PRIVREDNO DRUSTVO INSTITUT ZA HIDROTEHNIKU DD SARAJEVO

Their core work

HEIS is a private hydraulic engineering institute based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Within the H2020 programme, their role has been exclusively focused on science communication and public engagement through the European Researchers' Night initiative (RiNG series), organizing events such as "Stand Up Science" lectures and science festivals to promote research careers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their core business is hydraulic engineering, but their EU-funded activity centres on bridging the gap between science and the general public in the Western Balkans.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

From 2014 to 2019, HEIS consistently delivered "Stand Up Science" lecture-format events as their signature contribution to European Researchers' Night. Starting in 2020, the project keywords broadened significantly to include edutainment, science festivals, and explicit goals around promoting science careers and public recognition of researchers. This suggests a shift from a single presentation format toward more diverse, audience-centred engagement methods.

HEIS is evolving from a single-format event contributor toward a more versatile science communication partner with experience in multiple public engagement formats.

How they like to work

HEIS has always participated as a partner, never as a coordinator, across all five projects. They work in very small consortia (only 4 unique partners across 2 countries), returning to the same RiNG consortium repeatedly over seven years. This loyalty-based pattern suggests they are a reliable, low-maintenance local delivery partner rather than a consortium builder — ideal for organizations needing a trusted node in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

HEIS operates within a tight, recurring network of just 4 partners across 2 countries, centred on the Bosnian European Researchers' Night consortium. Their network is narrow but stable, built on long-term repeat collaboration rather than breadth.

What sets them apart

HEIS is one of the few private-sector entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina with continuous H2020 participation in science communication, spanning seven consecutive years of European Researchers' Night delivery. For any consortium needing a reliable local partner for public engagement activities in the Western Balkans, HEIS offers proven event delivery experience and institutional continuity that is rare in the region. Their engineering background also provides credibility when communicating technical and scientific topics to non-expert audiences.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RiNG-14-15
  Their first and highest-funded H2020 project (EUR 43,500), establishing the Stand Up Science format that became their signature contribution.
• RiNG-20
  Marked a significant broadening of scope from lecture-only formats to science festivals, edutainment, and career promotion activities.