30.06.2016.

Info Day on NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme

In the Guards Club in Topcider, today, NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme Info Day was held, hosted by the Directorate for European Integration and Project Management of the Serbian Ministry of Defence and NATO Military Liaison Office in Belgrade.

The gathering was attended by State Secretary Nenad Neric, Colonel Katarina Strbac, Director of the Directorate for European Integration and Project Management, Brigadier General Cesare Marinelli, Chief of the NATO Military Liaison Office, Major General Albert Husniaux, Chairman of the NATO Science and Technology Organisation Board, Deniz Yuksel-Beten, Senior Advisor of the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, as well as representatives of other state institutions.

Opening the meeting, State Secretary Neric pointed out that the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces have significant scientific research capacities whose main function is to strengthen the operational and functional capabilities of the army, but also the society as a whole.

- Our research institutions tend to keep up with the times, especially today when the exchange of information, technology and scientific connections are essential for progress of a country. Therefore, we decided to organize today's activity with the help of NATO MLO in Serbia, and I expect that during today's meeting we will coordinate the contents and steps towards establishing a functional support to scientific research projects in the Ministry of Defence, with special emphasis on the perspective of broader support and cooperation with NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme and NATO Science and Technology Organization – Neric emphasized.

According to him, this meeting is an opportunity to get acquainted with the possibilities for participation in scientific research projects financed by NATO organizations and projects. He added that the ways of making relevant, sustainable projects using mechanisms to find partners in the related institutions of other countries were to be presented today, and it will also be opportunity to find out more about the long-term and short-term types of projects as well as the modalities of their initiation.

- Participation in these projects undoubtedly improves the working conditions for researchers who would be able to more easily gain important experience through cooperation with other countries in research areas of interest to the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces – the State Secretary concluded.

During the meeting, Deniz Yuksel-Beten, Senior Advisor of the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme presented the programme and its objectives, particularly focusing on the opportunities provided, perspectives and mechanisms for the accession to the programme. She pointed out that under this form of cooperation in Serbia, six projects were active, particularly emphasizing their importance for young scientists.

In his address, Major General Albert Husniaux, Chairman of the NATO Science and Technology Organisation Board, presenting the work of the office he represents, emphasized the importance of knowledge transfer at all levels, values of the partnership and networking in order to obtain the necessary information in the scientific research process, as well as the importance of encouraging culture of innovation.

The final part of today's meeting was dedicated to the presentation of the most important research projects of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces.