Context
Collaboration between the private sector and Social Science Research Sector (SSRS) so far has been on a very low level. Occasional initiatives to establish such cooperation have mostly been unsuccessful. Aside from the idea that Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) should be connected to the economy, it has remained unclear what the economy needs or if SSH institutes are able to meet these needs, in which areas and what this cooperation should be like.
Lack of this type of collaboration is mainly due to lack of interest of both parties in establishing such cooperation. Private sector companies have shown little interest in social science research results, as they are seen as insufficiently applicable. On the other hand, there is a widespread opinion in SSH that scientific research primarily means scientific work within disciplinary areas, which have their own, immanent logic of development. There is also a lack of policies and funding schemes, specifically targeted at involving SSH research institutions in collaborative projects with the private sector. As a result, the concept of what this collaboration should entail and what concrete areas of collaboration would be has not been developed so far.
- Up to 4 collaborative pilot projects between the SSH research institutes and private companies developed and implemented, with support and co-funding of PERFORM;
- Improved reputation and increased capacities of research institutes that participated in pilot projects for continuous collaboration with the private sector;
- Research institutes have increased capacities to diversify sources of their funding by developing and implementing projects for private companies;
- Established linkages between the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the SSH research institutes.