18.04.2023.

Best Defence-Related Research Paper Awards

An award ceremony was held at the Central Military Club today to present annual awards of the Ministry of Defence for the best research paper and dissertation in the defence system, published over the previous year.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Mile Jelić presented awards to Colonel Asst. Prof. Ivan Pokrajac, Ph.D. for the best research project entitled "Exploring the possibilities of combating drones and unmanned aerial vehicles" and Dr. Milica Rajović from the Military Medical Academy for the best dissertation entitled "The influence of clinical and pathological characteristics of primary melanoma and genetic and immune characteristics of sentinel lymph node metastases on the course and outcome of the disease".

Head of the Strategic Planning Department, Defence Policy Sector, Colonel Slaven Vujić, congratulated the award winners and welcomed the guests, saying that events like this were an opportunity to draw attention to the people whose research work made an exceptional contribution to the progress of the Serbian Armed Forces.

- I would like to say that this is an opportunity for us to honour all those, including our award winners today, who have made a huge contribution and put in a great deal of effort in the development of the defence system of the Republic of Serbia and our country as a whole. This is also an opportunity to thank their families for giving them their wholehearted support - said Colonel Vujić.

He said that it was extremely important to rely on one's own knowledge in times of modern economic and energy challenges, risks and threats.

- Facts have confirmed more than once during the course of our history that our main potential for the defence of the country lies in the intelligence of our people.
Our country, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces have the capacity to develop very sophisticated and complex assets, weapons and military equipment on their own. This is supported by the results achieved by our experts who have made their contribution. These awards are a form of acknowledgment for your dedication and hard work over the years and gratitude for the fact that you have decided to remain loyal to the homeland and the citizens of Serbia - said Colonel Vujić, adding that the most valuable asset of every organization, including the Serbian Armed Forces were its people.

Colonel Ivan Pokrajac, an engineer at the Military Technical Institute and the leader of the team that received an award for exploring the possibilities of combating drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, said that it was a pleasure for every scientist to be acknowledged for their work.

- This topic is very important. We have seen that drones play a major role in modern warfare. Therefore, our military should be equipped with adequate systems for countering drones. The project itself requires the involvement of several different sensors. Through the development of the prototype itself, we will perfect the existing research results and equip the Serbian Armed Forces with adequate means - said Colonel Pokrajac.

The winner of the annual Best Dissertation Award is Dr. Milica Rajović, who defended her thesis at the Medical Faculty, Military Medical Academy, Defence University. It is a wonderful feeling, she said, to lead the team that took part in the research project launched in 2010.

- Our research has helped us assess which patients would benefit from either surgery or systemic therapy. I am practically head of a large team of pathologists, immunologists, dermatologists, surgeons, radiotherapists and radiologists, so we are all involved in a big project. We are one big institution that can do everything under one roof and that is our biggest advantage when it comes to science. We can gather together all the specialists within five minutes and do whatever is needed. Simply, that is the way we are organized and it is really a pleasure to work and do science in such a system - said Dr. Rajović.

By decision of the Minister of Defence, it was established that the Annual Award for the best research project and dissertation at the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces is awarded on the occasion of the Serbian Armed Forces Day.

The award ceremony was attended by Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Nebojša Nikolić, Assistant Minister for Budget and Finance Katarina Pavičić, Rector of the Defence University, Brigadier General Boban Đorović, Head of the Logistics Department (J-4), Major General Srđan Petković, and Head of the Public Relations Department, Brigadier General Asst. Prof. Mihailo Zogović, Ph.D.