Response to the coronavirus pandemic was timely and adequate. Everyone reacted efficiently and in a coordinated manner. Now a great challenge lies ahead – how to overcome the financial crisis – whereas innovations and strengthening of the IT sector play an important role in that process, science minister, Ms Sanja Damjanović, assessed in an interview for Pobeda daily.
In a long run, we have to rely on the Smart Specialization Strategy –a document adopted by the Government of Montenegro last year.
“It is necessary that, with the help of science and innovation, we activate some traditional industries by making high value products, along with ways for placing them on both domestic and foreign markets more efficiently,” Minister Damjanović said.
DIGITALIZATION
When it comes to our response to the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis, which will, according to her, have long-term consequences, it’s proved that there’s a pretty good basis to carry out the digital transformation of the industry, as well as other domains of life, such as education for example.
“Only a small part of businesses, starting from public administration to trade, has been digitalized so far, but it turned out that a number of our busnissmen are flexible and can turn problems into business opportunities. This is how we all must function.”
Some of the innovations presented amid the coronavirus crisis were platforms for learning (LearnAtHome), as well as the communication platform on the epidemic – CoronaInfoCG, new solutions offered through Coronathon.me, YouLearn and Trguj-me – online shopping platform.
DIASPORA
Speaking about the importance of research work, which came into the spotlight particularly during the coronavirus pandemic, as many scientists around the world are now trying to find a coronavirus vaccine, Ms Damjanović said she didn’t believe in the instant change of our habits and models of functioning, referring not only to the Montenegrin society, but the whole world.
Our scientists in diaspora, she added, have become known to the public during the coronavirus crisis, and some of them are epidemiologists, immunologists, molecular biologists.
“I believe some of them will be part of the coronavirus projects that we are going to back,” said the Minister, adding that the Ministry’s science network includes around 300 members from diaspora.
SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE
There’s a great deal of interest for the announced competition of the Ministry of Science referring to scientific research programs, according to Minister Damjanović. Applicants are interested in the general part, but in the area of medicine and social sciences as well – i.e. project that will focus on the coronavirus. For this specific part, a total of €200.000 has been earmarked.
“The general part of the competition has ended and we have 62 projects from various areas of science.”
Now follows the process of the international evaluation, and they expect that some projects will move borders of scientific excellence.
As for the research related to the coronavirus, the Minister said they expected to get projects that would lead to conclusions and recommendations in the area of health, based on the previous experience and clinical practice.
