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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Growth of investment in science in Serbia fastest in the region

Belgrade, 22 July 2006

Serbian Minister of Science and Environmental Protection Aleksandar Popovic said in an interview for today’s edition of the daily “Glas Javnosti” that he is convinced agreement will soon be reached between Serbia and the EU according to which Serbian scientists will be able to participate in all projects of the Seventh Framework Programme, and like their colleagues in the EU member countries have the full benefit of all funds for scientists in the EU.

Aleksandar Popovic

The Serbian government’s official website presents the interview in full.

The status of science in Serbia:

Keeping in mind what Serbia has gone through, particularly in the last decade of the 20th century, considering the bad economic conditions, which were reflected in the budget for years and still are, and the affect that had on allocations for science, science in Serbia is in a perfectly decent state. Scientists are to be thanked for that and not the state. Of course for science to progress, it is necessary to increase investment, and it is necessary to have a material basis which would allow quality and efficient scientific work in the future, in fundamental and in applied research.

How much does the state help science?

Now we are at a point where somewhat less than 0.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) from the budget is being invested in science. Through investments envisaged in the investment plan, with budget increase along with the National Investment Plan, I expect that we will raise investment in science from the budget to 0.6% of the GDP in 2007. We started off with less than 0.2% in 2000, so there is a real upswing in investment in science, which is actually the fastest in the region. Our aim should be the same as the aim of EU member countries – 3% of GDP investment in science in 2010, of that one percent from the budget, and the rest from the market. Of course, with further development of our economy funds invested in science will also increase.

Does the government help science in any other way?

Through university foundations for building flats for young scientists we help in the construction of flats at favourable prices for young scientists. The foundations are not governed by this Ministry but the universities, but money for science comes from the budget. We have an entire, very developed system of grants for the young. Since two years we have been sending young scientist with doctorate degrees for postdoctoral studies abroad. As far as employees in scientific institutes are concerned, they unlike all others employed in other public services, do not have limitations on income. So, employees in scientific institutes can approach us for projects, but they can also approach other ministries and try to earn through the market, in the country and abroad. No matter how much they earn we lay no restrictions. However if it happens that they are unable to earn outside the Science Ministry, and do not fulfill the criteria of the Ministry for getting projects, there is no guaranteed income. There is no more socialism in science anymore. Profit made by the institute, even though it belongs to the state, is not taken from them. Most of the institutes invest that money again in science to improve their status, and to in turn earn more profits in the future.

What is being done to make science popular?

This year for the first time we announced a competition intended to make science more popular, and that is one of our strategic aims. We will try in different ways, through the media, like radio and television, and magazines to popularize science. We have financed forums at which science is discussed in a way appealing to the public and which are open to a wide range of people. Next year we will go further and deeper.

How important is the agreement with the EU?

I believe that we are very near to an agreement in science with the EU, and that will dramatically change the position of science in our country, but will also increase the responsibility of scientists. The state will do its share of work to make Serbia an associate member of the Seventh Framework Programme from January 1, 2007, and Serbian scientists will be able to access all EU funds for science, like their French or German colleagues. There will be no formal obstacles, and the amount of money they receive will depend only on the scientists themselves, their capabilities and quality. Very soon our sector of science will be fully integrated in the EU.

Improving the visa regime:

Independently of the negotiations on visa regime conducted by the government, the Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection began negotiations last year with EU Commissioner for Science Janez Potocnik on changes in the visa regime for scientists. Commissioner Potocnik did his part of the job, he kept his word, and at the end of last year the European Commission adopted a directive on introducing a new category of visa, visa for scientists. These visas are issued for longer periods of times, under better conditions, faster, for countries in the Schengen zone. Now we are waiting that all 25 member countries of the EU include this directive in their national legislations. We expect that this will happen in the second half of the upcoming year, and that is, no matter how slow it seems, the fastest possible procedure. I owe gratitude to Commissioner Potocnik for doing all that he could to get the stubborn machinery of bureaucracy moving. If the country enters the White Schengen List then all this becomes unnecessary.