Fond za nauku

What Fond za nauku does

Fond za nauku (Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia / Фонд за науку Републике Србије) is a state organization established in March 2019 in Belgrade to support scientific research and development activity in Serbia. It is headquartered in Belgrade with 11-50 employees and operates as a government entity — not a commercial company — funded through annual Republic of Serbia budget allocations and international partnerships including the EU, the World Bank, and bilateral programs with China.

The Fund's core offering is a portfolio of competitive grant programs rather than a unified product. Disclosed programs include PROMIS (young researchers), IDEJE 2024 (general research funding), DIJASPORA – Research Visits (Serbian science diaspora exchange, with 45 projects approved in 2025), IDENTITETI (social sciences and humanities, 2 million EUR total budget, 150,000 EUR per project over 24 months), and Nauka za privredu – "From Lab to Market" (a 9.4 million EUR program funding AI applications in industry through scientific partnerships, 1-year duration). It also runs LAB2MARKET outreach events across Serbian cities (Niš, Čačak, Belgrade) and participates in international forums including Science Europe, the Global Research Council, the Belt and Road Think Tank conferences, and bilateral meetings with Chinese universities.

The go-to-market is grant-making rather than sales: the Fund reaches accredited Serbian scientific research organizations and individual researchers via public calls (javni pozivi), regional workshops, conferences, and direct engagement. Beneficiaries are fragmented across universities and research institutions; partner ecosystems span Chinese universities (Sun Yat-sen, Shanghai Jiao Tong), regional bodies (Innovation Fund of Serbia, INOVA North Macedonia, Republic of Srpska), and European/global funders (Science Europe, GRC, EU, World Bank). The Fund does not charge for its services and has no pricing model; its "revenue" is appropriation-based and not commercially disclosed.

Name

Fond za nauku

Legal name

Fond za nauku Republic of Serbia (Фонд за науку Републике Србије)

Website

https://fondzanauku.gov.rs

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fond za nauku (Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia) is a Belgrade-based state organization, established in March 2019, that funds scientific research projects across disciplines through competitive grant programs and partners with international research funders and universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Science Funding

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAI

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPADAOAB

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Donor Coordination, Grantmaking & Development Finance Programs

SECONDARYBPADAOAE

Trust Funds & Multi-Donor Pooled Funds

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Donor Coordination, Grantmaking & Development Finance Programs

SECONDARYEDAIAOAJ

Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Scholarships, Funding & Financial Aid for International Study

Keywords

• Science research funding
• Research grants programs
• Scientific project financing
• Government science fund
• Science-industry collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

Belgrade

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Science Research Funding: Government-funded organization that provides financial support to scientific research projects through competitive grant programs. Funding comes from the Republic of Serbia budget and international partnerships.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fond za nauku (Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia) is a state organization that funds scientific research projects and programs through competitive grant calls. It manages a portfolio of research funding programs targeting accredited scientific research institutions in Serbia, including initiatives for AI applications in industry (Nauka za privredu), social sciences (IDENTITETI), research ideas (IDEJE), and Serbian diaspora researcher visits (DIJASPORA). Funding comes from the Republic of Serbia budget and international partnerships.

Product overview

Fond za nauku (Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia) is a state organization established in March 2019 to support scientific-research activities. Rather than offering a unified software product, the organization operates a portfolio of research funding programs. Key programs include: the Nauka za privredu (Science for Industry) program supporting AI applications in industry through scientific partnerships; the IDEJE program for research project funding; the DIJASPORA program for Serbian diaspora research collaboration; and the IDENTITETI program for social and humanities research. The organization also conducts LAB2MARKET outreach events to connect researchers with industry. These programs collectively aim to increase funding for science and research, promote scientific excellence, and facilitate science-industry collaboration in Serbia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nauka za privredu – Application of Artificial Intelligence in Industry through Scientific Partnerships: "From Lab to Market" A funding program supporting collaboration between science and industry through joint scientific research projects focused on applying artificial intelligence in industry. Duration is 1 year with public call status now closed. Aimed at accredited scientific research organizations partnering with industry.
• IDENTITETI Program A program for the development of scientific research in the field of social and humanities sciences, focusing on identity topics including language, history, religion, cultural heritage, ethnic identities, and digitalization. Total budget of 2,000,000 euros with maximum 150,000 euros per project over 24 months. Targeted at accredited scientific research organizations.
• IDEJE 2024 Program Research funding program managed by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, with public call closed in February 2025. Targeted at researchers and accredited scientific research institutions.
• DIJASPORA – Research Visits Program Program of cooperation with Serbian science diaspora – support for research visits. Kick-off meeting held in July 2025 with 45 projects approved for funding. Targeted at Serbian diaspora researchers and Serbian scientific institutions.
• LAB2MARKET Events Events titled "LAB2MARKET – Partnership of Science and Business" held across Serbia (Niš, Čačak, Belgrade) to present projects that have made the leap from laboratory to market, connecting science and industry. Targeted at researchers, industry partners, and the public.
• PROMIS Program A funding program for young researchers, part of the first programs launched by the Science Fund in 2019.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.4 million EUR allocated for AI development and science-industry cooperation programs in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered regional, core and major.

• Republic of Srpska Science InstitutionsregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Meeting dedicated to strengthening cooperation between Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska. Special emphasis on enhanced cooperation in science and higher education through intensive linking of universities, scientific institutions, and researchers.
• Institute for Belt and Road BelgradecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026The Institute organized the Sixth Belgrade Think Tank Conference on 'Geopolitical Notes of the Contemporary World.' Prof. Dr Darija Kisić participated as panelist discussing the role of science, research, and international cooperation during global transformations.
• Chongqing Province Delegation (China)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2025Chinese delegation from Chongqing province visited the Science Fund. Acting Director Prof. Dr Darija Kisić discussed cooperation possibilities with Chinese partners.
• Science EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025Science Fund participated in the Science Europe General Assembly and 17th High-level Workshop on European Research Area in Oslo. Science Europe is an organization of European research funding organizations.
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2025Meeting with representatives of Shanghai Jiao Tong University to discuss scientific cooperation, joint research projects, and exchange programs.
• Serbia-China Joint Committee for Scientific-Technological CooperationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Science Fund participated in the 7th session of the Serbian-Chinese Joint Committee for Scientific-Technological Cooperation, discussing ongoing and future joint scientific programs.
• Global Research Council (GRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025Science Fund hosted the European Regional Meeting of the Global Research Council and participated in its 13th Annual Meeting in Riyadh and 14th Annual Meeting. GRC is an international organization of research funding agencies.
• Sun Yat-sen University (China)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2025Acting Director Prof. Dr Nenad visited Sun Yat-sen University in China to strengthen bilateral scientific cooperation and explore joint research opportunities.
• INOVA (North Macedonia)regionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2025Delegation of INOVA agency from North Macedonia visited the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia to discuss scientific cooperation and exchange.
• Innovation Fund of the Republic of SerbiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2022Joint public statement by Innovation Fund and Science Fund regarding coordination of science and innovation support activities in Serbia.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ): HRZZ is Croatia's national science funding agency, established in 2001 to fund scientific research projects and programs. A direct regional peer to Fond za nauku with a near-identical mandate of competitive grantmaking for domestic research, similar program structure, and shared regional research-policy context.
• Innovation Fund of the Republic of Serbia: The Innovation Fund is Serbia's sister state institution supporting innovation and entrepreneurship through grants and programs. Issued a joint public statement with Fond za nauku (Apr 2022) coordinating science and innovation support, making it the closest institutional peer within Serbia's funding ecosystem.
• Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS): ARRS is Slovenia's national agency funding scientific research, postgraduate training, and research infrastructure. Closely mirrors Fond za nauku's role as a small-country national science funder with competitive project grants and international cooperation programs.
• Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH): NKFIH is Hungary's central funding body for research, development, and innovation, operating competitive grant programs across all disciplines. Direct comparable in role and structure within the Central European research-funding landscape.
• German Research Foundation (DFG): The DFG is Germany's central public funding organization for academic research, funding projects across all disciplines through competitive peer-reviewed grants. Closely analogous to Fond za nauku in mandate, structure, and grantmaking model, with a similar focus on excellence-driven competitive funding.
• Czech Science Foundation (GA ČR): GA ČR is the Czech Republic's primary public grant agency funding basic research across all disciplines. Highly comparable peer in mandate, grant size, and structural role within a Central European national research ecosystem.
• French National Research Agency (ANR): ANR funds project-based research across all scientific fields in France via competitive calls. Mirrors Fond za nauku's role as a national project-based research funder with peer review, multi-year grants, and thematic programs.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF): The NSF is the largest federal agency funding basic research and education across all non-medical fields. Directly comparable to Fond za nauku as a national government science funder supporting competitive research grants, though operating at vastly larger scale and scope.
• European Research Council (ERC): The ERC funds frontier research across Europe through competitive excellence-based grants. Relevant peer in grantmaking philosophy and competitive peer-review model, though operating at supranational level with substantially larger individual grant sizes.
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI): UKRI is the UK's main public research and innovation funding body, encompassing multiple research councils. Comparable in function to Fond za nauku as a national science funder, though significantly larger and structurally federated.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/science-fund-of-the-republic-of-serbia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fond za nauku