Final Report Summary - VINCENT (Increasing research excellence, industrial utilization and education ... by reinforcing National Centre for knowledge-based materials in Serbia and Montenegro) The aim of VINCENT is to promote the qualitative and quantitative growth of the National Research Centre - Vincent for knowledge-based multifunctional materials and its networking on both the regional and european level. Foundation of Vincent during the year 2004 was supported by the Serbian Ministry for Sciences and Environmental Protection with the 500 000 investment in core facilities. Vincent is aimed as an initial seed for the creation of other similar centres in Serbia and Montenegro (SCG), and for providing support for training and future R & D projects. In this way, Vincent will widen scientific collaboration in materials sciences R & D on the national level and will be in synergy with the regional Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) priorities. World's trend in vigorous development of new multifunctional knowledge-based materials with specific performances, with the special emphasis on nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, has been recognised and embedded in the main projects of fundamental researching, as well as the project VINCENT. The VINCENT project was designed to reinforce the research resources (both human and material) of the centre and to develop research infrastructures of European relevance by fulfilling three main goals: - to complete and upgrade the S&T experimental equipments that are necessary for performing contemporary research in the area of new materials on the same high level as in developed EU Member States; - to improve skills and knowledge of the centre's human resources through strengthening the cooperation and networking with European scientific community by increasing the mobility: hosting the key scientists in the research area from abroad; short stays of the researchers in the Member States for carrying out specific research experiments; organising exchange of research personnel; - to improve the impact on the socio-economic needs in the region by increasing the level of awareness and education of potential users in the field of knowledge based multifunctional materials: target group comprises SMEs and larger industrial companies, as well as universities and other institutes that have application related studies and/or departments. Other important objectives embedded in VINCENT are: - to contribute in prevention of the 'brain drain' phenomenon that is among most priority problems of the local society in the last decade, through the education and training of young specialists; - organising and participating in related activities and events, such as conferences, workshops, seminars, etc.; - organising, strengthening and improving contact among researchers in the field, exchange of the key experts, mobility of the researchers and training, as well as joint preparation of proposals for future European Community R&D development policy activities. The longer term result would be the increase of the production usage of modern hi-tech materials that will strengthen both the compatibility and competitiveness of the local enterprises on the Western Balkan and European industrial market. Related documents Final Report - VINCENT (Increasing research excellence, industrial utilization and education of the public by reinforcing National Centre for knowledge-based materials in Serbia and Montenegro)
