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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia among top five countries of OECD initiative for reporting innovative responses during coronavirus pandemic

Belgrade, 1 June 2020

During the state of emergency, the Republic of Serbia implemented in a short time a large number of innovative solutions as a response to the crisis caused by the coronavirus and thus became one of the top-rated countries with the largest number of innovations during COVID-19 pandemic in the world.

The establishment of innovative technological solutions and electronic services was aimed at achieving an optimal coordination of the systems of health care, education, security and other crucial systems in the times of crisis, a timely and punctual information of citizens, as well as continued provision of services to citizens and the economy.

The Observatory of Public Sector Innovation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) follows innovative responses of the governments to the crisis caused by COVID-19, and on the official web page of this organisation (https://oecd-opsi.org/covid-response/) the solutions implemented in Serbia are presented.

With 22 innovative solutions, Serbia is one of the top five countries in the world in the number of innovations.

In the analysis, published on 28 May on the OSCE website of the Observatory, the following solutions and applications were highlighted as examples of good practice: “Donate Plasma”, “Be a Volunteer”, “Digital Solidarity”, COVID-19 information chatbot, “My Classroom”, “My School”, “еKindergarten”, “еEnrolment”, the initiative to donate computers to children from underprivileged families and other solutions within the integrated response of the education system.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic pointed out on this occasion that the innovative way of thinking proved to be a necessary approach in a critical situation, and that our previous investments in technology and innovations were actually investments in the resilience and agility of our system.

As a state, we have shown that when we work as a team, we achieve the best results, she pointed out and recalled that, in addition to the Office for IT and eGovernment and IT teams within other ministries, we invited citizens and companies from the first day of the state of emergency to look together for fast and efficient technological solutions.

According to Brnabic, the creativity and innovation of these solutions have actually shaped our quick and efficient response to the fight against the virus, and this innovation will help accelerated economic development even after the pandemic.

Because of these results, Serbia is invited to join the OECD Declaration on Innovation in the Public Sector. This declaration was signed in 2019 by 35 OECD member countries, and Serbia would be one of the few countries to join even though it is not a member.

It aims to encourage, support and strengthen innovation in the public sector, affirm an innovative approach in solving both old and new challenges.