MDPI Serbia recently hosted the MDPI Serbia Salon, bringing together over 30 researchers, editors, and professionals to engage in insightful discussions on the future of academic publishing and open access research.  Held at Sava Centar, a renowned cultural and congress center in Belgrade, the Salon provided a space for thought-provoking conversations, knowledge exchange, and networking opportunities, reinforcing MDPI Serbia’s commitment to fostering a strong scientific community.

The event was structured into three key sessions, beginning with opening remarks from Operations Manager Mr. Emir Ramadani, who provided insights into the MDPI Serbia office and presented the Serbian Country Report 2024. Attendees also had the pleasure of hearing from MDPI CEO, Mr. Stefan Tochev, who shared MDPI’s global achievements and future strategic plans. The next session featured insightful presentations by Dr. Nevena Blagojev, Journal Relations Manager, and Dr. Ivana Resanović, Research Integrity Manager, who discussed open science, ethical publishing practices, and research integrity from MDPI’s perspective. The event continued with a panel discussion on the role of AI in the publishing industry from MDPI’s viewpoint, where Ms. Ana Stanković from the RIPE Department, along with Ms. Ivana Vuleta, Ms. Nataša Miladinović, and Mr. Nemanja Perović from the Editorial Department, shared their experiences on AI’s growing impact on MDPI’s publishing processes, its application in editorial workflows, and its role in maintaining efficiency and quality in scholarly publishing.

A Special Guest and Recognizing Excellence
We had the privilege of welcoming Prof. Dr. Sci. Med. Sergej M. Ostojić, Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Bioenergetics, who delivered an inspiring talk on achieving excellence in science. He addressed the challenges and opportunities in academic publishing, emphasizing how publishers like MDPI play a crucial role in supporting research quality and accessibility.

The event concluded with a recognition ceremony honoring the outstanding contributions of scholars within MDPI. Ms. Ana Kesić and Mr. Nikola Milić, Deputy Operations Managers, had the privilege of presenting the awards to distinguished recipients for their dedication and excellence in academic publishing. The awards were presented as follows:

• Best Contribution as Guest Editor – Dr. Dejan Stojković, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, Serbia;
• Best Contribution as Reviewer – Dr. Mirjana Ljubojević, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Serbia; 
• Best Contribution as Academic Editor – Dr. Darjan Karabašević, Faculty of Applied Management, Economics and Finance, University Business Academy in Novi Sad, Serbia. 

Looking Ahead
The MDPI Serbia Salon 2025 was a true celebration of academic excellence, innovation, and collaboration. We extend our gratitude to all attendees, speakers, and award recipients for making this event a success. As MDPI Serbia continues to support open access research and scientific publishing, we look forward to future gatherings that bring together the brightest minds in academia.