The South East International Institute for Sustainable Technologies (SEEIIST) acquired the status of legal entity in August, which means that this regional project now can apply for money at European Commission, opening up possibility for achieving every objective.
As Minister of Science, Ms Sanja Damjanović said, International Institute, headquartered in Geneva, has become an Association according to the Swiss law. Acquiring the status of legal entity means that the project will be entitled to apply for the Horizon 2020 program, intended for the development of European research infrastructures.
The Institute will be built in one the countries of South -East Europe. According to estimates, it will gather around 1.000 regional and international researchers.
Proposal for the initiative for the establishment of the Institute was submitted by the former director general of the European Organization for Nuclear Research, Mr Herwig Schopper. The essence of the Institute is the hadron cancer therapy, the most contemporary method for cancer treatment.
The regional project is now at the very beginning of the so called Studio design phase. Prime Minister, Mr Duško Marković, was one of the six signatories to the Memorandum on cooperation, by means of which the project received the highest political support.
“Thanks to the first financial support of the European Commission, we started the second phase of “Studio design” which entails development of detailed technical specification of the project which is supposed to be more advanced in comparison to other 12 projects of this kind”, said Ms Damjanović.
Minister said that the region was showing great interest in the project.
“This project gives us a unique chance of fighting for the achievement of goal which would be a very important technological step forward for the entire region”, said the Minister.
Our country and the entire region could have so many benefits from research infrastructure.
“We’ve identified several infrastructures in Montenegro that are competitive at regional level and stated that users take great interest in specific equipment that already exist in Montenegro. Introduction of open access to research infrastructure is of paramount importance. Ministry will be working on it”, said Ms Damjanović.
A great number of young people turn to their own business because they are not satisfied with conditions employers provide. According to Ms Damjanović, that’s a good signal for our eco-system.
“We are working on the creation of more favorable legislative conditions for setting up new businesses, such as tax reliefs, clear administrative procedures and better protection of intellectual property. Innovative eco-system requires infrastructure. Scientific and technological park will be a perfect place for those who want to take part in the creation of dynamic high-technology community”, said Ms Damjanović.
Minister of Science knows that it is very important to work in favorable conditions providing improvement of research and researchers.
“For that reason, I can understand why young people look for better opportunities elsewhere. That’s why I have put in great effort in reducing brain drain and increasing circulation of talented people here”, explained Ms Damjanović.
Our country has become part of big international infrastructures and that has great benefit for the whole scientific and research community.
“Our researchers are given the opportunity to reach different data which might be useful for them. They can also apply for the scholarships granted by renowned institutions”, pointed out Ms Damjanović.
