Serbia: 2012 Progress Report and Country Conclusions

The conclusions on Serbia in relation to the WBC-INCO.NET focus the following:

Little progress was registered in the area of science and research. Both public and private investments in research remain low and Serbia generally needs to reinforce its national research capacity. Overall, preparations in this area are well on track. Little progress can be reported in the area of education and culture, where alignment is moderately advanced. There was progress in making the education system more socially inclusive, as well as in introducing quality assurance standards in elementary education. Better implementation of higher education reforms remains a challenge and reforms in the vocational education and training sector still need to be speeded up. Financial management and financial control still need strengthening with a view of Serbia’s participation in the future Education, Youth and Sport programme.

More details are provided in the analytical report:

4.25. Chapter 25: Science and research

Some progress has been made regarding research and innovation policy. Serbia has taken actions to stimulate innovation and strengthen its research infrastructures. However, public investment in research remains at 0.5% of GDP, below the national target, and the number of researchers has not increased.

Regarding framework programmes, Serbia’s participation in the 7th EU Research Framework Programme (FP7) remains good, although further efforts are necessary in order to involve more small and medium-sized enterprises, obtain Marie Curie actions and participate successfully in the specific programme ideas governed by the European Research Council. Serbia has continued to promote research cooperation with EU and other international partners and is well integrated in a number of key research themes. Serbia participates actively in COST and EUREKA actions. The implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on scientific and technological cooperation between Serbia and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) is well on track.

Serbia became an associate member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in February 2012.

Regarding the European Research Area, Serbia has started to apply the European Charter and Code of Conduct on the recruitment of researchers. The national Euraxess portal is functioning well. Since May 2012, Serbia is a founding member of a European research infrastructure consortium in the area of nanotechnology and material science – C-ERIC. With respect to the Innovation Union, an Innovation Fund was established delivering grants in support of innovation to companies in the IT, biotechnology, nanotechnology and agro-food sector. Construction of research infrastructure and purchase of scientific equipment has progressed well, but a Research Infrastructure roadmap, in accordance with the European Strategic Forum for Research Infrastructures is still missing. The implementation and monitoring of the action plans and national targets in particular on investment and on mobility of researchers remains generally weak and needs to be improved.

Conclusion
Some progress was registered in the area of science and research. Both public and private investment in research remains low and Serbia generally needs to reinforce its national research capacity and monitoring as well as implement the actions envisaged. Overall, preparations in the area of science and research are on track.

Source: EC Europa

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