Vinča Institute pushes boundaries: From industrial water purification filters to advanced solar panels.
From devices for measuring air quality and clay as a filter for industrial water purification, to sensors for detecting pesticides in food and sulfur neutralizers from industrial smoke, as well as advanced solar panels, antibacterial gels, and high-temperature cookware made of alumina – the first "Science in Action – Innovations that Make a Difference" fair at the Institute of Nuclear Sciences "Vinča" showcased a series of revolutionary projects that offer concrete solutions to global challenges.
The event was organized as part of one of the first "open innovation" projects in Serbia, called PMInnovia.
- This fair demonstrates how science can address global challenges, from environmental protection to improving health and energy efficiency. The projects presented are the result of a multidisciplinary approach and the high competence of our teams, who are setting standards not only in Serbia but also in the international scientific community, said Dr. Slavko Dimović, Director of the Institute of Nuclear Sciences "Vinča."
Professor Dr. Nenad Filipović, Director of the Science Fund, noted that all scientific innovations can be applied in practice and that they have been working on this for many years.
- We have invested around 100 million euros so far through various support programs. Currently, we have two open calls, and we invite all interested scientists with good ideas to apply, Filipović announced.
The PMInnovia project was launched by Philip Morris International (PMI) in collaboration with NALED. The significance of such initiatives was discussed by NALED Program Director Jelena Bojović.
- Approximately one in ten companies in Serbia has some form of collaboration with the scientific community. Larger companies operating in a wider territory, engaged in production, innovation, and digital transformation are more likely to have this type of cooperation. They also have a more positive attitude towards this kind of collaboration, Bojović emphasized.
PMI actively embraces the open innovation concept, which involves collaboration with external partners such as research institutions, startups, and other companies. This approach is crucial for our efforts to encourage innovation and develop new products and technologies that reduce the harm of smoking, said Marko Brunaco, Director of Innovation at Philip Morris International.
- Alongside the transformation of our company, we want to support Serbia's transformation through initiatives like this. We recognize and appreciate Serbia's enormous innovation potential, as well as the invaluable support of the government in fostering cooperation between the scientific community and industry," explained Brunaco.
To remind, PMInnovia is a pilot initiative by Philip Morris International (PMI) implemented by NALED, aimed at promoting the introduction of the open innovation concept in Serbia and supporting scientists and innovators in the development of ideas and research projects that this company, as well as others, can use to improve and innovate their products. Through this initiative, science is provided with new ways of financing research, and scientists are given the opportunity for their innovations to reach users. PMI's vision is for Serbia to become a regional hub and an internationally recognized center for open innovation and collaboration between science and industry.
