GATHERING OF SERBIAN SCIENTISTS WORKING ABROAD TO BE HELD IN BANJA LUKA IN OCTOBER

BANJA LUKA, September 8 /SRNA/ - A gathering of scientists originating from Serbia and Republika Srpska who currently work abroad will be held in Banja Luka on October 8 and 9, it was announced following a meeting between the relevant ministers of Republika Srpska and Serbia, Draga Mastilović and Bela Balint.

Republika Srpska Minister for Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education Draga Mastilović said that Srpska wants to create a better environment for the development of domestic science through stronger support for science and by establishing links with relevant institutions in Serbia and around the world, while also ensuring that the knowledge and experience of scientists from Republika Srpska working abroad are more strongly incorporated into future scientific research projects.

He stressed that the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Republika Srpska /ANURS/ is the most important scientific institution in Republika Srpska and is therefore a focus of the relevant ministry.

"The Government of Republika Srpska launched activities this year aimed at increasing investment in science, with the goal of strengthening scientific research capacities and creating better working conditions for researchers," Mastilović told reporters in Banja Luka following a meeting with Balint and ANURS President Dragoljub Mirjanić.

Mastilović said the intention is to further develop scientific research activities between ANURS and the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts /SANU/ through systematic support, back high-quality projects and enable researchers to become more actively involved in international scientific networks.

Mirjanić said that the meeting placed particular emphasis on scientific research projects, the organization of scientific conferences, publication of proceedings, exchange of researchers and establishing stronger links with scientists from Republika Srpska who live and work abroad.

"This year, nine scientific projects from various fields are planned with SANU, including natural sciences and mathematics, technical sciences, biomedicine, chemistry and geology," Mirjanić said.

He said the goal is to open up new opportunities for the development of scientific research through joint work and to increase the participation of researchers from Republika Srpska in international projects and conferences.

Mirjanić said the goal of the upcoming gathering in Banja Luka is for the scientists to share their experience and knowledge with the scientific community and establish lasting cooperation with them, because connecting with scientists from the diaspora can be of great importance for involving researchers from Republika Srpska in valuable international projects, major scientific conferences and other forms of international cooperation.

Balint assessed that cooperation between the Ministry, ANURS and SANU should be long-term and concrete, based on joint projects, the exchange of knowledge and researchers, and the linking of scientific institutions.

"Cooperation between the two academies already exists, and I hope it will be flexible and deliver results," Balint said.