Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation, Jelena Begović, visited the Institute of Social Sciences and discussed with researchers the possibilities of strengthening the institute’s societal impact and enhancing its work and research.
Minister Begović, along with her associates, held discussions with the director of the Institute, Goran Bašić, members of the Institute’s Managing Board, members of the Scientific Council, as well as with all researchers.
During the visit, there were discussions on ways to enhance the competitiveness of the Institute and its projects, methods to improve the visibility of the Institute, its work, and potential, as well as avenues to improve success in competitions at the European level.
The director and the Scientific Council briefed the minister on the results achieved in the process of transformation of the Institute and the benefits already brought about by that process.
Additionally, scientific achievements in the previous period, institute projects, and the involvement of its researchers in shaping public policies were presented.
Minister Begović emphasized that the Ministry is ready to continue investing in the development of social sciences, recognizing their role as crucial for societal development and adaptation to new trends and technologies. She particularly highlighted the challenge posed to sciences, both social and natural, by the increasingly widespread use of artificial intelligence, indicating that the Institute of Social Sciences can significantly contribute in this area.
Begović emphasized that the topics addressed by the Institute are of great importance to every country and society. In a statement to Tanjug, she underscored the significance of public opinion research: “It deals with the influences on public policies, demographic analyses, which represent a major challenge in Europe, and such research can indeed contribute to the creation of long-term interventions and policies. We talked about how science is there, tools exist, and how we can enhance that social impact by including technological transfer,” she said.
