UNIVERZITET U NOVOM SADU

Their core work

The University of Novi Sad is a major Serbian research university with strong capabilities in microfluidics, biosensor development, and green electronics. They build microfluidic devices for drug delivery and saliva-based diagnostics, develop AI-powered health imaging tools, and advance sustainable agriculture through ICT. Beyond technical research, they actively work to strengthen the Western Balkans research ecosystem through capacity-building and responsible research initiatives.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2014–2018, UNS focused on building foundational capacity: joining large infrastructure projects (EUDAT2020, eLTER), establishing a Centre of Excellence in sustainable agriculture (ANTARES), and contributing to security-related research (CITYCoP, CARISMAND). From 2019 onward, the university pivoted toward technology-intensive research — biosensors, AI for cancer diagnostics, green electronics — while simultaneously stepping into coordination roles more frequently. The shift from capacity-building participant to technology-developing coordinator is the defining trajectory.

UNS is transitioning from a Widening Participation beneficiary to an independent research leader in biosensors, AI health applications, and green electronics — expect them to coordinate larger projects in these areas.

How they like to work

UNS balances coordination and participation roughly 1:2, showing growing confidence as a project leader — all four coordinated projects fall in the 2016–2021 period, with the most recent ones being the largest. With 152 unique partners across 38 countries, they operate as a network hub rather than sticking to a small circle of repeat collaborators. Their consortium sizes range from focused MSCA-RISE exchanges to large RIA consortia, suggesting adaptability to different partnership formats.

UNS has built a remarkably broad network of 152 partners across 38 countries — exceptional for a Western Balkans university with 13 projects. This reach spans well beyond the region, connecting them to partners across the EU and beyond.

What sets them apart

UNS occupies a rare position as a Serbian university that bridges Western Balkan research communities with mainstream EU research networks. Their combination of microfluidics expertise with biomedical applications (oral diagnostics, drug delivery) is distinctive and not easily found elsewhere in the region. For consortium builders targeting Horizon Europe's Widening requirements, UNS offers both genuine technical depth and geographic eligibility — a combination that is often hard to find.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GREENELIT
  Their largest funded project (EUR 445K) as coordinator, a Twinning action in green electronics that signals institutional commitment to building long-term research excellence.
• SALSETH
  A four-year coordinated MSCA-RISE project (EUR 303K) combining bio-inspired sensors with microfluidic chips for saliva-based diagnostics — their most technically distinctive work.
• INCISIVE
  Their entry into AI-powered cancer diagnostics with EUR 243K funding, demonstrating ability to contribute to large-scale digital health consortia.