Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic said  that Serbia this year recorded the largest increase in spending on science and technology in the world, despite the global economic crisis.

He said that it is necessary to to base the development of the country on knowledge.

At the inaugural ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Institute of Physics, Djelic said that the number of researchers at the Institute of Physics has increased by 22%.

Djelic said that Serbia last year thanks to the European Investment Bank (EIB) provided €200 million for science.

A Centre for Nanoscience and Materials will be built in Block 39 in New Belgrade this year, said Djelic and added that RSD 10 million is allocated for the material costs of the Institute of Physics.

Director of the Institute of Physics Aleksandar Belic announced that a conference on the achievements of the institute will be held in early May at the Sava Centre.

Also organised will be an exhibition at the SANU Gallery from 20 April to 20 May, as well as various lectures and monographs, he announced.