This page is a continuation of the report of the project From Idea to Impact, which was realized in 2024.

34. The Arduino Contest

For the second year in a row, the ED/SSC Serbia and Montenegro Section has taken part in organizing the Arduino Contest, a significant platform for showcasing creativity in electronics and programming. This year, for the first time, the contest was open to participants from around the world, including both university and high school students. With a highly competitive field, participants were allowed to present their projects in their native languages, with their voices then transcribed for uniform assessment. The ED/SSC Serbia and Montenegro Section made significant efforts to raise awareness of the contest within Serbia and provided support for project implementation as needed. The response was encouraging, and one of the Serbian teams earned a commendable third-place award, demonstrating both the skill and dedication of young engineers from the region. Also, from the very beginning of the competition, Sandra Veljković was involved in the organization process and was one of the judges who evaluated the works that participated in the competition. We hope to see similar contests, initiatives, and enthusiasm for competition in the future, as they offer invaluable opportunities for testing knowledge, fostering a spirit of innovation, and developing a competitive mindset among young talents.

35. Team building

The "Sports Center Nikolić" Balloon Hall Vinik is a popular sports and recreation venue near Niš, situated in the historically significant area of Vinik, which was once home for the Roman elite. Today, Vinik serves as a relaxation and picnic spot for locals. Our section has been organizing various social events aimed at fostering connections and friendships, including celebrations, museum and company tours, and high school visits. One notable event was a friendly football match between two teams comprising of alumni of the Faculty of Electronic Engineering in Niš who now work in prominent regional companies, which are supporters of the IEEESTEC Conference. Before the match, Prof. Dr. Danijel Danković, shared the mission and vision of IEEE and encouraged members to participate in future workshops as industry-university connections. Participants received t-shirts with the logo of the IEEESTEC conference. T-shirts were made for two teams, the red team and the blue team. This event was also a part of the promotion of the IEEESTEC conference, which will be held at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Nis at the end of November. These types of activities, along with symbolic gifts, are planned to continue in the future.

36. Meeting in "Bora Stanković" high school

On November 13, 2024, another visit to the "Bora Stanković" high school in Niš was organized. On this occasion, professor Emilija Živanović had a meeting with physics professors Snežana Janković and Vladana Golubović, which was also attended by students who had previously attended workshops realized within the framework of the STEM project "From Idea to Impact: Launching the IEEESTEC Conference". The topic of the meeting was the agreement on the final presentation of the work at the 17th IEEESTEC conference. In addition, it was agreed that about 30 school students will visit the Faculty of Electronic Engineering in Nis on 28 November 2024. On that occasion, they will attend the official opening of the conference, as well as numerous activities that are organized that day for pupils and students.

37. Innovative Technologies in Smart Building Architecture

On November 14, 2024, a lecture entitled "Smart buildings in architecture" was held at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture in Niš. The lecture was held by the assistant of the Department of Microelectronics, Nikola Mitrović. During this lecture, the innovative technical systems used in the design of smart buildings were presented, as well as the key factors that architects must pay attention when creating such projects. Special attention is paid to the concept of smart windows. The presentation is marked by carefully selected information from the field of architecture and technology. The lecture was attended by 15 architecture students, and the lecture itself lasted 45 minutes.

38. Part of the New Equipment

Thanks to funding from the STEM project, new equipment was acquired, enabling project participants to work on and enhance their skills through practical project implementation. After completing the workshops, participants were highly motivated to continue their work and frequently asked questions like “What’s next?” or “When is the next gathering?” This enthusiasm confirms how engaging the tasks were for students. Initially unfamiliar with the equipment, they gradually mastered its functions, making the experience both educational and inspiring.

39. Technical Meeting for the IEEESTEC Conference

On November 25, 2024, the final preparations for the organization of the IEEESTEC conference were successfully completed. With numerous students from various cities across Serbia set to attend, detailed planning was required to ensure they could come as planed to the Conference. A dedicated team of around 20 volunteers played a crucial role in coordinating the conference's additional events. Their efforts extended to tasks such as communicating with companies, preparing awards for the authors of winning papers, preparing workshops, and ensuring the smooth completing of all activities. Their commitment and teamwork will significantly contribute to the success of the event, creating a well-organized and enriching experience for all participants.

40. Media Promotion Activities for the IEEESTEC Conference

In the lead-up to the IEEESTEC Conference, extensive media promotion was carried out to ensure broad visibility and engagement. This promotion was performed on various social media platforms, including presentations at schools, meetings, and other relevant venues. The promotional activities reached their peak on the day of the Conference with a television interview which was performed by prof. dr. Danijel Dankovic. This interview was so important because in that way many people could hear about the IEEESTEC Conference. The interview provided an excellent opportunity to highlight the conference’s goals, activities, and significance, further boosting interest and participation among students, professionals, and all associated colleges. These efforts successfully enhanced the conference's outreach and impact.

41. 17th IEEESTEC Conference held at the Faculty of Electronic Engineering in Niš

The 17th student's projects conference - IEESTEC was held on November 28, 2024. The conference was organized by the student branch of IEEE SB Niš, EESTEC LC Niš and the Faculty of Electronic Engineering in Niš, in cooperation with IEEE Serbia and Montenegro Section, IEEE Electron Devices/Solid-State Circuits Chapter, IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Chapter, IEEE WIE Affinity Group and IEEE Computational Intelligence Chapter, with the support of the Serbian Academy of Science and Arts (SASA) Branch in Niš, as well as the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.
We sent an invitation for the conference to the authors of papers from previous conferences, to all student organizations in Serbia, student branches of IEEE, members of IEEE Section Serbia and Montenegro. The total number of papers received is 101 (from the fields: electronics, microelectronics, telecommunications, automation, energy, computing and informatics, physics, student mobility...). All papers have passed the peer review stage, with a minimum of two peer reviews provided for each paper. 54 professors and associates of the Faculty of Electronics in Niš helped in the review process.
Following the official opening ceremony, which included the awarding of prizes for the best projects, participants and visitors had the opportunity to enjoy a poster exhibition in the faculty’s main hall, as well as oral presentations of the awarded papers. Special attention was given to high school students, for whom interactive workshops were organized in the state-of-the-art laboratories of the Faculty of Electronic Engineering. These workshops enabled the students to explore topics in electronics and programming hands-on, under the guidance of experienced instructors and students.
Based on the received reviews, the awards were awarded:
3. Designing a traffic intersection controller for an FPGA chip, Nevena Veselinović, Veljko Stošić, Nikola Stefanović, Faculty of Electronic Engineering Nis, Serbia
2b. Optimization of rendering performance of 3D Gaussian stacking scenes by forward reduction of detail level based on distance, Luka Skenderija, Research center Petnica, Valjevo, Serbia 2a. PIN diode as an X-ray sensor, Dunja Djordjevic, Faculty of Electronic Engineering Nis, Serbia
1. Netrunners „Vision One“, Nikola Ranđelović, Luka Rakić, Faculty of Electronic Engineering Nis, Serbia
The IEEESTEC Conference continues to inspire future engineers, connect talented young individuals, and create an environment that fosters innovation and scientific achievements.

42. Petnica Science Center at the IEEESTEC Conference

It was a great honor to host esteemed guests from the Petnica Science Center at this year’s IEEESTEC Conference. Our long-standing collaborators once again joined us, presenting high-quality projects in the field of electronics. Their participation showcased the impressive results of various tasks and projects undertaken during their seminars. These efforts finished in the creation of exceptional papers that were presented at the Conference, further demonstrating their dedication to scientific excellence. The cooperation with Petnica Science Center has always been a source of inspiration and innovation, and this year was no exception. Following the successful Conference, the collaboration continued at the formal dinner in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The permanent cooperation with Petnica Science Center stands as a proof of collaboration in advancing education, science, and technology, and we look forward to many more successful projects and shared achievements in years to come.

43. Workshop for Galaksija kup participants in Nis

The ninth edition of the Galaxy Cup (in Serbian: Galaksija kup), a national competition for electrical engineering schools, has kicked off, with teams of students and their mentors tasked with developing innovative technological solutions to everyday challenges. This year, the competition has expanded with the support of key partners, including UniCredit Bank Serbia as the main sponsor and Bosch Serbia, bringing global expertise to the event. These partnerships enable students to benefit from a mentoring program and regional workshops, enhancing their skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and modern work methodologies. A workshop for teams from southern Serbia was held at the Science and Technology Park Niš on December 10, 2024, where Danijel Danković and Miloš Marjanović, jury members of the competition, introduced the IEEE STEM project to the participants.

44. "Mobility Today, Skills for Tomorrow"

On December 12, 2024, a presentation of the Erasmus+ project "MOBILITY TODAY, SKILLS FOR TOMORROW" by the Electrical Engineering School "Mija Stanimirović" was held at THINK Innovative Hub and Caffe Industrija. Students and teachers who participated in the Erasmus+ project in Leipzig, at the Vitalis training center, shared their experiences with the attendees and presented the works they completed upon returning from Leipzig. This is yet another successful project implemented by the school, following a series of previous projects that resulted in numerous publications and awards at past IEEESTEC conferences. The event was also attended by Prof. Dr. Danijel Danković, who engaged with students and teachers, encouraging them to prepare papers based on the completed projects for the upcoming IEEESTEC conference. The event gathered a large number of representatives from various scientific and educational institutions and received significant media coverage.

45. Conference "Step into Science" in Petnica

The "Step into Science" conference, held annually, brings together alumni from various programs organized by the Petnica Science Center for high school students, as well as representatives from partner organizations across the region. This year, the conference celebrated its 23rd edition from December 13 to 15, 2024. On Saturday, the guest session featured presentations from the Faculty of Electronic Engineering in Niš, including: "Remote Control System Using Infrared Communication" by Marija Petrović, "PIN Diode as an X-ray Radiation Sensor" by Dunja Đorđević, and "Twinning for Excellence in Adaptive Edge AI – AIDA4Edge" by Miloš Marjanović. For several years, the Faculty of Electronic Engineering has collaborated with Petnica SC and IEEE, with faculty members giving guest lectures at Petnica seminars and participating in their conference. In return, Petnica participants present their projects at the IEEESTEC conference, further promoting the STEM concept in education.

46. Visit to the Technical School "Rade Metalac" in Leskovac

Following the 17th IEEESTEC conference, the collaboration between the Faculty of Electronic Engineering in Niš and the Technical School "Rade Metalac" in Leskovac continued with a visit from Prof. Dr. Danijel Danković to the school. Prof. Danković visited the school on December 18th, delivering gifts to the professors and students of the team that won first place in the "Beacon of Knowledge" competition for the best project. The competition was held in early December 2024 in Niš. The team from Leskovac triumphed with their project "Eco Challenge," one of the largest projects for high school students in the Republic of Serbia, which captured everyone’s hearts and secured victory in the eighth generation of the "Beacon of Knowledge." The project involves a competition between three elementary schools in Leskovac to collect waste. The waste is placed in smart bins equipped with artificial intelligence and automated waste recognition and sorting. The school that collects the most points, i.e., waste, over a three-month period will receive a smart garden as a reward. The garden features specific plants that absorb carbon dioxide and other harmful particles, such as PM10 and PM2.5, which negatively affect human health. It also includes sensors for monitoring plant conditions and real-time air quality parameters. This competition is organized by the Association for the Promotion of Culture in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Youth. The visit also aimed to emphasize the importance of the IEEE organization, the IEEESTEC conference, and the advantages of studying at the Faculty of Electronic Engineering in Niš. Discussions with the school’s leadership and faculty resulted in a plan for future collaboration.

47. Visit to the Center for Professional Development in Education in Leskovac

Prof. Danković visited the Center for Professional Development in Education in Leskovac, one of the most significant institutions in the field of education in the Jablanica and Pčinja districts. Considering that the primary goal of this Center is to improve the quality of education, the visit was used to review the activities conducted in the previous period and to develop a plan for the upcoming calendar year. Emphasis was placed on workshops and lectures for high school students, as well as on activities aimed at encouraging them to write papers for the next IEEESTEC conference and to visit the Faculty of Electronic Engineering.

48. Online meeting for Galaksija kup

On Monday, December 23, an online meeting was held, attended by members of the Galaksija kup Organizing Committee, members of the jury of this competition, and a representative of the Noredeus Foundation. The topic of the meeting was the organization of the first part of the competition. As part of the meeting, a report on the IEEESTEC conference was presented to the attendees, and the model of good practice will be transferred to the Galaxy Cup competition. 42 teams applied for the Galaksija kup competition, and the competition will be held in March at a school in Vršac, Serbia.

49. The Importance of STEM in a Researcher's Career

Sandra Veljković, an assistant at the Department of Microelectronics at the Faculty of Electronic Engineering in Niš, has been honored with recognition through the international L'Oréal-UNESCO "For Women in Science" program. At the award ceremony, held at the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Sandra spoke about her first encounter with science, which occurred during her participation in the IEEESTEC conference. She also emphasized the importance of support from professors and colleagues with whom she closely collaborates. The award ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Danijel Danković and Prof. Dr. Emilija Živanović. The international L'Oréal-UNESCO "For Women in Science" initiative celebrates its 26th anniversary this year. The program was launched in Serbia in 2010, and since then, more than 700 young female scientists have participated in the National Awards competition, with 41 of them receiving awards. The goal of the "For Women in Science" program is to support exceptional women researchers worldwide, who, through their dedication, achievements, and vision, contribute to the advancement of science and society as a whole.