The second scientific forum with Serbia took place in Trieste, Italy on 28 November 2024, coordinated by the Italian Ministry of University and Research and the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of Serbia.
The Italian Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, and the Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of Serbia, Jelena Begović, signed a joint declaration of cooperation in the fields of research and innovation.
Min. Begović who is also President of the ICGEB Board of Governors met with Lawrence Banks, ICGEB Director-General, and Natasa Skoko, Head of the Biotechnology Development Unit and fellow Serbian scientist, at the ICGEB laboratories the previous day.
The first Italy-Serbia Forum was held in Belgrade in 2023, with this second edition taking place at the Area Science Park, offering a further opportunity for discussion amongst over 100 experts and policy makers from the scientific sector of the two countries, from scientific and technological fields, including biomedicine.
ICGEB was highlighted as an example of a fruitful and consolidated collaboration with Serbia, a historic member country that contributed to the establishment of the ICGEB in its current headquarters in Trieste.
“Our future is being shaped through science and innovation. The technological breakthroughs made in Italy and Serbia build bridges between our countries and towards the future”, stated Min. Begović.
Lawrence Banks added: “Serbia was instrumental in establishing ICGEB in Trieste, and is one of our strongest partners to date. The cornerstone of sustainability is empowering countries to develop local production capabilities – this is where ICGEB focuses much of its efforts”.
Close to 60 fellowships have brought Serbian scientists into ICGEB labs – the majority of whom returned to Serbia to pursue their careers. The MabTHER project, a recent technology transfer programme funded by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, enabled Serbia to produce a monoclonal antibody for the treatment of breast cancer. The ICGEB Biotechnology Development Unit transferred the technology to the Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy (INEP) in Serbia for the manufacturing of the biosimilar Mab Trastuzumab (a monoclonal antibody used to treat breast and stomach cancer).
The forum was attended by numerous ICGEB Alumni and collaborators, as well as Serbian researchers working in Trieste who had the opportunity to meet with Min. Begović.
