Imagine a country finally realizing that science and innovation are the keys to saving the planet and its society! That’s exactly what’s happening in Serbia, where the Minister of Environmental Protection, Sara Pavkov, together with the acting director of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr. Nenad Filipović, and the director of the Innovation Fund, Dr. Ivan Rakonjac, presented three new programs to be implemented with state support. The most prominent among them is the Green Program, which has the potential to drive the green transformation of the economy and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals.
This Green Program is not just empty talk – it’s a concrete plan to develop technologies, products, and services that will have commercial application and help Serbia tackle issues like air and soil protection, waste and wastewater management, and biodiversity conservation. Pavkov emphasized that the goal is for innovative solutions to be not only necessary for the green transition but also to deliver applicable and concrete results.
But let’s be real – how many times have we heard similar stories that stayed only on paper? The key here is persistence and uniting the forces of all actors in society. Pavkov is proud that Serbia is committed to fulfilling the goals of the Green Agenda and sustainable development but is also aware that every contribution counts.
At the presentation at the Science and Technology Park in Belgrade, besides the mentioned programs, a support program for projects in artificial intelligence and the Catalytic Program of the Innovation Fund were also introduced. All this points to a clear state strategy to support science and innovation as drivers of development and progress for the whole society.
Will these promises be fulfilled? Will Serbia finally embark on the path of real green innovations, or will it all remain just pretty words? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – if we don’t act now, tomorrow might be too late. So, what do you think about these new green programs? The start of a new era or just another political show? Drop a comment, let the people’s voice be heard!
