SMARTWATER project takes its first steps with a KOM meeting with all partners and stakeholders, to get to know the squad and share informations and first activities!

Jan. 27th 2021 – The Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Banja Luka organized a kick-off meeting within the Horizon 2020 project “Promoting SMART agricultural WATER management in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. The meeting was held online, on January 27, 2021, using the Zoom meeting platform. It is important to point out that this is the first Horizon 2020 project where the University of Banja Luka/Faculty of Agriculture has role as a HORIZON project coordinator.  The project coordinator is prof. Dr Mihajlo Marković. 

The implementation of the SMARTWATER project, funded by the European Commission from the Horizon 2020 program, has started in January 2021. The project will be implemented in a period of three years (1.1.2021 – 31.12.2023). The SMARTWATER project aims to strengthen the networking, research, scientific and technological capacities of the University of Banja Luka (UNI-BL), the University of Sarajevo (UNSA) and other related institutions in BiH in the field of sustainable water management in agriculture. The project will also aim to increase knowledge and skills for providing funds of the above institutions in order to successfully participate in the research programs of the European Union. 

SMARTWATER project aims to strengthen the networking, research, scientific and technological capacities of the University of Banja Luka (UNI-BL), the University of Sarajevo (UNSA) and other related institutions in BiH in the field of sustainable water management in agriculture.

The total number of participants in the meeting was 36. The meeting brought together representatives of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republic of Srpska, the Rector’s Team of the University of Banja Luka, project officers from the European Commission and team partners from the following institutions: 

– UNIVERZITET U BANJOJ LUCI, Faculty of Agriculture, Banja Luka, RS, BiH, Project Coordinator; 

– CENTRO INTERNAZIONALE DI ALTI STUDI AGRONOMICI MEDITERRANEI – CIHEAM IAMB, Valenzano, Italy, Project Partner; 

– AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DEINVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS – CSIC, Zaragoza, Spain, Project Partner; 

– INSTITUTO SUPERIOR DE AGRONOMIA, Lisbon, Portugal, Project Partner; 

– SYSMAN PROGETTI & SERVIZI SRL, Rome, Italy, Project Partner; 

– UNIVERZITET U SARAJEVU, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Sarajevo, FBiH, BiH, Project Partner. 

Project Officers from the European Commission (REA and DG RTD) highlighted their role as consultants in all project activities and the possibility of applying for new projects from the Horizon 2020 program.

All partners presented their institutions scientific research capacities, previous experiences in national and international projects, roles and responsibilities in the SMARTWATER project, as well as members of the project team. Work packages were presented and members of the Project Steering Committee were appointed. 

SMARTWATER engines starts now!