11.04.2014.

Awarding annual prizes for the best scientific works

On the eve of the Day of the Serbian Armed Forces, the annual award ceremony for the best research project, a doctoral dissertation and master's work at the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and award for the best article published in the "Vojno delo" journal was held today in the ceremonial hall of the Central Military Club.

On this occasion, the State Secretary Zoran Djordjevic presented the Letters of Commendation to the award recipients. Colonel Miroslav Vukosavljevic, PhD, project manager, from the Military Medical Academy, was awarded for the best scientific research project, Major Dragan Pamucar, PhD, from the Military Academy, for the best doctoral dissertation, while Major Ljubinko Karapetrovic, MSc, also from the Military Academy, was granted award for the best master's thesis this year.

The 2013 annual award of "Vojno delo" for the best published article in this journal was granted to Danijela Protic from the Centre for Applied Mathematics and Electronics of the Department of Telecommunications and Information Technology of the Serbian Armed Forces.

Explaining this year's selection, Major General Prof. Mitar Kovac, Chief of the Strategic Planning Department and President of the Commission for the 2013 annual awards, said that it is for the ninth time that the awards are traditionally granted in order to promote scientific research in the defence system. He also pointed out that the Commission consisted of the renowned scholars in subject matters for which the prizes are awarded.

Congratulating the winners, State Secretary Djordjevic pointed out that the awards are a sort of confirmation that the defence system has thus recognised the role of scientific research in the process of its development and the need to award the most prominent individuals in this activity and promote them for the contribution they make to science.

- It is an undeniable fact that science is very important for the successful functioning of any army, both in war and in peace, in Serbia, but also in the world. Looking through the history, sciences in the field of defence were adapted to the needs of the army, but the army was also adapting to the changes brought about by new technologies – State Secretary Djordjevic said, indicating that new knowledge and modern skills are based on the results of scientific research, especially when it comes to the construction of arms and modern equipment.

Reviewing some of the most important results of scientific activities in the defence system in the year behind us, State Secretary Djordjevic pointed out that the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces took part in 85 different scientific conferences and meetings, and in more than 20 exhibitions and fairs of military equipment, and 19 members defended their PhD thesis at the University of Defence, while five of them were defended in civilian universities.

- In the field of international scientific cooperation we have high expectations that were opened to the Republic of Serbia by the signing of the administrative agreement with the European Defence Agency. Already this year we will invest significant efforts to make available, with the help of the University of Defence, capacities of the Horizon 2020, the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever, Djordjevic said noting that these awards are encouragement and invitation to all members of the defence system to continue to engage in scientific research work.