Rector Zaimović and Minister Forto discuss Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership in the GÉANT Association and the establishment of an NREN

University of Sarajevo Rector Prof. Dr. Tarik Zaimović and Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina Edin Forto met today at the University of Sarajevo Rectorate to review progress to date and the next steps in establishing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s National Research and Education Network (NREN BiH) and achieving Bosnia and Herzegovina’s full membership in the GÉANT Association.

Minister Forto confirmed the continued support of the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina for this initiative and for the activities being carried out by the University of Sarajevo, together with other public universities, with the aim of creating a sustainable institutional framework for connecting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s academic and research community with the European research and education infrastructure.

During the meeting, the activities undertaken so far in the process of bringing Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to the GÉANT Association were presented, as well as the next steps aimed at building a functional national research and education network. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of joint action by universities, research institutions, and the relevant institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure the long-term sustainability of this process.

Rector Zaimović emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s inclusion in GÉANT involves much more than network connectivity alone. It means access to advanced European digital infrastructure and services designed for the academic and research community, including digital identity, secure access to digital resources, and cybersecurity. It also creates new opportunities for international cooperation, researcher networking, and participation in joint European research and development initiatives.

Rector Zaimović thanked Minister Forto and the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina for their support to date, emphasizing that establishing a national NREN represents an important step in strengthening the digital capacities of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entire academic and research community and in connecting it more strongly with the European research and education space.

Special attention during the discussion was devoted to institutionalizing the BH GÉANT Forum, an initiative that brings together public universities and is intended to serve as the foundation for joint action in developing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future NREN. It was emphasized that this process should remain open to the participation of universities, research institutions, and other relevant institutions from across Bosnia and Herzegovina, so that the future national network meets the needs of the entire academic and research community.

GÉANT is Europe’s research and education digital infrastructure, connecting national research and education networks (NRENs) across Europe. In addition to high-capacity network connectivity, the GÉANT community develops and provides numerous shared services in areas such as digital identity, access to digital resources, cybersecurity, and other technologies important for modern education and research.

Bosnia and Herzegovina already has significant capacities and years of experience in the fields of academic networking, telecommunications and informatics, and digital service development. The University Tele-Informatics Center of the University of Sarajevo (UTIC), along with the corresponding capacities of other universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, represents an important professional and infrastructural foundation on which the future national research and education network can be built.

The meeting between Rector Zaimović and Minister Forto represents a continuation of coordinated activities aimed at creating the institutional, organizational, and infrastructural prerequisites for establishing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s NREN and for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s full integration into the GÉANT community. The goal of this process is to create a sustainable national infrastructure that will enable universities, research institutions, faculty, researchers, and students in Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate more equally in the European digital space for education, research, and innovation