State Secretaries
Marija Gnjatović, PhD
Dr. Marija Gnjatović is a scientist and expert with extensive experience in the fields of biotechnology, immunology, and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. In the course of many years of work in research, institutional, and innovation environments, she has achieved significant results in advancing the practical application of science. Starting in 2025, dr. Gnjatovic is holding the position of State Secretary at the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, where she contributes to shaping policies that are aimed to strengthen ing domestic research and innovation capacities.
Born in 1983 in Smederevo, Dr. Marija Gnjatović completed her undergraduate academic studies at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, majoring in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology. She defended her doctoral dissertation in the field of biotechnical sciences at the same Faculty in 2018.
Before taking public office, Dr. Marija Gnjatović served as Director of the Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy – INEP (2022–2025), where she led the institutional transformation through the World Bank's SAIGE program and positioned INEP as a key player in the national BIO4 initiative, aimed at developing the bioeconomy and translational medicine in Serbia. As a scientist and leader, she championed the concept of transferring knowledge and technology from the laboratory to industry and the healthcare system.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the development of registered ELISA tests in Serbia and directed key seroprevalence and epidemiological studies in collaboration with domestic and international institutions – including UNDP, WHO, and USAID. Dr. Gnjatović is a pioneer in the development of recombinant monoclonal antibodies in Serbia, laying the foundation for modern diagnostic tests and treatments.
In the field of innovation, she has achieved outstanding results — is the author of numerous applied technical solutions and patents, including an international application for the detection of Avian Bornavirus. As the lead inventor on more than ten commercialized innovations, she was awarded the National Prize for Best Technological Innovation in 2019. She is one of the founders of the first Technology Transfer Office at INEP. In 2023, Dr. Gnjatović founded the startup company Immunora d.o.o., which is developing a platform for detecting antigen-specific cellular responses in serum samples from test subjects, contributing to the direct application of scientific results in healthcare diagnostics.
In her public engagement, Dr. Gnjatović served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Innovation Fund (since 2020, in two terms), as well as of the Council of the Faculty of Physical Chemistry at the University of Belgrade. She is an active member of several professional associations, including the Serbian Biochemical Society, the Parasitological Society, and the Serbian Chemical Society.
As State Secretary, Dr. Marija Gnjatović brings a unique combination of scientific expertise, experience in innovation management, and strategic vision. Her mission is to contribute to the development of a modern, open, and competitive science and innovation system in the Republic of Serbia, with a strong emphasis on applied research, connecting science with industry, and fostering international cooperation.
Professor Aleksandra Šuvaković, PhD
Professor Aleksandra Šuvaković is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Philology and Arts, University of Kragujevac.
She completed her undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies at the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade, and defended her doctoral dissertation at the Department of Italian Studies. The topic of the dissertation paper was “Teaching Italian as a Second Foreign Language at an Early Age.”
Applied linguistics is her field of academic research.
She has published several dozen scholarly papers in international, foreign, and domestic scientific journals and conference proceedings, and has participated in numerous academic conferences both in Serbia and abroad.
Ms. Šuvaković was a researcher on two national scientific research projects and a collaborator on several international scientific and professional projects. In the Government of Miloš Vučević, she served as State Secretary in the Ministry of Education.
She speaks Italian, French, and English.