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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Better education to result in country’s economic welfare

Belgrade, 14 July 2015

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said today that Serbia's progress is not possible without "smart growth" and constant access to new scientific knowledge, and announced 2016 as the year of reforms in education and health.

Better education to result in country’s economic welfare

Vucic said at the opening of the conference "Innovation and knowledge transfer - the possibilities of cooperation between Serbia and Italy" that without a different, more successful and more modern education there is no progress in the economy, productivity and growth.

According to Vucic, research, development and innovation are key to starting and sustaining the development of Serbian society.

Without the "smart growth" all serious steps we have taken would not be sufficient and it is therefore very important to acquire new knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit, the Prime Minister said.

I think that we can meet one of the basic needs of society is the need for economic welfare through even better education, he said and added that it is imperative that science serves the wider social benefits and to increase the level of its application in the economy.

According to Vucic, this will require different incentives, as well as a higher level of protection of intellectual property.

Serbia is willing to learn from its Italian friends who have achieved significant progress in this area and know the formula for smart growth, he said.

From left: Giuseppe Manzo, Aleksandar Vucic and President of the Italian Society for International Organisation Franco Frattini

Italian Ambassador to Serbia Giuseppe Manzo said that Italy is working with Serbia in order to achieve a common future in Europe, and the key to this end shall be the development of education, science and knowledge transfer.

He stated that the support for small and medium-sized enterprises, scientific research and technological transfer are the words that people understand, and that it is what represents the future.

This initiative is central to relations between the two countries that are sincere and deep, the Ambassador said and recalled that a protocol on cultural and scientific cooperation between Serbia and Italy has already been signed, and that so far it has achieved great results.

President of the Scientific Park AREA Adriano de Maio said that this institution reflects the science and technology of the whole Italy, and its main mission is just technology transfer, enhancement of technological research and education.

President of the National Agency for Micro Loans Mario Bacini explained that the Agency acts as a public organisation, both in Italy and in the rest of the world, and that it offers adequate micro financing instruments to combat poverty.