Research News

A team led by Dr. Elena Kovac at the Renewable Energy Institute has achieved a record-breaking 32% efficiency in perovskite solar cells, promising cheaper and more accessible renewable energy solutions.

The breakthrough, published this week in Nature Energy, overcomes a major stability hurdle that has plagued perovskite technology for years. By introducing a novel "molecular glue" layer, the team was able to prevent the degradation of the cell structure under high heat and humidity.

"This is a game-changer for the solar industry," said Dr. Kovac. "Not only is the efficiency higher than traditional silicon cells, but the manufacturing process is also significantly cheaper and less energy-intensive."

The team is now working with industry partner Siemens to scale up production for commercial testing. If successful, these new panels could be on the market within the next 3-5 years.

The Faculty of Bio-Technology, in collaboration with the Center for Artificial Intelligence, has developed a new machine learning model that combines satellite data with local soil sensor readings to help farmers optimize harvest times.

The project, named "AgriBrain", was tested across 50 farms in the Vojvodina region. It successfully predicted yield outcomes weeks in advance, allowing farmers to adjust their irrigation and fertilization strategies to maximize output and minimize waste.

"Precision agriculture is the future of food security," explained lead researcher Marko Ilic. "By giving farmers actionable data, we are not just increasing profits, but also promoting sustainable land use."

The software is now being released as an open-source tool for agricultural universities and research centers worldwide.

SIUT has officially partnered with the Novi Sad city government to implement a comprehensive IoT traffic management system designed entirely by our engineering students.

The initiative aims to reduce traffic congestion by 30% and lower carbon emissions in the city center. Smart sensors installed at key intersections will communicate with a central server to adjust traffic light timings in real-time based on flow density.

"This is a perfect example of how academic research can have a direct, positive impact on our local community," said Mayor Milan Đurić at the launch ceremony.

Phase 1 of the project begins next month, with a full rollout expected by late 2025.