During August 2026, in the scope of BRITE-EU project, University of Novi Sad conducted several interviews with different stakeholders on the current state of affairs in Serbia concerning digital health.
These categories included researchers, research and innovation (R&I) managers, healthcare and public health institutions, and industry representatives who highlighted key opportunities for strengthening Serbia’s R&I ecosystem.
While stakeholders recognised that important research-support structures, international partnerships, mobility programmes, and cooperation mechanisms already exist, they pointed to persistent challenges in their coordination and effectiveness. Common concerns include limited human resources, insufficient specialised expertise, administrative burdens, unequal access to international opportunities, and the need for stronger links between research and industry.
Researchers emphasised the importance of practical support, protected research time, professional development, mentoring, and fair access to projects and mobility opportunities. R&I managers highlighted the need for stronger institutional strategies, better coordination, additional staff, and specialised expertise in areas such as project management, intellectual property, and knowledge transfer. Industry and healthcare stakeholders stressed the importance of improving data access and management, strengthening university–industry cooperation, supporting the commercialisation of research, and ensuring that R&I priorities respond to real health and societal needs.
The interviews also identified examples of good practice, including established research-management offices, international collaborations, long-term public health programmes, and successful cooperation between academia and industry.
Overall, Serbia has many of the foundations needed for a stronger R&I system. The priority is to connect and strengthen existing capacities, improve coordination and professional support, and create clearer pathways for turning research and innovation into practical benefits for healthcare, industry, and society.
