The Miodrag Kostić Endowment, which will open the first centre for scientific research and popularization of science in Serbia – the Palace of Science – was presented at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Belgrade in front of members of the academic and scientific community. With an area of 5,500 m2, it will be the largest centre of its kind not only in our country but also in the greater region. There will be many interesting, eye-catching, and interactive exhibits and content in one section aimed at popularizing science to the general public, particularly kids and young adults, and scientific research activities in another that will push the boundaries in the fields of electrical engineering, computer science, and software engineering.
In order to achieve this, Miodrag Kostić established an endowment that will gift the society with the EUR 25 million Palace of Science. This is the largest allocation of funds in the recent history of endowments. Speaking at the presentation of his father’s endowment, Aleksandar Kostić, a member of the Steering Committee, stressed the value of bolstering Serbian science and young scientists.
“The fact that science is being positioned as a catalyst for societal advancement makes me proud. Miodrag Kostić hopes that the Palace of Science will give a new generation of young scientists a chance to pursue careers in their home country and provide them with access to the finest working environments and creative spaces found in the world’s premier research centres – because they are the future leaders of Serbia’s scientific and technological progress. The Palace of Science will be a location that honours the creative, inquisitive, and exploratory nature of the human intellect while fusing curiosity with a passion for learning,” said Aleksandar Kostić.
The strategic importance of this project was emphasized by the Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, Jelena Begović, PhD.
“Recognizing the value of funding science, the Government of the Republic of Serbia is attempting to establish Serbia as a hub for innovation and science. But there’s also a need to include the private sector in this process more. The foundation of the Palace of Science is an important milestone for the scientific community and evidence of the economy’s potential to make large contributions. In Serbia, endowments have a long and rich history and have played a crucial role in the advancement of innovation and research. Therefore, this is not just an investment in facilities, infrastructure and technology. This is an investment in our people. In our youth, our young talents, researchers and innovators. I passionately believe that the Palace of Science will serve as a driving force behind the advancement of research, innovation, and citizen-scientist dialogue in our nation,” said Jelena Begović, PhD, Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation.
