International Biomedical Technology Transfer Collaborative Innovation Center Opened

The International Biomedical Technology Transfer Collaborative Innovation Center was opened on 23 August at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka.

The Center was opened by Rector of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, Vice President of Shanghai University of Medcicine and Health Sciences Prof. Lei Tang, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Ranko Škrbić, PhD, and Director of the Biomedical Technology Development Innovation Center of Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences  Lian Zhou.

As said at the opening ceremony, which was also attended by Vice-Rector for Material and Human Resources of our university Prof. Dalibor Kesić, PhD, and Confucius Institute Home Director Ljiljana Stević, PhD, professors and teaching assistants of the Faculty of Medicine and other guests, this center will be operating within the Center for Biomedical Research of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka and will be the key platform for collaboration in the field of research and innovation. Professors, students and staff who will be working on research projects in this center, including mentoring by Chinese professors for students on final theses in the second and third cycle of studies at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka, will have the opportunity .

Rector of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, said that the opening of this center is the result of good cooperation with Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences. As the rector said, the cooperation between the University of Banja Luka and the leading universities in China has been going on for many years to mutual satisfaction, and as for the newly opened center, the transfer of technology is of special importance.

"During our visit to Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences last year, we saw the latest technological solutions dedicated to improving the treatment of patients in different clinical disciplines. We expect that those technological solutions that are already applied in healthcare institutions in China will be available at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka, i.e. at our leading healthcare institutions", Gajanin emphasized.

Minister for Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska Asst. Prof. Željko Budimir, PhD, pointed out that the International Biomedical Technology Transfer Collaborative Innovation Center will be a regional center for technology transfer in the field of medicine and health sciences. Budimir stressed that technology transfer is the most important thing today, especially for developing countries like the Republic of Srpska.

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Ranko Škrbić, PhD, pointed out that the opening of the Center will, among other things, improve the development of medicine and healthcare in the Republic of Srpska, by applying everything that is already applied in China.

"The Center will contribute to the development of technologies, the exchange of experiences, but also the education of healthcare workers, so as to strengthen the scientific capacity of our institutions operating in the field of medicine," the dean said.

Vice President of Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Prof. Lei Tang, PhD, expressed his pleasure that he had the opportunity to be part of the establishment of such a center.

"This will be a good starting point in terms of staff training, exchange of experiences, but it will also improve the further cooperation between the two countries," he said.

The event was also attended by Assistant Minister of Health and Social Welfare of the Republic of Srpska Milan Latinović, PhD, who pointed out that the Ministry was actively working on the modernization of the health system by constructing modern hospitals and other health institutions, and by equipping them and procuring the most modern medical equipment. He added that new services were being introduced in healthcare, and that continuous education is being carried out.

This Center was jointly opened by the University of Banja Luka and Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, based on the Cooperation Agreement signed on 11 January this year by Rector of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD and Rector of Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Prof. Wu Tao, PhD.