Serbia excels in engineering
With Serbia inching towards membership in the EU, the European Commission is encouraging the country's research potential in different ways. The EU-funded project RRCSD INNCODE strengthened research at the Faculty of Engineering (MFK), University of Kragujevac, Serbia. It helped establish a competitive research infrastructure to support the region's integration into the European Research Area (ERA). The project helped the institution to procure new science and technology (S&T) equipment and reinforced networking with other EU and regional partners. It also supported dissemination of the institution's research results and encouraged exploitation on a regional and pan-European level through several workshops, conferences and e-courses. On another level, RRCSD INNCODE countered the brain drain phenomenon through training, job opportunities and networking with mobility centres, thus rendering the research field more attractive for young researchers. The new state-of-the-art equipment related to virtual reality, virtual manufacturing, reverse engineering, rapid prototyping and water quality monitoring should position the MFK as a leader in the field. In other words, RRCSD INNCODE has enabled the MFK to become a top research centre for excellence in its domain, bringing it closer to industry, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other stakeholders. Increased partnerships with other European centres, participation in more EU projects, increased job opportunities and a healthier economic environment should ensue.