Under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the EMBL Info Day took place on Tuesday, March 5, at the Science Technology Park Belgrade. Support in organizing the event was provided by the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution of Serbia and the Center for the Promotion of Science. The event aimed to present the opportunities that membership in the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) brings to the academic and scientific community in Serbia.

In June 2023, Serbia initiated its three-year process towards full EMBL membership, and this event provided an opportunity for the domestic public to familiarize themselves with various aspects of this partnership.

Assistant Minister Ivana Vukašinović officially opened the event in front of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, along with Jelena Bojović, Director of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution of Serbia. Opening speech from EMBL was given by Maria Ananchenkova, International Relations Officer.

“Serbian scientists will have opportunities for cooperation, the exchange of knowledge, and the development of skills through access to a wide network of researchers, students, and visitors at EMBL. Moreover, participation in EMBL programs, such as doctoral and postdoctoral training, will enrich the scientific expertise of Serbian researchers, encouraging a culture of innovation and excellence in our scientific community,” said Ivana Vukašinović.

“The main focus of the C4IR Serbia work is to encourage networking and cooperation among scientists and researchers in Serbia. For this purpose, we aim to utilize the collaboration with EMBL, synonymous with good scientific practice, both in the field of legislation and in the field of infrastructure in learning. Additionally, I must mention the BIO4 Campus and the fact that membership in EMBL will enable us to more easily implement the appropriate organizational structure and patterns into the largest scientific infrastructure in our country,” said Jelena Bojović

Throughout the eight-hour program, attendees learned about the numerous benefits of EMBL membership, including education at all levels and scientific services provided to members. A special focus was placed on EMBL’s experiences in technology transfer, explored in a dedicated panel moderated by Dr. Marija Gnjatović, Director of the Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy (INEP). Panelists included Jürgen Bauer, Deputy Executive Director of EMBL-EM; Dr. Lidija Đokić, Head of the TT office at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE); and Smiljana Krivokuća, Director of the BIO4 Campus in Serbia.

The day concluded with a special meet-the-speaker session, providing participants with an opportunity to engage directly with EMBL lecturers about application methods, programs, and services offered by EMBL.