MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF INNOVATION, INNOVATIVE DIGITALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA - THE CABINET OF THE MINISTER FOR INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE FOR INVESTMENTS AND INFORMATIZATION OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC ("Off. Herald of RS - Treaties", No. 15/2018)

Government of the Republic of Serbia - the Cabinet of the Minister for Innovation and Technological Development and the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for Investments and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter jointly referred to as "the Signatories" and in the singular as "Signatory");

CONSIDERING the friendly and cooperative relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Slovak Republic; and

BASED ON 8th session of the Commission for Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Slovak Republic

DESIRING to cooperate in the field of innovation, innovative digitalization and technology transfer;

HEREBY AGREE as follows:

Article I

Government of the Republic of Serbia - the Cabinet of the Minister for Innovation and Technological Development and the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for Investments and Informatization of the Slovak Republic shall cooperate in the field of innovation, innovative digitalization and technology transfer in such areas as the Signatories agree in writing, including but not limited to:

a) mutual exchange and transfer of experiences in the field of developing the national innovation infrastructure;

b) mutual exchange and experience transfer in the field of development of national regulations on innovation, digital transformation and technology transfer;

c) exchange of knowledge and experience in the process of development and implementation of innovative policies and instruments for supporting innovative activities in line with international policies and standards;

d) sharing best practices in data integration, data delivery and electronic data exchange;

e) securing networking and data (cyber security);

f) use of information and communication technologies (ICT) throughout the public sector and industry;

g) sharing best practices on registers as basic pillars of the model of e-government and e-services and experience-sharing in adapting and implementing international legislation;

h) transfer of good practices in the implementation of innovation in the work of public administration based on the application of e-services and digital platforms; and

i) cooperation in digital innovation for smart and resilient cities, including sustainable urban production.

Article II

The Memorandum of Understanding shall be executed by means of:

a) exchanging good practices and solutions developed in the field of innovation, innovative digitalization and technology transfer;

b) organizing working visits and study tours for officials holding leadership or management positions and specialists;

c) organizing joint expert workshops, seminars and other meetings in either of the two countries;

d) providing technical consultations, feasibility studies; and

e) such other cooperation as may be mutually agreed upon.

Article III

The costs of activities and other work-related expenses for the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding incurred by a Signatory shall be borne by each Signatory for their own representatives.

Article IV

The Signatories shall evaluate the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on a regular basis with a view to amending it if necessary.

Article V

Any activity carried out by a Signatory pursuant to this Memorandum, shall be in accordance with its national law, regulations, procedures, policies and mechanisms, and subject to available budget.

Article VI

This Memorandum of Understanding shall remain in effect until one Signatory terminates it. It shall cease to apply three months following the receipt of a termination notice issued by the other Signatory.

Article VII

Any differences that may arise in the course of this Memorandum shall be settled through diplomatic channels.

Article VIII

This Memorandum of Understanding shall come into effect upon being signed by both Signatories.

Signed at Belgrade on 19. 10. 2018, in two originals each in the Serbian, Slovak and English language, all texts being equally valid. In case of any diversions of interpretations of the provisions of this Memorandum, the English text shall be used.

For The Government of the Republic of Serbia Nenad Popovic Minister in charge for Innovation and Technological Development

For Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for Investments and Informatization of the Slovak Republic Richard Raši Deputy Prime Minister for Investments and Information