Construction of the Centers of Excellence of the University of Kragujevac continues

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia Branko Ružić attended the ceremony marking the beginning of works on the continuation of the construction of the Centers of Excellence of the University of Kragujevac. The ceremony marking the beginning of the works was also attended by the Mayor of Kragujevac, Nikola Dašić, the Rector of the University of Kragujevac, prof. Nenad Filipović, PhD, Director of the Public Sector Projects Implementation Unit Ltd. Belgrade Dušan Kovačević, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Kragujevac Vladimir Jakovljević, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Kragujevac prof. Dr. Dobrica Milovanović and Director of the Institute of Information Technology, University of Kragujevac prof. Zoran Marković, PhD.

The construction of the Centers of Excellence of the University of Kragujevac is part of the Research and Development in the Public Sector project, promoted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development.

The Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development, Branko Ružić, welcomed the continuation of works on the construction of the Centers.

"With state-of-the-art equipment, our scientists will have the best conditions to study stem cells and use them to treat people. With this Center, Kragujevac, and Serbia as well, will become the center of biotechnology, bioengineering and everything related to medical sciences, i.e. technology in medicine," said Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Branko Ružić.

The Public Sector Projects Implementation Unit will monitor the implementation of this project with an area of 11,500 m2.

"Our country has made a lot of progress in recent years, and the fact that in the near future it will have a Stem Cell Research Center and a Stem Cell Bank built and equipped for the first time, as well as the ability to store, use and research stem cells of its citizens, is of national importance. The building of such institutions is a joint contribution of all of us, participants in this project, in order to further modernize our society and state. All this would not have been possible if we had not had the strong support of the President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Vučić, and the Government of the Republic of Serbia. I also owe a great debt of gratitude to Minister Mr. Ružić, who selflessly fought for the implementation of such an important state project to continue," said the Director of the Public Sector Projects Implementation Unit Ltd. Belgrade, Dušan Kovačević.

The construction of the Centers of Excellence of the University of Kragujevac is of great importance for the University of Kragujevac, because scientific research will be carried out in the field of biomedical sciences, stem cells, biomedical engineering, information technologies.

The total value of the Subproject for the construction and equipping of the Centers of Excellence of the University of Kragujevac is up to EUR 18 million. The construction of a unique scientific research institution in Kragujevac is financed from the funds of the European Investment Bank, the funds of the City of Kragujevac and the funds of the University of Kragujevac.

By building and equipping the Centers of Excellence and the Stem Cell Bank, Serbia will, for the first time, create conditions for the storage, use and research of stem cells of its citizens.

Work on the continuation of the construction of the Centers of Excellence is expected to begin at the end of September. The deadline for completion of construction is 365 days.

After the completion of the construction work, a tender will be announced for the procurement of the most modern equipment.

Minister Ružić and officials also visited the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Kragujevac and solemnly handed over the indexes to freshmen of the 2021/2022 school year.