Minister Vlahović speaks at World Bank conference in Washington

Minister of Science Sanja Vlahović participated today in the panel "How knowledge sharing can influence the reform of higher education and science", which was held as part of the conference "Third High-Level Meeting on Country-led Knowledge Sharing – HLM3" at the World Bank headquarters in Washington.

Minister Vlahović, together with colleagues from almost all over the world, exchanged experiences and practices, emphasising the importance of knowledge sharing and experience for Montenegro. Vlahović highlighted three directions: first is the implementation of HERIC project in Montenegro, which represents sublimation of best practices tailored to system of science and education in Montenegro. Another important factor is the creation of a strong base and a network of local scientists and researchers, as well as their connection with Montenegrin scientists and researchers in Diaspora in order to create new values for the home country. The third direction represents the guidelines and recommendations of the expert missions, which are increasingly becoming an important factor in raising the quality of the national system. The panel was an opportunity to hear the opinions and activities of other countries in the field of reforms and how and in what way knowledge sharing provided results in their countries.

For the past few days Minister Vlahović had several important meetings with high representatives of scientific institutions and government bodies in the United States, which should lead to the opening of US system for Montenegrin scientific research community, through models that were discussed during these meetings.

According to the Minister this visit was yet another indicator that the Montenegrin science is developing in the right direction. Particularly significant support gained the policy of the Government of Montenegro, which is in the last period extremely committed to eliminating the gap between science and business, and to creating closer cooperation, which will lead to the development of small and medium enterprises, start up and spin off companies, which should give new impetus to development of the national economy. Policy of scientific research commercialisation, through innovative products and services, is the future not only of Montenegro, as a small system, but also of a much larger and more powerful systems as the United States, stated the officials.

On the last day of her visit to Washington, Minister Vlahović will meet with World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Cyril Muller. Vice President Muller is one of the most important figures of the World Bank's top management.