that the competition for new institute directors is currently top news. According to her, the plans and programmes submitted by the candidates who have applied so far, comply with the scientific strategy, but the scientific work development component is still dominant compared to the component of correlation to economic trends, which is to be the institutes’ future tendency. So far, the management aspect has been neglected and the Ministry will be particularly mindful of inter-disciplinary projects that are economically applicable.

Assistants for basic research and technological development, Tibor Sabo and Radosav Cerovic briefed the Committee members on the increased number of researchers for the new projects competitions. This year, 4 200 researchers more than last have applied, a large number of which are young researchers who should be stimulated by the state to stay in Serbia. Also, they stressed that the science budget allocation amounted to about 0.25 to 0.30 GDP in the last 7 to 8 years, but considering the number of applicants they stated that they expect the science budget allocation to be higher this year, and asked for the deputies’ support in this matter.

In the discussion on this item on the agenda, the Committee members wanted to know the number of young Serbian scientists living abroad and the percentage of those interested in returning to Serbia. They also discussed the number of operational institutes whose research is economically applicable, the need to raise the science budget from the current 1.2% of the total budget, and the need to alter the logistics of science funding.

Following the discussion, the Committee members unanimously concluded that the Committee is in favour of raising the science budget allocation and that the percentage should be higher than 1.2% of the total Republic of Serbia budget. They also concluded to invite the ministers of science and technological development and finance to meet with the Committee to discuss the higher allocations for science next year.

The Committee members went on to agree to hold a Committee sitting next Friday to discuss the information on cooperation with foreign institutes.