Q:
A:
To development through knowledge
Kragujevac,
9 October 2009
Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic today said that universities and education are the only possible bases for Serbia’s development.
At the public debate on the draft strategy on Serbia’s scientific and technological development for the period 2009–2014, Djelic said that the workforce can be an important reason for the arrival of certain industrial investors, but noted that Serbia must not only become a country of cheap labour.
He stressed that the Kragujevac University is the pillar of development for the city and the Sumadija region, noting that an innovative technological and scientific culture must be built around the Zastava car factory so that it can survive and continue operating.
In the upcoming period Serbia will have a large car maker, which is very good, but we must start thinking about ways to ensure that the factory survives when labour costs reach a certain level, he explained.
Speaking about his vision of Serbia’s scientific and technological development, Djelic stressed that Serbia will be an innovative country where scientists will achieve European standards, contribute to the overall level of knowledge and improve the economy’s technological advances.
He said that the Strategy’s key recommendations come down to the fact that the only way to establish a sustainable economy and society is through science and technology.
Speaking about funds that the state sets aside for science, Djelic said that they have been on the increase since 2001, but they do not grow in proportion with the GDP and that they are among the lowest in the developed world. The government’s aim is to secure funding for science of 1% of the GDP by 2014.
Djelic recalled that RSD 27.9 million were set aside from the budget for the sciences in 2001, and RSD 100 million in 2008. He added that basic research receives most of the funding.
He explained that the strategy proposes seven national priorities in the field of science and technology, those being biomedicine, new materials and nanoscience, environmental protection and climate change, energy and energy efficiency, agriculture and food, information and communication technologies and improvement of state decision-making and affirmation of the national identity.
Djelic said that development of talent is also very important.
The wider public can take part in the public debate on the Draft strategy of scientific and technological development of Serbia through a forum on the website of the Ministry of Science and Technological Development.
He stressed that the Kragujevac University is the pillar of development for the city and the Sumadija region, noting that an innovative technological and scientific culture must be built around the Zastava car factory so that it can survive and continue operating.
In the upcoming period Serbia will have a large car maker, which is very good, but we must start thinking about ways to ensure that the factory survives when labour costs reach a certain level, he explained.
Speaking about his vision of Serbia’s scientific and technological development, Djelic stressed that Serbia will be an innovative country where scientists will achieve European standards, contribute to the overall level of knowledge and improve the economy’s technological advances.
He said that the Strategy’s key recommendations come down to the fact that the only way to establish a sustainable economy and society is through science and technology.
Speaking about funds that the state sets aside for science, Djelic said that they have been on the increase since 2001, but they do not grow in proportion with the GDP and that they are among the lowest in the developed world. The government’s aim is to secure funding for science of 1% of the GDP by 2014.
Djelic recalled that RSD 27.9 million were set aside from the budget for the sciences in 2001, and RSD 100 million in 2008. He added that basic research receives most of the funding.
He explained that the strategy proposes seven national priorities in the field of science and technology, those being biomedicine, new materials and nanoscience, environmental protection and climate change, energy and energy efficiency, agriculture and food, information and communication technologies and improvement of state decision-making and affirmation of the national identity.
Djelic said that development of talent is also very important.
The wider public can take part in the public debate on the Draft strategy of scientific and technological development of Serbia through a forum on the website of the Ministry of Science and Technological Development.
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