Andrija Popovic

Research Assistant

Innovation Center of the University of Nis • Full-time

May 2025 - Present • 1 yr

As a Research Assistant at the Innovation Center of the University of Nis, I am excited to continue expanding on my foundational experiences and enhancing our organizational goals. Here’s an overview of my evolving contributions and future objectives: Previous & Ongoing Contributions: -Conducted extensive research focused on Economic Development , Circular Economy , Industry 4.0. , Macroeconomics , and Industrial Development. - Authored an expanding portfolio of scientific papers, achieving an academic impact of 107 total citations, an h-index of 4, and an i10-index of 2. - Continued to publish highly relevant research into 2024 and 2025, exploring contemporary issues such as AI adoption, e-commerce expansion, and green public procurement within the circular economy. - Developed over 10 projects for various scientific and NGO calls worth over €8 million. Future Goals and Responsibilities: - Support the Vision and Mission: Contribute to establishing a robust research and innovation system that enhances economic, social, and cultural progress in Serbia. - Encourage Scientific Excellence: Promote scientific relevance and excellence, ensuring our research in fields like Industry 4.0 and the circular economy meets national and societal needs. - Strengthen Connections: Improve links between academia, industry, and society to foster innovation and translate research into market-ready products. -Innovation Management: Participate in developing an efficient science and innovation management system. - Boost International Cooperation: Increase involvement in cross-country analyses and international collaborations to integrate global perspectives into Serbian research. - Increase R&D Investment: Advocate for greater public and private investments in research and development. By building on my experiences, I am committed to effectively contributing to our shared goals and driving impactful research at the Innovation Center of the University of Nis.

Founder and Management Consultant

VAMA Consulting Group • Self-employed

Jan 2021 - Present • 5 yrs 4 mos

VAMA Consulting Group is a Serbia-based company that provides a wide range of services to help businesses improve their performance and achieve their goals. As the founder and leader of VAMA Consulting Group, a Management Consulting Agency based in Serbia, I have expertly guided the development and growth of the company, delivering a wide range of customized solutions to help businesses improve performance, increase revenue, and achieve sustainable growth. Our proven track record of success includes: 📊 Business and Financial Planning: Expertly developing over 50 business and financial plans for cumulative investments of over $15 million; Providing strategic consulting to companies across multiple industries, including e-commerce, real estate, construction, consultancy, education, security, logistics, and ICT, to establish and optimize operations in the USA and Serbia; 📊 Operational, Financial, and Organizational Optimization: Providing expert advisory services to establish and improve operational capacity, financial management, and organizational processes for 4 international and domestic corporate clients. 📊 Quantitative and Analytical Skills: Gathering and analyzing industry, financial and operational data for over 50 clients to create informed and effective proposals for active projects; 📊 Research and Data Analysis: Expertly analyzing business data, industry, and market-related data through statistical methodology and models, utilizing Excel, SPSS, and R to research the impact of ICT and circular economy in Serbia and the world. 💡 Strong Problem-Solving Skills: Proactively resolving missing data issues through creative solutions, effectively addressing clients’ operational and functional barriers. 💸 Tax Consultancy: Offering expert guidance to corporations, SMEs, and NGOs on navigating complex tax laws and regulations, identifying potential tax savings opportunities of more than $350k, and ensuring compliance, reducing the risk.

Junior Research Assistant

Innovation Center of the University of Nis • Full-time

May 2019 - May 2024 • 5 yrs

I have been an instrumental member of a team dedicated to improving competitiveness through the interconnection of competence of the public and private sectors in the Republic of Serbia. We aim to establish an effective national research and innovation system that contributes to economic development and raises citizens' standards and quality of life. Contributions include: - Research focused on macroeconomics, economic competitiveness, modern technologies, ICT, and circular economy. - Resulting in 20+ scientific papers published in scientific journals and conferences; Developed 10+ projects for national and international scientific and NGO calls. The Innovation Center of the University of Nis aims to establish an effective national research and innovation system which contributes to economic growth, social and cultural progress, and raising citizens' standards and quality of life. The Innovation Center strives to help the research and development efforts of scientists from the University of Nis lead to the creation of products and services that will increase the quality of life of people. We are researching possibilities for improving competitiveness based on the interconnection of competence of the public and private sectors in the Republic of Serbia. In order to achieve the established vision and mission, it is necessary to achieve the following specific goals, which are: - Encouraging excellence and relevance of scientific research in the Republic of Serbia; - Strengthening the connection between science, economy, and society in order to encourage innovation; - Establishment of an efficient science and innovation management system in the Republic of Serbia; - Ensuring excellence and availability of human resources for science and economy; - Improving international cooperation in the field of science and innovation; - Increase investment in research and development through public funding and encourage business sector investment in research and development.