The Miodrag Kostić Endowment, in cooperation with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Belgrade, donates to Serbia the first Center for Research and Popularization of Science.
The Palace of Science – Miodrag Kostić Endowment will be the first Center for Research and Popularization of Science in Serbia and the largest in the region. Following the example of the best world centers of this kind, scientific contents and activities in the Palace of Science will cover more than 5,500 m2, and the support for science and the scientific and technological development of Serbia has been provided through a donation worth more than 25 million euros. A monumental architectural landmark in the center of Belgrade – a building dating back to 1924 at the intersection of Kralja Milana and Kneza Miloša Streets, will open its doors to all current and future scientists, researchers, students, and pupils, but also to people of all generations who believe in a world of boundless possibilities revealed by science. The Miodrag Kostić Endowment will significantly contribute to Serbia’s scientific and technological development through the activities in the Palace of Science.
The cooperation between the Miodrag Kostić Endowment and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Belgrade was made official at the end of October in the presence of the Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Dr. Jelena Begović, as well as representatives of the scientific research and academic community of our country. This cooperation is the beginning of a platform creation that will bring together people and organizations with the common goal of strengthening science as a driving force of development in every society. The importance of the partnership with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering will be reflected in the contribution to education, Serbia’s scientific and technological progress, and the initiation of a wave of innovations. The established cooperation aims to provide teachers, students of all study levels, and postdoctoral students of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering with modern space, equipment, and the best conditions for work and scientific research.
The performance of the Endowment is based on the values of Miodrag Kostić, at the center of which are knowledge, work, and continuous development. His vision for the Palace of Science fosters a passion for discoveries, new knowledge, and pushing boundaries.
In the future building of the Palace of Science, there will be 19 research centers managed by teachers of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. Research in various scientific fields will be conducted in over 1,500 m2 of exclusive laboratory space. In addition to the research centers, one part of the space will bring science closer to the wider public, stimulating curiosity in children and young people by learning about scientific discoveries and their applications in everyday life. The Palace of Science will host many interactive and educational exhibits as part of permanent and guest exhibitions, providing all visitors with unique scientific experiences and exciting demonstrations.
The Miodrag Kostić Endowment will greatly influence the development of Serbian science and will place the young generations, who are our future, at the epicenter of world technological innovations.
Miodrag Kostć – Visionary in Business, Philanthropist at Heart
The public recognizes Miodrag Kostić, the President and Founder of MK Group, as one of the most successful Serbian businessmen who has expanded his business beyond the borders of our country and enjoys an international reputation. Throughout his development path as a visionary and strategist, he has always emphasized the importance of knowledge, hard work, and perseverance. Supporting children and young people is the backbone of his philanthropic activities. He personally initiates and monitors a large number of projects, and among them are the regional CSR program “Family Support,” support for education, assistance to healthcare, and vulnerable groups of the population, with a special focus on local communities where the companies owned by him operate. He allocated over five million euros for socially responsible actions in the past five years alone.
The community has recognized his efforts to provide generations with better opportunities for life and a chance to prosper. Miodrag Kostić receives numerous awards for business success, but his favorite ones are those that reward humanity. He is the only person in Serbia who has been awarded the Badge of Honor by the international organization SOS Children’s Village as a sign of gratitude for his long-term support and contribution. He is the bearer of the Golden Badge of the Red Cross of Serbia, the prestigious title “Friend of the Family” awarded by the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, and numerous awards for donating food to vulnerable populations. The VIRTUS award for philanthropy and contribution at the national level for MK Group in 2020, followed after Miodrag Kostić was among the first to respond to calls from governments in the region and indicated various forms of assistance during the coronavirus pandemic.
His passion for developing and improving society was the motive for establishing the Endowment, which bears his name. This is the second endowment he has started. Previously, in 2013, he handed over his family home in Novi Sad, as the “Kostić Family Endowment,” to the “Institute for Health Care, Children and Youth of Vojvodina” for the needs of more humane treatment in cooperation with the NURDOR association. With his socially responsible actions, Miodrag Kostić deserves the title of a modern patron endower who desires to leave a lasting value to the peoples of these areas, like the great endowments in Serbian history.
