The "Science in Action" fair was held on Friday, September 19, at the Science and Technology Park in Novi Sad. The event was part of the "Empower Innovation" project, which is led by NALED and supported by Philip Morris International and the BIO4 campus.

Over 20 teams of researchers and startups presented their projects. Participants included the NTP Novi Sad, the Faculty of Technical Sciences, and the BioSense Institute, as well as the Faculty of Agriculture, the Institute for Multidisciplinary Research (IMSI), and FINS – the Scientific Institute of Food Technology.

Jelena Bojović, program director at NALED, explained that through fairs, mentorship, and training, they help researchers develop projects that meet market needs and connect them with companies ready to implement innovations. She added that the project also helps to present domestic scientific achievements to the wider public.

Visitors to the fair saw a wide range of innovations, including: Edible sensors made from food and waste for biomedicine, Smart buoys and AI drones for monitoring the Danube River, Systems for precision fertilization, 3D-printed carriers for fermentation, Biosensors for detecting heavy metals.

One of the highlights was how waste and underutilized resources from aquatic ecosystems can be transformed into valuable assets for a sustainable economy, such as biodegradable packaging materials and bioactive extracts from microalgae.

Prof. Dr. Srđan Kolaković, director of NTP Novi Sad, noted that the fair was an ideal opportunity to show how scientific research in Novi Sad can have a significant impact through its application in the economy. He emphasized that the event provides a platform for implementing innovations and strengthening the local ecosystem, which directly contributes to community development.

Marija Pavlović, a member of the BIO4 team, stated that it is crucial for scientific achievements to gain practical value through collaboration with the business sector. "In this phase of our work, we connect researchers and industry representatives through specific projects so that innovations can be quickly transformed into concrete solutions that improve health, the quality of life, and the economy," she explained.

Prof. Dr. Nataša Jovanović Lješković, dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy in Novi Sad, highlighted the increasing importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in an era of rapid technological change. She stressed that events like this fair help connect people and institutions, fostering an environment that encourages long-term, sustainable cooperation.

Tamara Stanković, Head of Scientific Cooperation for Southeast Europe at PMI, concluded, "I believe our model of collaboration can serve as an example and inspiration for other companies to invest in innovation and support researchers."

To date, the "Empower Innovation" project has organized two science fairs.