Four New University of Sarajevo Horizon 2020 Approved Projects Presented
The University of Sarajevo takes the leading position among the BH institutions participating in the H2020 program with a total of 8 projects.
At the University of Sarajevo, on 10 October 2019, four new projects from University of Sarajevo organizational units that have been approved under the European Horizon 2020 European Research and Innovation Program were presented.
Those projects will be implemented with the Rectorate’s support at three University of Sarajevo organizational units: the Faculty of Political Sciences, Faculty of Islamic Sciences and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering:
- Preventing and Addressing Violent Extremism through Community Resilience in the Balkans and MENA (PAVE)
- Contexts of Extremism in MENA and Balkan Societies (CONNEKT)
- RESILIENCE (REligious Studies Infrastructure: tooLs, Experts, conNections and Centers)
- OPENQKD - OPEN EUROPEAN QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION TESTBED [: OPEN:] QKD
The University of Sarajevo will receive € 461,735.00 through those four projects from the world's largest budget for research and innovation and other supporting project activities, and achieve research cooperation with as many as 73 research institutions and large companies from Europe and the world.
Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj emphasizes that in times when spending on science and research is not satisfactory, the efforts of our professors and researchers must be praised publicly and additional impetus given to the BH academic community in its efforts to keep up with colleagues in Europe and the world in research.
“Our efforts are backed up by some budgetary resources by Ministries at all government levels. The Ministry of Civil Affairs annually through grants supports individuals and institutions preparing applications for the H2020 program, and since this year, the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of KS has included this type of support in science allocations, which is certainly worth praising” said Rector Škrijelj. He also stressed that the University of Sarajevo recognizes the importance of participation in research projects, and therefore makes efforts and takes measures to maximize the number of UNSA members in H2020 projects and their applications, and we will persist.
Mr. Suvad Džafić, Assistant Minister for Science and Culture at MCP BiH, pointed out that the result achieved by the University of Sarajevo is also the result of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, the institution responsible for Horizon 2020, its promotion and implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“It is very important that BiH through its institutions, research centers and researchers participate in the Framework Programs, and due to them, we have always been able to join the Framework Programs, despite the great competition at EU level and the lack of funds” said Mr. Jafić.
Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Dženana Husremović emphasized that by signing the grant contract for these projects, the University of Sarajevo will take the leading position among the BiH institutions participating in the H2020 program, with a total of 8 projects.
“The University of Sarajevo has been participating in Framework Programs for Research since Framework Program 5 (FP5), and so far our Faculties and Institutes have participated in a total of 47 projects” said Vice-Rector Husremović.
The projects and their importance for research in Bosnia and Herzegovina were presented by: Prof. Dr. Damir Kapidžić, Faculty of Political Sciences, CONNEKT project manager, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Alibašić, Faculty of Islamic Sciences, RESILIENCE Project Manager, and Doz. Dr. Miralem Mehić, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, OPENQKD project manager.
The projects presentation was also attended by Mr. Ammar Miraščija, Head of the Department of Science at the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and University of Sarajevo Vice-Rectors: Prof. Dr. Aida Hodžić and Prof. Dr. Maida Čohodar Husić.
* Horizon 2020 is the European Union's research and innovation program and is the largest funding system for this purpose in the world. The program offers around € 80 billion in grants to organizations from all sectors (academia, government organizations, industry, medium and small companies, associations, non-governmental organizations) to intensify innovation and research activities close to the market.
