As part of the Serbia Accelerating Innovation and Growth Entrepreneurship (SAIGE) project, a study visit to the United Kingdom was organized from February 2 to 7, 2025, for institutes in the fields of social sciences and humanities. Dr. Jovana Zafirović, a researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences and a member of the Transformation Team, participated in this visit.
During the visit, meetings were held with representatives of leading research institutions, including the University of Essex, City University of London, University College London, Institute for Government, and UK Research and Innovation. The goal of the visit was to gain insight into modern research infrastructures, best practices in data collection and utilization, as well as mechanisms for enhancing the impact of research findings on the economy and society.
A key part of the program was the panel discussion Social, Economic and Political Transformation of Serbia in the International Context, held at University College London within the South East Europe Research Unit. On this occasion, Dr. Jovana Zafirović presented a talk titled Serbia’s Identity Crisis: European Aspirations and Political Involvement.
This study visit represents a significant step in strengthening the capacities of institutes in the fields of social sciences and humanities and their integration into international research networks, contributing to the development of evidence-based policies and the application of research findings in practice.
