04.09.2023.

Military Technical Institute receives 53 reinforcements

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević attended today a ceremony to celebrate the recruitment of 53 new employees at the Military Technical Institute based on an open recruitment competition.

On that occasion, Minister Vučević expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the most important segment of the Military Technical Institute has been reinforced – its human resources.

- It is a prerequisite for any kind of progress and fulfilment of our future plans. Given that the labour market is very competitive nowadays, it is no small matter to attract and recruit new personnel, to find people who have knowledge and determination, who bring new energy, alongside the people who have been working here for years, even decades, and who are the driving force behind the Military Technical Institute - said Minister Vučević.

The Minister of Defence looked back on 1853, when the then Principality of Serbia produced the first four cannons and two howitzers in Kragujevac and began the struggle for both the independence of our homeland and our defence industry, the forerunner of what it is today.

- And of course for us, as a country, especially one that has opted for military neutrality, to work, strive, struggle to be as autonomous as possible in the field of invention and production of weapons and military equipment. It is our priority in terms of national defence and security, which raises the stakes and makes the Military Technical Institute all the more important - emphasized Minister Vučević.

He expressed his belief that members of the Military Technical Institute understand the circumstances that surround us and increase the importance and responsibility of that institution. He said that employees working in the same industry in the private sector might be in a better financial position, but the private sector does not provide employees with opportunities that the Military Technical Institute offers them.

- Perhaps a private company can give its employees a bigger salary, but it cannot give them the opportunity to work on these kinds of programs and projects and that is what distinguishes the state from all other entities. That is why the state is always the strongest. And you are a vital part of the state, particularly in terms of national security and defence - emphasized Minister Vučević.

Minister Vučević said that the upcoming Partner 2023 Arms and Military Equipment Fair is a challenge, but also an opportunity to show the domestic and international public what the Serbian Ministry of Defence and the Military Technical Institute are doing.

- We still have a lot of work to do. I hope we will keep the peace, but also be ready for all possible challenges. So roll up your sleeves. Congratulations, new employees. You bring new energy, while the people who have been working here for years and decades are the driving force. We will also do our best to get some of the new officers of the Serbian Armed Forces who will be promoted on September 9 to take up appointment at the Military Technical Institute - emphasized Minister Vučević, adding that the MTI will try to find a way to admit final year students and those who view the Military Technical Institute as a good establishment and employer.

Minister Vučević told the MTI staff that he will continue to fight for even better working conditions at that institution, hoping that the motherland will be proud of everything they do for it.

- I am looking forward to celebrating the first 75 years of the Military Technical Institute, but I repeat – it is an obligation imposed on you, a legacy bequeathed to you, and a set of guidelines for where we should be going in the future. Collaborate with your colleagues at the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces - said Minister Vučević and once again congratulated the newly employed staff of the Military Technical Institute.

The director of the MTI, Colonel Aleksandar Kari, PhD, presented the work results achieved in 2023 and pointed out that the Military Technical Institute is the largest and one of the most renowned institutions dealing with research and development of weapons and military equipment in this part of Europe.

- What we are proud of as employees of the Military Technical Institute and members of the Ministry of Defence is that so far, in 75 years of the Institute’s existence, about 1,500 different weapons and other items of equipment have been adopted and introduced into service at the Serbian Armed Forces. In other words, about 75% of all the Serbian Armed Forces’ weapons and military equipment have been developed by the Military Technical Institute. Without a doubt, the MTI’s most valuable asset is its employees - emphasized Colonel Kari and thanked Minister Vučević and his colleagues for the support they provide to the Institute.

One of the MTI’s newly recruited employees is Milica Purić, who said that she was driven by patriotic reasons when she applied for a job at this institution.

- I am a mechanical engineer and I hope that I will broaden my practical and academic knowledge and experience here, and since I am studying for a PhD, I hope that I will be able to pursue that here as well - Milica Purić said.

During his visit to the Military Technical Institute, Minister Vučević took a tour of the MTI's facilities and spoke to the staff, gaining and insight into the expertise and professionalism of members of this research institution.