NALED Establishes the Council for Applied Science: From Research to Practical Solutions for the Economy
To strengthen the link between science and industry and create better conditions for research results to reach the market, NALED has established the Council for Applied Science, a new working body bringing together research organizations and innovation support organizations with the goal of developing concrete projects, partnerships, and reform initiatives in the fields of science, innovation, and knowledge transfer. The Council was established with the support of Philip Morris International (PMI) and the StarTech project.
At its inaugural session, Council members signed a Declaration and identified the following as key priorities for the first year: strengthening science-business collaboration, knowledge and technology transfer, and the commercialization of research results; creating an enabling environment and strengthening capacities for cooperation and innovation; increasing the visibility and accessibility of knowledge, expertise, and research capacities; and fostering stronger international and regional cooperation.
“For years, we have been connecting science, business, and the public sector, transforming knowledge and good ideas into practical solutions. Through the Council, we have brought together more than 20 research organizations that are members of NALED, with the aim of linking expertise and knowledge even more closely to the needs of businesses and institutions,” said Jelena Bojović, Program Director at NALED.
Among the topics proposed for the pilot year are facilitating connections between companies’ needs and the expertise, research teams, and infrastructure of research organizations, including the development of joint laboratories and science-to-business (S2B) cooperation mechanisms; advancing technology transfer and the commercialization of research results, including clearer rules for the operation of spin-off companies; developing industrial PhD programs; and strengthening researchers’ competencies in intellectual property protection and the market application of research outcomes. Special emphasis was also placed on improving public procurement procedures and the import of equipment, materials, and samples for research and development, enabling more flexible financing for innovation development and validation, and increasing the visibility and accessibility of research capacities, equipment, laboratories, and expertise through open infrastructure.
Serbia has a strong scientific base and a highly qualified research community, but it still lags behind EU standards in the commercialization of research. According to the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), Serbia is classified as a moderate innovator, performing at around 75% of the EU average. Key challenges include weak collaboration between science and industry, insufficient private-sector investment in research and development, and limited technology transfer, resulting in fewer scientific outcomes being transformed into products, licenses, and spin-off companies. Addressing these challenges is precisely why the Council was established.
“The university has knowledge and researchers, the business sector best understands market needs, and the public sector can bring them together. When these elements are combined, they create outcomes that none of the stakeholders could achieve alone. To ensure that research truly reaches practical application, continuous dialogue is essential, and that is exactly what NALED and this Council make possible,” said Zita Sereš, Dean of the Faculty of Technology at the University of Novi Sad.
Tamara Stanković, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Corporate Venture Capital Projects for Southeast Europe at PMI, said that this initiative is a natural continuation of existing cooperation.
“We continuously work with the research community through the StarTech program, as well as through other projects such as PMInnovia and Empower Innovation. That is why we are proud to support a Council that will help the scientific community play an even stronger role in addressing social and economic challenges,” said Stanković.
