Lecture by Dr. Sc. Tomaž Boh, Director General of the Science Sector, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Republic of Slovenia
The prestigious lecture by Dr. Sc. Tomaž Boh, Director General of the Science Sector, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Republic of Slovenia, was held in the ceremonial hall of the Rectorate of the University of Sarajevo on 23 April 2024. The lecture attracted significant attention from the academic community, researchers, and innovators in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Professor Dr. Mirza Dautbašić, Vice-Rector for Research and Development at the University of Sarajevo, welcomed the attendees and highlighted the importance of Dr. Boh's lecture as an opportunity to gain insights into successful practices in funding science and research, as well as supporting project collaborations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia.
Dr. Sc. Tomaž Boh analyzed the current state of the research and innovation ecosystem in the Republic of Slovenia during his lecture, presenting practical experiences and best practices in science and innovation, as well as their financing.
Dr. Boh began his lecture by expressing his satisfaction with being in Sarajevo and emphasized the long-standing friendly relationships between Slovenian and Bosnian-Herzegovinian researchers. He emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation that has developed over the years, considering it one of the best in the field of science for Slovenia.
The main topic of the lecture was an analysis of the current state of the research and innovation ecosystem in the Republic of Slovenia. Dr. Boh presented a series of reforms implemented over the past five to six years, highlighting a new law that has enabled greater autonomy for research institutions – universities and institutes. This autonomy has allowed institutions to create long-term development strategies aligned with state priorities.
One of the key changes he presented was the introduction of "block funding" for public research institutions, namely stable, purposeful funding for research activities, which enables public institutions to have resources for basic research in a single block, which is a crucial step towards implementing autonomy.
When discussing European cooperation, Dr. Boh emphasized Slovenia's involvement in the European Research Area (ERA) and Horizon Europe program, highlighting the importance of policy in the field of research and innovation.
Financing was also a topic he touched upon, highlighting various sources of funding such as government budget and structural funds.
Most importantly, Dr. Boh emphasized the importance of long-term institutional cooperation and the need for policy support to enable such cooperation.
Dr. Boh's lecture represented an inspiring opportunity for the academic community at the University of Sarajevo to gain insights into successful practices and reforms in science and innovation being implemented in Slovenia, as well as to consider possibilities for further collaboration and development in these vital sectors.
