Damjanović – Dilberović: The initiative to establish an international institute an excellent opportunity for the region

The Minister of Science of Montenegro Dr Sanja Damjanović paid an official visit to the Federal Ministry of Education and Science of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the occasion of which she met with her counterpart to present the initiative to establish an international scientific institute for development of sustainable technologies in South-eastern Europe with a mission of “Science for Peace”.

Following their meeting, Minister Damjanović and the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Education and Science of Bosnia and Herzegovina Prof. Elvira Dilberović have jointly concluded that the initiative to establish an international scientific institute in South-eastern Europe presents a good opportunity to better connect the region, strengthen its research capacities and reduce the outflow of young talents.

During the meeting, Minister Dilberović has stated that the Federal Ministry of Bosnia and Herzegovina continuously supports the development of science and scientific-research and research and development activities in the Federation, primarily with the aim of creating the conditions for faster integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the group of countries of the region and the European Union that are committed to building a society based on knowledge and its application.

She expressed hope that this project, having in mind the overall importance of science and research work for social and economic development, would receive the necessary support from all countries, which would open up the space for mutual cooperation and its implementation.
The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of Montenegro to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milan Lakić.

The interest in the initiative was previously already expressed by the Ministers of Science of the Republic of Slovenia, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Serbia and Republic of Macedonia. The main initiator of the idea to establish an international institute in South-eastern Europe was Prof. Herwig Schopper, former Director-General of CERN, and the initiative has also received support of the UN, UNESCO and CERN, as well as of Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation.

The main objective of the institute would be to promote and enhance the cooperation between science, technology and industry, providing a platform for the development of education and professional training of young scientists and engineers, but also the knowledge and technology transfer from European laboratories such as CERN and other centres. Given the networking of different activities, this initiative would be unique in the entire region and would constitute another successful example of use of the CERN’s model. Such a project would significantly boost the standard of living and reduce unemployment.

The Ministry of Science has extremely successful bilateral cooperation in the field of science and technology with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as with the Federal Ministry of Education and Science of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Srpska.

On 1 December 2008, the Government of Montenegro concluded the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation with the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and on the basis of this Agreement, three competitions for the co-financing of scientific and technological cooperation between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been implemented.

In this way, our scientists and research teams have been provided the possibility to work with their colleagues from Bosnia and Herzegovina on joint projects, as well as to develop mobility, exchange acquired knowledge and experience, coming to new knowledge as a result of joint work.
Also, the competent Ministries of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina have actively participated in the work of the Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkan Countries in the previous period, as well as in the projects of the Seventh Framework Program for Science and Research (FP7), in the period of 2008–2013.