34 minute read
BUSINESS DIALOGUE
Leaders’
MEETING POINT
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TATJANA RACKOV SINADINOVIĆ,
Director, Happy Kids Preschool
Awards Confirm Value Former Hellenic Petroleum Becomes HELLENiQ ENERGY dm Srbija Comes of Age
HELLENiQ ENERGY dm SONJA KAPETANOVIĆ,
Marketing Director, Schlarafia
BOBAN ĐUROVIĆ,
Mayor of Vrnjačka Banja
Quality Is An Issue Of Setting High Standards Monte Carlo In The Heart Of Serbia
DR MILICA ĐURIĆ JOVIČIĆ,
Acting Director of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia
Investing In Science Means Investing In The Future
ANDREA BATTAGLIOLA,
President of the La Linea Verde Group
Always Believe In Your Own Ideas
Awards Confirm Value
Within a framework of daily educational activities that’s shaped by the principles of the Montessori method of education, children at the HAPPY KIDS Preschool are encouraged to perform their tasks as independently as possible. An emphasis is placed on a wide range of activities that impact on the development of intelligence, various abilities and social skills
Here CorD Magazine speaks with Tatjana Rackov Sinadinović about her preschool institution’s unique educational programme that recognises the individual differences, potential, affinities and tendencies of each little one, awards of the Association of Business Women of Serbia, the film success of her daughter, the system of values that she passes on to children, but also the love that’s essential to ensure we have happy kids.
You have just received the Association of Business Women of Serbia’s Flower of Success for A Courageous Lady award in the category of Successful business model. Congratulations on yet another accolade! I’m extremely happy because of the award I received and I thank you sincerely for your congratulations. For me, the Flower of Success for A Courageous Lady award represents a testament to the quality of my work, but is also significant as confirmation of the value of the HAPPY KIDS business system that I’m building. I’m proud of the HAPPY KIDS business model, and this acknowledgement is also important to me as motivation for future business projects and new ideas.
At the time Happy Kids was established, did you have any idea of how many challenges await a woman who opts to venture into the world of entrepreneurship? Is it even more precious to you that you succeeded despite everything and that you are enduring at the top? I entered the world of entrepreneurship determinedly, with positive thoughts and faith that I’m on the right track in business. I didn’t then know how many challenges awaited me, but nor did I fear them, but rather I faced them courageously and solved them wisely. I became more professional, wiser and more determined to succeed in my work with each new challenge. That’s like when you play a computer game. Once you master one level of the game, you need to advance to a higher one. Entrepreneurship is a business game of limitless possibilities that has no end.
Do you believe our businesses are really a reflection of our personalities? Would Happy Kids be what it is if you hadn’t introduced your personal values and standards to the operational system? I don’t hide my satisfaction that HAPPY KIDS is characterised by the same qualities that characterise me. HAPPY KIDS is a strict, well-organised system with clear rules and operating standards. For me, in every aspect of my being, only the best is good enough. And HAPPY KIDS is precisely that – good, excellent, unsurpassed.
It’s dear to me that I’ve had an opportunity in my life to transfer the values in which I believe into a business model that is recognised and highly valued. HAPPY KIDS today operates at eight locations, employs about a hundred people and cares for almost seven hundred children, which is yet more confirmation of the quality and value of this business model.
Did you open a preschool because you wanted to provide your own child with an ideal environment for growth, development, socialisation and individual progress? Is it that personal approach that made the HAPPY KIDS programme special? When my eldest son was ready to start nursery school more than 16 years ago, I was unable to find a nursery that met the needs of my child, but also the requirements of my family, so I decided to open HAPPY KIDS – a modern, innovative and
different preschool institution of the 21st century. HAPPY KIDS is today an institution with online video surveillance available all day long, via which parents can monitor their child’s activities at nursery any time and from anywhere on the planet. This transparent model of cooperating with our children’s parents, but also a plan and programme that recognises the individual needs, potential, affinities and tendencies of each child, render our business model exceptional and different from anything else that exists on the private preschool market.
Your daughter, Nina Sinadinović, is a star of the film Wolf Berries [Vučje bobice], which premiered in October 2022. You must be very proud... She actually developed and nurtured her interest and talent for acting at HAPPY KIDS? The greatest happiness for any parent is the happiness of their own children. A talent lurks in every child, and it is the task of adults to uncover that talent. I am immeasurably satisfied and proud, because the benefits of the operating model of the HAPPY KIDS Preschool are evident in the example of my own child, but also in all the other children going through this educational system. A great film was created, Nina’s talent was discovered and stable foundations for her further maturing were laid. There are many successful older boys and girls among the children who’ve attended HAPPY KIDS.
Does Nina’s success testify to the great importance of the fact that your preschools observe the progress of each child individually and that its verified programme is modified in accordance with both the needs of the children and the wishes of the parents? Thanks to the individual approach and the right values that HAPPY KIDS strives to inculcate in children, our little ones follow the path of their dreams during their further education, growing up and maturing, and develop to become successful, self-confident and happy people. Within a framework of daily educational
Thanks to online video surveillance available all day long, parents can monitor their child’s activities at nursery any time and from anywhere
activities that’s shaped by the principles of the Montessori method of education, we encourage the children to perform their tasks as independently as possible. An emphasis is placed on numerous activities that impact on the development of intelligence, various abilities and social skills. We believe that every child should be adequately motivated to achieve results, regardless of mistakes. Many years working with children has taught us that a child’s success mustn’t go unnoticed. However, what is most important is that every child at HAPPY KIDS grows up with a lot of love and unconditional acceptance.
Happy Kids endeavours to remain in step with the times, and even ahead of them, which is why you are continuously enriching your range of basic and additional services. It isn’t easy to outdo you when it comes to the number of contents and organisation, but also in terms of price and quality? Our primary goal is to ensure the progress of every individual child and the trust of parents. We listen to the needs of our clients, whose demands influence the creation of operating models and the inclusion of new activities. We also monitor children’s cognitive and developmental needs, which change from year to year. Specifically, each new generation of children that joins HAPPY KIDS requires new programmes and working methods. We insist on the high quality of the services that we provide, while their quantity is a result of our professional and dedicated work. HAPPY KIDS is a modern preschool for the 21st century, which nurtures happy children who will one day grow up to be the leaders of this society. Our vision is that the happy children of the present are the successful people of the future, and our mission is to use love, knowledge and commitment to create a better world.
LOCAL NEWS
“Serbia is highly integrated into the European market, but not institutionally in the EU. That is why all our concrete proposals and activities aim to harmonise domestic and EU legislation” ~ MIKE
MICHEL, FIC PRESIDENT AND YETTEL CEO
The most profitable company in Serbia in 2021 is Zijin mining d.o.o. Bor, with a net profit of 34.36 billion dinars, which is almost 13 times higher than last year, the Agency for Business Registers (APR) announced in the report “100 BEST…business companies in 2021”. In second place is MK Group, with net profit amounting to RSD 26.16 billion, which represents an almost tenfold increase at the annual evel. When it comes to losers, the first place belongs to Elektroprivreda Srbije, a public company that is also the largest company in Serbia, and in 2021 it recorded a loss of 10.95 billion dinars. The report points out that Zijin mining d.o.o. Bor has achieved high profitability by performing its primary activity, considering that the company started the production and sale of copper concentrate in 2021 after the activity of field testing, which enabled it to realise business profits that are as much as 37 times higher, reaching 55.07 billion dinars.
U.S. COMPANIES HAVE INVESTED MORE THAN FOUR BILLION DOLLARS IN SERBIA
The joint vision of the economies of Serbia, the U.S. and regional economies is for the Western Balkans to become a region of success, because the entire region has great potential when it comes to knowledge, innovation and creativity, said Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia President Marko Čadež, speaking at the regional conference “Western Balkan Regional Commercial Conference and Business-to-Business Event” held on the premises of the Chamber. “I am sure that, after today’s meeting, we will have new investments and jobs. If we invest in people together, our region will be a place where people don’t leave, but to which they return,” said Čadež. He emphasised that the meeting had brought together more than 160 regional companies and 27 global American companies, such as Amazon Web Services, Oracle, IBM, Cisco, Motorola and others.
SAVA CENTRE TO RE-OPEN IN NOVEMBER 2023
The reconstruction of Belgrade’s iconic Sava Centre is proceeding according to plan and it is scheduled to open exactly one year from now, in November 2023. That’s when the congress area with 40 halls, a shopping area and office space will be opened. “We have to date carried out works on the rehabilitation of the structure of the building, sandblasting, impregnation and rehabilitation of concrete surfaces on the facade, and also launched the installing of facade glass with a high degree of energy efficiency. We have also started work on the Blue Hall, which will be among the most sophisticated segments in the reconstructed Sava Centre,” said Katarina Gajić, director of design and construction at Delta Real Estate.
“It is time to trust each other. I have decided to hand over my mandate as president of the WB6 CIF Board of Directors, as our common regional chamber, to my dear friend Lulzim Rafuna, president of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce” ~ MARKO ČADEŽ, PRESIDENT OF THE
SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
SECOND GENERATION OF STARTECH STARS ANNOUNCED
Nine start-ups from Serbia, nine teams and another 10 small and medium-sized enterprises offered the most innovative ideas in the second annual competition of the StarTech programme and deservedly won a grant of one million dollars. In competition among 197 submitted projects, many interesting ideas stood out, among others for the development of self-sustaining ecological houses, anti-caries gel, fire extinguishing gel, a basket that returns balls after a shot, a smart toothbrush for dogs and a smart house for pets, building blocks, a house with almost zero consumption of thermal energy, breeding bees in your own home or smart bins for disposing of packaging. The cheques were presented to them at a formal ceremony by Minister of Information and Telecommunications Mihailo Jovanović, Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Jelena Begović, Director of Corporate Affairs of Phillip Morris for Southeast Europe Ivan Miletić and NALED Executive Director Violeta Jovanović.
At a ceremony in Marsh Open Space, the “Campaigns with a Purpose” 2022 were announced. “Campaigns with a Purpose” recognise, honour and encourage socially responsible communication aimed at the well-being of children and individuals. The winners are: 1. “SUPERHERO” campaign of the MASTERCARD company for Nurdor, created by agency McCann Belgrade; 2. The campaign “SAVE FOOD, SAVE HUMANITY”, created by agency NEW
MOMENT NEW IDEAS COMPANY for the COALITION FOR CHARITY led by the ANA AND VLADE DIVAC FOUNDATION; 3. “PROGRAMERS FOR CITIZENS” campaign of VEGA IT company.
1ST REGIONAL FIRESTARTER CONFERENCE HELD
The first FIRESTARTER regional conference was held in Belgrade with the topics of Customer Experience (CX) and Employee Experience (EX), where world-renowned experts and representatives of companies from the country and the region participated during the two days of the programme, sharing their experiential advice and examples of best practice with attendees. The dynamic two-day programme was devoted to the user experience on the first day, and to the employee experience on the second, thus covering two separate, yet closely related topics. Without a positive experience for employees in a company, their satisfaction will be absent, and when there are no satisfied employees, there is no customer satisfaction either.
Former Hellenic Petroleum Becomes HELLENiQ ENERGY
The parent company of EKO Serbia has rebranded and committed itself to a sustainable future
HELLENIC PETROLEUM, one of the largest energy companies in Southeast Europe, has proudly presented its new name, HELLENiQ ENERGY, as part of the company’s, sustainability-focused business strategy. The same evening saw its subsidiary in our country, EKO Serbia, celebrate 20 years of successful operations in the country.
The outstanding rebranding event was presented to numerous representatives of the diplomatic corps, business partners, media representatives and employees of EKO Serbia on 16th November. The event also included the presenting of strategic changes that are aligned with the visual identity and the new company name. HELLENiQ ENERGY’s corporate rebranding marks the completion of a comprehensive business transformation process that marks the first stage in the group’s ambitious ‘Vision 2025’ strategic plan. The company will focus on sustainable development, while investing significant resources in the use of renewable energy and refinery digitisation and modernisation. HELLENiQ ENERGY aims to reduce its environmental footprint in a bid to tackle the challenges of climate change.
The new logo has carefully designed aspects representing parts of HELLENiQ ENERGY’s identity and illustrating the company’s main values: energy transition and progress. Retaining a strong connection to the company’s history, the recognisable stripes have been set in motion and evolved to form an energy wave, while the guiding star represents a spark of intelligence and guiding element. The new brand appearance of HELLENiQ ENERGY is also characterised by a bright and strong colour code that pays tribute to the Group’s deep roots in Greece, with ocean blue as the main brand colour.
Addressing the public on this occasion HELLENiQ ENERGY CEO Andreas Shiamishis said: “Our company has always been striving for a growth-driven innovative spirit that leads to global success. I had the privilege this evening of presenting this milestone moment for Hellenic Petroleum - unveiling our new corporate identity and proudly presenting the business vision and corporate strategy that will create crucial business changes at the global and regional level. That’s why we are changing the basis of our Vision 2025. We will utilise all our resources with the vision of creating improved environmental and social landscapes. HELLENiQ ENERGY will reduce its environmental footprint, while addressing climate challenges. We are reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. We are incorporating innovation, leverage on new technologies and advanced knowhow into this essential energy transition. And we’ve only just started.”
In his welcome address to guests, EKO Serbia CEO Aris Karousos noted: “This is new era for HELLENiQ ENERGY, for our country, with green initiatives, modern energy solutions and reducing the environmental footprint. Our company’s new business visions, in cooperation with local institutions, will be synonymous with renewable energy sources and environmental protection in Serbia and the region. Tonight, we are also celebrating the 20-year anniversary of EKO Serbia. We are proud of the long journey that helped us build bonds of trust with consumers and customers, investing more than 100 million euros in the country. With more than 700 employees engaged with the company, as well as a network of 56 petrol stations offering great quality products and services, EKO Serbia will continue this journey by placing our consumers, the society and the environment at the core of our operations for the next 20 years.”
dm Srbija Comes of Age
Pioneering endeavours, successful results, record-breaking donations and recordhigh wage increases, new social responsibility campaigns and launching the online store have all marked the 18th year of the Serbian operations of dm drogerie markt
The value principle “Man at the centre of operations”, which has been applied consistently throughout the entire group since its foundation, remains dm’s main guiding principle. Whether it refers to employees, customers or partners, dm is always led by the notion that the economy is in the service of people, and not the other way around.
As a company, dm drogerie markt in Serbia achieved a turnover of 22.5 billion dinars in the 2021/22 business year, representing growth of 18.67%, thus successfully completing its 18th year of doing business in the country. The company’s coming of age was accompanied by the introduction of the concept of persistently favourable prices, which changes the way shopping is done on the local market, as well as record-breaking salary increases of up on three occasions during the year. As one of the retail sector’s biggest players, dm began the new business year by launching its online shop, thus bringing its services and products closer to customers all over Serbia.
Over the course of the previous business year, dm Srbija expanded its retail network with the opening of seven new drogerie. It thus now has 119 shops in 31 towns and cities in the country. The company has invested more than 1.06 billion dinars in the opening of new retails outlets and the renovating of existing ones, expanding the distribution centre and opening a new central headquarters for dm, while the number of employees has reached almost 1,600. The company introduced its “always affordable” concept at the beginning of 2022, thereby replacing occasional discounts with consistently favourable prices that reflect stability during the ever-present rise in market prices.
At the level of the group as a whole, which encompasses operations in 14 countries, dm achieved a total turnover of 13,581 billion eucompleted with the now traditional “dm Women’s Race”, under the organisation of the Belgrade Marathon, with which this drugstore chain once again provided support to women, while the number of participants was in excess of 1,600.
September 2022 marked the start of the fourth cycle of the traditional “Plant a tree” project, which represents the largest afforestation campaign in Serbia and was launched by dm Srbija in partnership with media company Adria Media Group and institutional partners. As a result of this project’s engagements to date, the previous three iterations of the campaign resulted in the planting of a total of 350,000 trees, while 250,000 new seedlings are planned to be planted during the upcoming cycle.
Managing Board of dm drogerie markt Serbia and North Macedonia: Branko Basar, Alexandra Olivera Korichi, Vesna Stojanović
ros and expanded its sales network to 3,945 drugstores, while the number of employees across the group exceeded 71,600.
LEADERS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
During the 2021/22 business year, dm Srbija donated as much as 34.74 million dinars to local communities, including 28 million donated in the form of financial assistance and used to procure essential equipment, while 6.74 million was given in the form of donations of goods from the company’s range. The company’s social engagement over the preceding business year was
SERIES OF ACCOLADES AS MOST DESIRABLE EMPLOYER CONTINUE
dm Srbija ranked among the “20 most desirable TOP employers in Serbia” according to the largest domestic survey on the perception of employer branding in Serbia, conducted by labour market solutions portal Poslovi infostud. This acknowledgement further fortifies the dm chain’s position as one of the most sought-after companies for employment, professional advancement and expert training. Competitive salaries, with two additional salary instalments during the year, the “smart working” work from home concept, various courses, training sessions and seminars, but also free general health check-ups – represent just a few of the numerous benefits that this chain provides for its employees.
REGIONAL NEWS
“The money intended for the Western Balkans through the European Economic and Investment Plan will have to be justified through projects, and spending would be strictly controlled” ~
ŽELJANA ZOVKO, CHIEF NEGOTIATOR OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FOR IPA FUNDS
EU ANNOUNCES BILLION-EURO ENERGY SUPPORT PACKAGE FOR THE WESTERN BALKANS
The European Union is preparing an energy support package of one billion euros in grants to help the Western Balkans face the immediate consequences of the energy crisis and build resilience in the short and medium term, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at the Western Balkans Summit held within the framework of the Berlin Process. The commission is ready to provide budget support of 500 million euros, which will be adopted in December and available in January. The financial support is intended to support households and small and medium-sized enterprises to mitigate the effects of rising energy prices and their impact.
BURGER KING COMING TO MONTENEGRO
The world-famous Burger King brand, which includes 19,200 restaurants worldwide, will soon arrive in Montenegro. As reported by portal CDM, the country’s first restaurant will be opened in Podgorica at the end of this year or during next year. Burger King, which is based in Miami. Florida, and was founded in 1954, is the world’s second-largest hamburger fast-food chain.
TURKISH YILDIRIM TO BECOME MAJORITY OWNER OF PETROKEMIJA FROM CROATIA
Croatian oil and gas company INA has announced that it has signed an agreement with gas company Prvo Plinarsko Drustvo (PPD) to sell Terra Mineralna Gnojiva, which owns a majority stake in mineral fertiliser producer Petrokemija, to Turkish holding company Yildirim. The change of ownership and the completion of this process will occur after the conditions from the sales contract are met, it added without elaborating. Terra Mineralna Gnojiva acquired a 54.52% stake in Petrokemija in 2018 through a capital increase of 300 million kuna (€40 million), it was reported earlier. The shareholders of Petrokemija decided to delist the company’s shares from the Zagreb stock exchange in February. INA’s shares ended flat, at 3,460 kuna, when they were last traded.
Quality Is An Issue Of Setting High Standards
Schlarafia is the region’s leading brand for premium sleeping equipment and is unique thanks to its specific fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern technologies, the result of which is pioneering innovative solutions and partnerships with eminent innovators from the EU and the U.S.
Although we are satisfied with our stable annual growth of around 15%, expanding beyond the confines of the region is a logical continuation of the story that started in a backyard in Čubura way back in 1934 ~ announces a proud Sonja Kapetanović.
Given that the average person spends a third of their life sleeping, or approximately 25 years, the importance of a good mattress is clear. What represents a good mattress? It would seem that you, at Schlarafia, discovered that formula almost 90 years ago... We have spent almost a century dealing with the making and improving of our mattresses. We have spent the past decade dedicated to innovation and acquiring knowledge from a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines that encompass relevant evidence from the fields of medicine, neuroscience, immunology and biochemistry, hygienic sustainability, the technology of materials and their sleep applications – which represent a phenomenon that’s still intriguing. Given all the known aspects of a high-quality bed, the recipe to make a good mattress seems simple: it is a combination of selected, highquality materials produced with special craftsmanship according to a recipe based on knowledge
acquired over decades. It should be noted that quality is an issue of setting high standards, but comfort is an individual element, which is why our offer is personalised to cater to the needs of each customer.
Your customers were initially mostly professional upholsterers and furniture manufacturers, while today your network of retail outlets covers all major cities in Serbia, while you also furnish high-class hotels... Who actually buys Schlarafia mattresses? It was a long time ago that we positioned ourselves among our clients and took over a narrow and very specific segment. Our users have two striking characteristics: a pronounced appreciation for the culture of living and a high level of awareness that ensures they’re informed. There is practically no difference between the profiles of our B2B and B2C customers: those who demand high standards in their personal bedding transfer this to their tourist facilities.
Your growth is stable, and even large for our conditions, totalling around 15% annually, while you are planning to increase that percentage by 2025. Are you count on conquering additional foreign markets? Although we are satisfied with our growth to date, we consider that there are many factors that could further catalyse it, and many of those are a result of our many decades of work and our consistency in not compromising on the quality of not only our products, but also our services. Schlarafia is the region’s leading premium segment sleeping equipment brand, which is unique due to its specific fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern technologies, which has resulted not only in a patent issued by the Intellectual Property Office, but also in pioneering innovative solutions and partnerships with eminent innovators from the EU and the U.S. Taking into consideration the trends of consumer habits on the domestic market and the insufficient offer of creative solutions on the markets of surrounding countries, expanding beyond the confines of the region is a logical continuation of the story that began in a backyard in Belgrade’s Čubura neighbourhood way back in 1934.
Monte Carlo In The Heart Of Serbia
Today, Vrnjačka Banja can boast a large number of high-class hotels that, with their rich content and top-quality service in line with European tourist destinations, allow guests to find luxury, comfort and maximum enjoyment
The construction of the Moravian Corridor and the activation of the airport in Lađevci open up the possibility of improving tourism and increasing the number of foreign guests. We will be ready to welcome them because we have a lot to offer them - announces mayor Boban Đurović.
Is Vrnjačka Banja the Monte Carlo of the Western Balkans? Like Monte Carlo, our Spa started its new chapter from the brink of bankruptcy. In 2012, with a clear vision and great ambition, and above all with courage and persistence, with the immeasurable help of the state and from businessmen, we began to fix our infrastructure and solve long-standing problems that had hindered development. Thanks to some large projects and ideas, the Spa became interesting to the media and large companies who saw an interest in investing in a place where progress has become more and more visible, and the number of guests is increasing year by year. Many of them do business and have their own properties in Monte Carlo, and now also in Vrnjačka Banja. Year after year, new investment is made, new luxury hotels are built with a large number of additional innovative contents that are difficult to find even in many leading European tourist centres.
You have preserved health tourism as the backbone of development, but this Spa
is no longer just a place where elderly people are treated, right? Some guests come here looking for a cure, but there are also those who want rest, fun, relaxation, education. In recent years, Vrnjačka Banja attracts more and more young people due to the variety of attractions and entertainment, festivals, concerts, theater performances, cultural and sports events. There is also the mountain Goč, which offers an opportunity for an active vacation, but we also have the largest aqua park and ferris wheel in the Balkans.
The Spa is increasingly the choice of young family people because of the many facilities for children. A large landscaped park area without traffic, a 3.5 hectare zoo that is home to over 120 species of animals from almost all parts of the world, carefully designed indoor and outdoor playgrounds and amusement parks.
We often host top athletes and sports teams from Serbia and abroad. After fitting the Kocka stadium for small sports, building four sports halls and opening a football field according to FIFA standards, we are planning investment in three more football fields, the construction of another sports hall has started...
Can you tell us at least part of the strategy for the coming years? We are soon expecting to complete the Lerov tunnel, the ferris wheel, but also the most glamorous Zepterma facility with a helipad that introduces new facilities to Vrnjačka Banja and luxury that can only be found at the most exclusive tourist destinations. An additional impetus will be given to the development of Goč by our best tennis player, Novak Đoković, who is to build a luxury hotel complex and a gondola, on the principle of publicprivate partnership. New tourist attractions will be built on Goč: an adrenaline park, zip line, adventure park, new ski trails, fitness trails. The plan is also to build a mini zoo, and typical mountain tourist resorts with restaurants and wellness centres.
The construction of the Moravian Corridor will give a great impetus to the further development of the entire region. This makes Vrnjačka Banja more accessible and closer to tens of millions of people traveling from Europe to Turkey, Greece, Macedonia...
Investing In Science Means Investing In The Future
The Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia was established by the Government of Serbia in 2019, with an important mission: to support scientific excellence and secure the required conditions for the continuous development of science in Serbia. The Fund developed quickly and today has eight different programmes supporting projects in all fields of science
We will launch a new call for young researchers in 2023, and will very attentively wait to see what their future contributions to science will be like, as we know that, by investing in science, we support the social, technological, cultural and economic development of Serbia ~ Dr Milica Đurić Jovičić.
In just the three years that it has existed, the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia has really achieved a lot.
Our team comprises only 40 people, but they are smart, hardworking and dedicated. They today provide support and management by monitoring the implementation of 282 projects and coordinating the evaluations of 800 projects together with 1,300 international experts from more than 60 countries. The entire system is constructed on the good practice of successful science foundations from the EU. Although the Science Fund is a young institution, we’ve earned respect and a good reputation with our hard work and high standards, but also with our openness to learning, listening and improving further.
Through our eight programmes, 74.5 million euros is being invested in the development of science. This includes investments in scientific research work, equipment and consumable supplies, international cooperation, publications and scientific research organisations in the Republic of Serbia.
Are there enough projects, innovative ideas and potential among young researchers?
Our scientists’ research projects are based on brilliant ideas and scientific innovations. Our calls attract outstanding interest, while we ultimately support around 10-15% of the highest ranking projects. Project quality is evaluated by international reviewers from more than 60 countries.
Our programmes are devised carefully in order to support and empower researchers and areas of research with the greatest potential and impact. We invest in all areas of research, but we similarly conceive special programmes that are aligned with identified national priorities, such as the development of artificial intelligence, research on COVID-19, cooperation with the scientific diaspora around the world. We launched a special thematic programme during 2022 for cooperation between science and industry, which targets the development of new solutions to reduce air, water and soil pollution.
The success of our programmes is already evident through the PROMIS programme for young researchers. We trained and enabled a new generation of project leaders and managers. They formed their own teams, worked on ideas and problems that motivate them, acquired new skills and achieved important scientific results. PROMIS has supported 59 projects that have already resulted in the publishing of 416 international scientific publications, including 115 in top international journals. Moreover, several research teams have already received additional funding and prestigious international grants from the EU.
How important to our scientists is the Science Fund’s membership in the association Science Europe? Science Europe is an association that enables connection with the most important institutions financing research in the EU. We exchange knowledge and experience through this organisation, and it opens Serbia up to the European research community even more. As we are the youngest institution, and one of the newest members, we have received huge support from our colleagues in the EU. During November 2022’s annual General Assembly of Science Europe, Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia was also commended by the Swiss National Science Foundation, which hosted the event.
WORLD NEWS
“Willingness to learn as you go, making lots of mistakes, and always keeping your “why” at the centre is the key to success” ~
SARA BLAKELY, FOUNDER OF SPANX
EU TO LAUNCH SATELLITE INTERNET SYSTEM BY 2028
The European Union has agreed to establish its own satellite internet system worth six billion euros. This comes as a result of the EU’s determination to improve its own space and communications sector and ensure security by reducing reliance on foreign sources. In February 2022, the European Commission announced an initiative to build and operate a satellite Internet system. The need for it comes amid growing concerns about Russian and Chinese military advances in space and the rise in their satellite launches. Having its own satellite internet system could help the EU bloc speed up the rollout of broadband in Europe, which would also cover Africa, allowing the Union to offer an alternative to Chinese competitors.
CANADA INCREASING NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS TO COMPENSATE FOR SHORTAGE OF DOMESTIC LABOUR
Canada has increased the number of immigrants it intends to receive by 2025, amounting to about half a million per year. The government decided on the move to compensate for the significant shortage of domestic labour.”Canada needs more people,” Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said at a news conference. More than 900,000 jobs are vacant in many sectors, and unemployment has fallen to an all-time low in recent months, reaching 5.2 per cent in September. For this reason, the government intends to grant permanent residence to 465,000 people in 2023, 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.
APPLE AND TWITTER ON A COLLISION COURSE
Musk wants to vastly increase the revenue the company makes through subscriptions, while opening up the site to more “free speech,” which in some cases seems to mean restoring previously banned accounts like the one owned by former president Donald Trump. But Musk’s plans for Twitter could bring it into conflict with two of the biggest tech companies: Apple and Google. One of the biggest risks to Musk’s vision for “Twitter 2.0” is the possibility that his changes violate Apple or Google’s app rules in a way that slows down the company or even gets its software booted from app stores. Tensions are already mounting. Musk complained in a Tweet about app store fees that Google and Apple charge companies like Twitter.
Always Believe In Your Own Ideas
The origins of the La Linea Verde Group can be traced back to a family farm, where many years of effort, original ideas, hard work, innovation and investment in people and the land have brought almost two million consumers in many countries. The Group arrived on the Serbian market in 2015
Cooperation with Serbian farmers indicates that we have a good team and that there is unity on agricultural land. For next year, we plan to spice up the Serbian market with the flavours of the Greek air and the tastes of the sea - announces La Linea Verde Group President Andrea Battagliola, speaking in this CorD Magazine interview.
Apart from bringing capital, knowhow, experience, machinery and certificates, you also brought good agricultural practises to Dobrinci. Has your company’s 12-million-euro investment turned out to be a good business venture?
When we came to the Serbian market in 2015, we saw the potential. And with that potential, we had the desire to invest our experience in a range of salad salads. Every beginning can be thorny, but as we believed would be the case, we are satisfied with the results. We believe that, with our ideas, we can always bring something new to the market.
Despite the pandemic, which actually had a positive impact on your business, thanks to people starting to take more care of their health, the war in Ukraine and subsequent energy crisis have created many difficulties. How do you deal with this? The situation with COVID raised consumers’ awareness of the need to pay more attention to their health. Due to the fact that our products are tasty, fresh, practical and genuine, we have seen an increase in sales of our assortment of washed salads. The situation in Ukraine has had a negative impact on the costs of completing our products.
We are seeing year-on-year growth in the demand for ready to use products – and not in terms of fast food, but rather healthy food alternatives. Do you think this trend will continue and allow you to become leaders in the world of gastronomy?
We absolutely always believe in our potential. By presenting our range of salads on our La Linea Verde Serbia market, we conquered the entire Serbian market with our joint efforts, experience, and the support of the Group. With the same energy, we believe that all gastronomy will recognise our qualities.
Next year will see you commemorate your anniversary of five years of doing business in Serbia. Do you see room for the expansion of your production capacities, but also the network of traders with whom you cooperate?
We believe that cooperation with Serbian farmers indicates a good team and unity on agricultural land. For next year, we plan to spice up the Serbian market, but we will certainly share information about these new products on our website.
What are your predictions for 2023; where do you see the emphasis in the world of gastronomy?
In addition to our range of soups, our salads have also performed very well on the market. Next year, we would like to bring the flavours of the Greek air and the tastes of the sea closer to our consumers.
What gives you the greatest sense of pride in your work?
We are most proud of the fact that our entire group originates from one family farm, where years of effort, ideas, work and innovation, as well as investments in people and land, have brought sales of our products to a large number of countries and almost two million people who consume our products every day.
