Networking of Agricultural Faculties and Market-Oriented Research can Increase Impact in Society

Agricultural faculties of the region can improve their importance and influence in society through regional networking and market-oriented research. This was concluded at the forum organized by the University of Montenegro and the Faculty of Biotechnology, on the topic "Education, innovation and knowledge transfer in agriculture - challenges and perspectives". The forum is also part of the program marking the 85th anniversary of the Biotechnical Faculty of UMNE, as the oldest scientific research unit of UMNE, whose agenda is available in the attachment to the announcement. 

Moderator of the round table Sanja Radonjić, PhD, who is the vice-dean for science and international cooperation of the Biotechnical Faculty of UMNE, said that this is one of a series of forums on current topics of importance for the University and the society in which it operates. 

"The state should recognize the importance of agricultural faculties and the expertise they can provide," Branko Ćupina, PhD, said, from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, first stand speaker. 

"Agricultural production must take into account the preservation of the environment, social acceptability and economic profitability," Ćupina said.

He added that the connection with the business sector is important for agricultural faculties, for three key reasons: student practice, employment and promotion of the faculty. At the same time, he believes, it is important to have market-oriented research. Also, he added, young people should be given the opportunity to specialize through mobility and stay at prestigious institutions. "An important item is the connection with alumni, former students of agricultural faculties who can provide support to new generations," Ćupina said.

Cosmin Salasan, PhD, from the King Mihilo I University of Natural Sciences (Timisoara) pointed out that today universities have technology transfer centers of knowledge, but instead of the end product, in all institutions human potential is important, i.e. a person with an idea who should be given importance.

The problem that is present regionally is the decline in the number of students and interest in this field, and as it was said at the forum, they resorted to changing the name of the faculty in order to increase their attractiveness. This was also the case of the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, as pointed out by Krunoslav Zmaić, PhD.

He pointed out that there is a wrong perception of agricultural faculties among young people, and that they should be introduced to new scientific and technological achievements that are important for food production. He cited positive examples of cooperation with the business sector that invested in bold research projects of the faculty in which students are also involved.

Snježana Hrnčić, PhD, from the Biotechnical Faculty of UMNE, presented higher education in the field of agriculture and the experience of the Biotechnical Faculty, and pointed out the challenges that the faculty faces, when it comes to the structure of students, attracting the best high school students and the perspective of graduates.

Representative of the Innovation Fund, Dr. Bojana Femić Radosavović, said that the Fund launched two support programs, which encourage cooperation between science and business in order to create sustainable innovations.

One of the programs is the program of innovation vouchers and collaborative innovation grants, in order for companies to improve the innovation of their offer, products, services and processes and thus improve their competitive position on the market. The total budget of that program is 100.000 Euros, and so far not even half of this budget has been used. The program is open until funds are used up, and she invited representatives of the scientific community to offer their research and expertise to companies through this program.

The introductory presentations were followed by a discussion in which, among other things, it was pointed out that the faculties of agriculture should bring the activities and research they are engaged in closer to the public.