Domestic projects

The Institute of Physics Belgrade nurtures a long-standing tradition of participating in national projects and is achieving notable success in competitive calls of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia. It is currently one of the most successful scientific and educational institutions in the country in terms of the number of projects, and the Institute’s researchers break these records from call to call. The topics dealt with by the Institute’s researchers are recognized as significant and relevant within various programs, and they often go beyond the boundaries of physics, trying to unravel various fundamental and practical questions about the world around us. As the leading institution in the country in terms of the number of the projects, the Institute is also recognized as a good partner in other institutions’ multidisciplinary research. 14 projects financed by the Science Fund and one financed by the Innovation Fund for are currently being implemented at the Institute.

Domestic scientific and research projects receive funding within the program of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, a state organization founded in 2019 with the aim of providing support to scientific and research activities. The Fund has launched four programs since its establishment, and researchers from the Institute of Physics have achieved remarkable results within each of them. In the PROMIS call for proposals, aimed at young researchers who gained their PhD degree in the previous ten years, the Institute proved to be the most successful institution in Belgrade and the second in Serbia in terms of the number of funded projects. The project proposals of four researchers from this institution were selected for funding, and the total allocated funds for these projects are more than 788,000 euros. 12 projects received funding within the Program for the Development of Projects in the Field of Artificial Intelligence, and the Institute of Physics is a partner in one of them. The Institute’s researchers are working together with colleagues from Singidinum University on this project, which is one of six basic research projects. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the launch of a special program of the Science Fund, which finances projects that contribute to an effective scientific response to the pandemic. Among the 14 projects, this time too there was one from the Institute of Physics. As part of the Ideas program, whose goal is to finance excellent science, the Institute of Physics Belgrade received funding for a record of seven projects and is a partner in one project led by the Faculty of Biology, and the total funds won amount to more than 1,800,000 euros.

Projects financed by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia

Green program for the cooperation between science and business

 

BioPhysFUN

The BioPhysFUN (Advanced Biophysical Methods for Soil Targeted Fungi-Based Biocontrol Agents) project uses state-of-the-art nonlinear optical microscopic and electrophysiological techniques and extends their applicability to fungal-based biocontrol agents used for environmental protection by replacing common chemical pesticides. The Principle Investigator of the BioPhysFUN project is Dr. Aleksandar Krmpot, Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Physics, and the project partners are the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade and the Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”.

More information: https://www.hemmaginero.rs/biophysfun.html

IonCleanTech

The IonCleanTech project (Elimination of respirable airborne particles, microplastics, microorganisms, and VOCs by ionization of indoor air and filtration systems: comprehensive investigation for reliable technological answers) focuses on finding optimal ways of using ionization to eliminate harmful polluting aerosols in closed rooms. Namely, in the closed space where people live, different groups of polluting particles can be found, from aerosols (which includes microplastics), through bio-aerosols (viruses, bacteria, fungi), to volatile organic compounds that are gases. IonCleanTech aims to increase the efficiency of removing, degrading and inactivating polluting particles from the breathing zone through air ionization, without emitting ozone as an additional unwanted effect. The Princple Investigator of the IonCleanTech project is Dr. Predrag Kolarž, a Senior Research Associate at the Institute of Physics Belgrade, and the project partners are the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade.

Program IDEAS

CompsLight

(Control and manipulation of light in complex photonic systems)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Dragana Jović Savić

The main project idea is to find a way to make the defects, impurities and irregularities that occur in various applications useful, primarily in the control and manipulation of light. As part of the project, the researchers intend to create new types of complex photonic structures and make disordered structures out of them, and then test whether they can be useful. Project duration: 2022-2024

The project partner is the Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade.

SimSurgery

(Multiphysics Software Package for Simulation of Electrosurgical Procedures)

Principle Investigator: Dr. Marija Radmilović Rađenović

Electrosurgery is based on the application of electric current to biological tissues as a means of cutting, coagulation, desiccation or fulguration of tissues. This multidisciplinary project is dedicated to the development of a software package for the three-dimensional simulation of various electrosurgical interventions. Apart from the scientific significance, the results could also represent a foundation for the electrosurgical procedure planning, faster and easier postoperative recovery and optimization of the equipment. Project duration: 2022-2024

QGHG-2021

(Quantum Gravity from Higher Gauge Theory)

Principle Investigator: Dr. Marko Vojinović

There are two main goals of the project. The first one is theoretical: understanding and developing a unified theory of gravity and matter at the quantum level using the geometric language of higher gauge theories. The second is practical: to construct a software package for numerical analysis and calculation of the consequences of this particular theoretical model of quantum gravity, but also of other problems in the field of general geometry, algebraic topology, theory of gaffes and other areas of mathematics used to describe quantum gravity. Project duration: 2022-2024
https://www.qghg-2021.ipb.ac.rs/

q-bio BDS

(Biophysics and Bioinformatics of CRISPR/Cas ant Toxin-Antitoxin Regulation)
The project is managed by the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, and the Institute of Physics Belgrade is one of the partners. The Institute’s team leader is Dr. Magdalena Đorđević. Project duration: 2022-2024

NOVA2LIBS4fusion

(Novel approach to laser induced breakdown spectroscopy diagnostics of fusion reactor plasma facing components)

Principle Investigator: Dr. Milivoje Ivković

The largest fusion reactor in the world is being assembled In the south of France. The goal is to create the possibility of building commercial power plants based on the technology of controlled nuclear fusion by imitating the reactions that give energy to the Sun. However, the high temperature and huge energy fluxes to the surface of the reactor lead to the wall material’s erosion. The goal of this project is to characterize the wall of the fusion rector. Spectroscopic analysis of the light emitted by the plasma can provide information on the composition of the cause and the concentration of elements down to the level of parts per million.
The project partners are the Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade and Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac. Project duration: 2022-2024

NOOM-SeC

(Nano-objects in own matrix – Self composite)

Principle Investigator: Dr. Nebojša Romčević

The project deals with the study of a completely new composite material. The task for the team working on the project is to produce self composites in which the dispersed phase is of nanometer dimensions so that these nano-objects are made of the same materials as the matrix. Project duration: 2022-2024

APPerTAin-BIOM

(Atmospheric pressureplasmas operating in wide frequency range – a new tool for production of biologically relevant reactive species for applications in biomedicine)

Principle Investigator: Dr. Nevena Puač

Institute of Physics Belgrade is the lead partner, and the project partners are Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, and the Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade. Project duration: 2022-2024

EGWin

(Exploring ultra low global warming potential gases for insulation in high-voltage technology: Experiments and modeling)

Principle Investigator: Dr. Saša Dujko

The research focus of this project is the question of how physicists can help electrical engineers and ecologists in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in electricity transmission systems. One of the steps being considered in the project is the puting out of use sulfur hexafluoride gas. The project team will consider perspectives regarding the use of alternative substances in electricity transmission systems. These new gases present physicists with a whole series of questions to try to find answers to. Some of these questions are: when these gases are exposed to the effect of an electric field, how do they become conductive, how do the electrons and molecules of these gases interact, and what are the basic characteristics of breakdowns and streamer discharges in these gases. Project duration: 2022-2024

Program for excellent projects of young researchers (PROMIS)

HEMMAGINERO

(Hemoglobin-based spectroscopy and nonlinear imaging of erythocytes and their membranes as emerging diagnostic tool)

Principle Investigator: Dr. Aleksandar Krmpot

The project’s goal is to apply the most modern optical microscopic technique to the imaging of erythrocytes and their derivatives, which could potentially be used as a diagnostic method for cancer, diabetes and inflammatory/autoimmune diseases.
In addition to the Institute of Physics Belgrade, the Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade and the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia are also participating in the project. Duration: 2020-2022.
https://www.hemmaginero.rs

Key2SM

(Cold atoms, hubbard model and holography: key to strange metals)

Principle Investigator: Dr. Jakša Vučičević

The goal of the project is to contribute to the understanding of high-temperature superconductivity. Materials with this property have important industrial applications, but it is necessary to cool them at extremely low temperatures, so they cease to be superconductors. These poor conductors, also called “strange metals” hide a big puzzle, the solution of which would help to understand high-temperature superconductivity. The project’s researchers strive to figure it out through a systematic numerical simulation of Hubbard’s model, by comparing the results with quantum simulations and phenomenological and gravitational theories. Project duration: 2020-2022
https://key2sm.ipb.ac.rs

PV-Waals

(Nanometer thin photovoltaics based on plasmonically enhanced van der waals heterostructures)

https://pv-waals.com

Principle Investigator: Dr. Goran Isić

The project aim is the development of new photovoltaic devices based on two-dimensional crystalline van der Waals heterostructures. The project deals with solid state physics, nanoelectronics, plasmonics, nanotechnology and related fields. The ultimate goal is the production of a nanometer-thin plasmonic-enhanced vdWh photovoltaic device. Duration: 2020-2022

StrainedFeSC

(Strain effects in iron chalcogenide superconductors)

Principle Investigator: Dr. Nenad Lazarević

The discovery of superconductivity in iron-based materials (in 2008) brought new clues in the struggle to decipher the mystery of high-temperature superconductors. However, some of the key issues are still controversial, and access to different degrees of freedom can provide valuable data not only for the precise determination of the iron-based materials’ generic properties, but for the engineering of such materials and devices as well. Project duration: 2020-2022
https://strainedfesc.ipb.ac.rs

Program for Development of Projects in the Field of Artificial Intelligence

ATLAS

(Artificial intelligence theoretical foundations for advanced spatial-temporal modeling of data and processing)

The project is managed by Singidunum University, and the Institute of Physics Belgrade is a project partner. The Institute’s team is led by Dr. Andreja Stojić.

The project deals with the development of the artificial intelligence theoretical methods and the application of artificial intelligence and computer simulation through a platform that is intended for the research of complex geospatial systems changing in time. The aim is to provide a basis for recommending measures to reduce the harmful effects of air pollution. Project duration: 2020-2022

Special research program on COVID-19

idCovid

(Continuous inactivation and removal of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor air by ionization)

Principle Investigator: Dr. Predrag Kolarž

The project’s idea is to use ionization to destroy viruses in a closed space. Researchers aim to inactivate viruses and remove them electrostatically from the breathing zone using the intense air ionization, which is not harmful to humans. Project duration: 2020-2022
The project partner is the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade.

Projects financed by the Innovation Fund

Science and business Collaborative Grant Scheme Program

READ

(Platform for Remote development for Autonomous Driving algorithms in realistic environment)

The project lead partner is the SYRMIA Company from Novi Sad, and the Institute of Physics Belgrade is the project partner. The goal of the project is to create a computer platform that provides engineers, researchers and teachers with the means to remotely develop, test and verify algorithms for autonomous driving in a real environment. Project duration: 2021-2023