The Report provides an overview of the main institutions involved in the field of social sciences in Serbia, as well as an analysis of difficulties and challenges for scientific research. The findings show that younger researchers are especially affected by the unsatisfactory situation in this field, having few opportunities for career advancement in their home country. Furthermore, although researchers and institutions are eligible for applying for the extensive EU FP7 funds, many institutes lack capacities and have difficulties applying for international funding. They find the procedures too complicated and time-consuming, while insufficient administrative support for applications creates additional problems.

On the basis of identified problems, the Assessment offers a set of recommendations for overcoming the existing difficulties. Recommendations are provided for institutes, researchers and relevant government bodies for improving the status of research in the social sciences, but also regional and international cooperation. Some of the main recommendations relate to:

• better access to national and international funding mechanisms,
• necessity for conducting more interdisciplinary projects,
• modernization of institutes,
• improvement of the quality and dissemination of results,
• improvement of regional and international cooperation through joint projects, conference participation, seminars and academic exchange.

Ms. Jasna Bastic compiled this Assessment in the framework of the Regional Research Promotion Programme in the Western Balkans (RRPP), supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).