On May 23, 2023, CENER 21, in collaboration with the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized a round table discussion on “Enhancing Green Business and Innovation through collaboration between Industry and Research Institutions in BiH”. The primary objective of this event was to foster and improve collaboration between scientific research institutions and the industrial sector in BiH. The focus was on overcoming obstacles and finding ways to enhance cooperation, with a particular emphasis on promoting green business practices and developing innovative solutions. The Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH was recognized as an outstanding partner and a catalyst for advancing such collaboration.
During the round table, a cooperation agreement was promoted and signed between the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH and five higher education institutions:
- Faculty of Technology, University of Banja Luka
- Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo
- Faculty of Technology, University of Tuzla
- Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology, University of Zenica
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zenica
This valuable initiative was organized as part of the project component “Implementation of Green Chemistry Principles in the Industrial Sector”, which is a part of the broader project called “Environmentally Sound Management of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Industrial and Hazardous Waste Sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. The project is funded by Sweden and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP BiH).
The event was attended by 47 participants from the industrial sector, academic community and chambers of commerce. The event was moderated by Ena Markotić, a representative of CENER 21, while the discussion was led by Prof. Dr. Sanda Midžić Kurtagić, the project component leader, and Prof. Dr. Borislav Malinović, the Dean of the Faculty of Technology in Banja Luka.
During the discussion, it was emphasized that there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the available resources of universities and the industry, as well as a lack of understanding of industry needs. In this regard, universities aim to improve the presentation of their capabilities and research interests, seeking industry partners for collaborative development projects. On the other hand, the industry needs to effectively articulate its requirements.
With the agreement now in place, the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH will facilitate the exchange of information regarding the offerings and collaborative opportunities provided by academic institutions, as well as the demand from its member industrial companies for technical assistance and innovative solutions. The specific modalities of this mutual cooperation will be defined in the near future.