BIO4 Campus Vision Shared with Columbia University: Strengthening Serbia’s Global Research Ties
08/02/2024
Photo: Zoran Petrović / NITRA
The Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Jelena Begović, along with the Serbian delegation on an official visit to the United States, met with representatives of Columbia University in New York City to present the BIO4 Campus project.
During the visit, Begović also learned about the work of Columbia University, one of the most prestigious universities in the United States and among the best globally.
The Minister noted that the university comprises four campuses and several hundred research centers and institutes, with their medical and biomedical center standing out.
"The fact that they have an annual research budget exceeding one billion dollars speaks volumes about the caliber of this scientific system. This university offers the best education in the world while also being an exceptionally strong research hub," she stated.
In her view, connecting with such an educational and research center would open opportunities for scientific collaboration and technology transfer.
"This campus has, in recent years, worked intensively to ensure that society directly benefits not only from education but also from technology transfer and innovation development. More than 400 inventions annually and dozens of startups are founded within such an ecosystem," Begović explained.
The Minister emphasized that the delegation’s visit to the United States aims to promote Serbia, showcasing its potential and offerings to the world, as well as exploring potential avenues for collaboration. She added that the delegation had very productive discussions and presented the vision of the BIO4 Campus.
"We also learned about Columbia University's experiences, particularly as they develop one campus at a time, each worth several billion dollars," said Begović.
She added that another goal of the visit is to refine the BIO4 Campus concept in terms of technology transfer and collaboration between academia and industry.
"Columbia University excels in turning strong scientific research into tangible products and services. We agreed on the need to establish closer ties between our universities and their startups, which may find opportunities for further development in Serbia," Begović concluded.
