The Role of Science in Development of Water Management Profession in Serbia

The reintegration of water management, as an economic branch of special importance in the overall social and economic development of the country, is conditioned by appropriate scientific and technological progress. Water activities, whether water use, to protect against harmful effects of water or water protection, must be based on modern scientific achievements and modern technologies. Starting from the importance of water management, the Republic of Serbia in the past 40 years has provided certain support to basic and applied research in scientific disciplines within water management, energy, agriculture, construction, traffic and other branches. On the basis of these researches, new technology has been acquired, new technological processes have been developed, the technologies of design, construction and management of water management facilities and systems have been improved, devices and equipment have been developed, etc.. Scientific research work in the field of water management in Serbia took its place and was to a certain extent coordinated with the development policy of water management and other economic branches. However, it is evident that scientific and technological development did not follow the upward trend, development did not include water management as an economy branch as a whole, it was not based on the long-term water management development program and it did not have a continuous funding policy. Due to the lack of a long-term water management policy and the appropriate support (institutional and financial) for the implementation of this policy, scientific research in the field of water management has lost a step in relation to the developed countries of the world. Bearing in mind all the problems and plans for the development of water management, which are set out in the Water Management Plan of the Republic of Serbia, it is necessary to adopt a strategic plan for the development of water management, and within this framework, the strategic program of scientific research activities in the following period.