IVI’s Journey to Sustainability: Four Years On…

To mark the fourth anniversary of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia, the latest edition of the IVI Newsletter features an interview with Prof. Dr. Dubravko Ćulibrk, the Institute’s founding director, who has led this leading research institution since its inception.

“The establishment of the Institute was foreseen in the first Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in Serbia. The idea was to create an institute that would attract young talents and function according to the principles of similar centers in the West, which is not easy given the local legislation. Since I have experience working in global research groups in this field, and I also know how our system operates, I was entrusted with the task of launching the Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Serbia. My goal was to create a research group here that would have the capacity to conduct scientific work in the field of artificial intelligence in the way it is done in Europe and around the world. The research group at Trent (Italy) served as my model, and I wanted to create something similar in Serbia. I saw an opportunity to build something that would benefit young researchers, like I once was, allowing them to work in Serbia without feeling the need to leave the country, or if they did, to provide them with the chance to return and experience benefits similar to those in Western countries. In the beginning, we were just a few people, and to kickstart the Institute, the government allocated 180 million dinars (1.5 million euros) in the first year.  However, to ensure sustainability, we started applying for projects from the very beginning, and for our first project, we received funds before the Institute was officially accredited. When we received our first HORIZON project, we knew we were on the right track”, says prof. dr. Ćulibrk.

In the interview, Prof. Ćulibrk reflects on the Institute’s evolution—from concept to becoming a renowned institution with over 60 employees. He also explains how the Institute now secures more than half of its annual budget through self-generated income, including research projects, commercial activities, and international collaborations.

In this interview, you’ll also learn:

• What key factors enabled IVI to become a self-sustaining research institution in just a few years;
• Which projects and partnerships had the greatest impact on the Institute’s growth;
• What challenges the Institute faces today—and the plans for its future.

Discover more about IVI’s achievements, challenges, and strategic vision in the full interview, available at the following link.