Report on the Congress of DIMK Serbia and the X Congress of SIGP Serbia, held with an international symposium on research and the application of achievements in civil engineering in the field of materials and structures

in the period 21.05-23.05.2025

In the period from 21 to 23 May 2025, in Sokobanja, at the hotel “Sunce”, the joint Congress of DIMK Serbia and SIGP Serbia was held, together with an international symposium on research and the application of achievements in civil engineering in the field of materials and structures.

( XXIX Congress DIMK and X Congress SIGP with international Symposium on research and application of modern achievements in civil engineering in the field of materials and structures)

The Congress was organized by the Society for Testing and Research of Materials and Structures of Serbia, the Association of Modern Industry of Clay Products of Serbia, and the IMS Institute. The organization of the Conference was supported by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia and the Chamber of Engineers of Serbia, as well as by numerous sponsors and donors.

General information

In the period from 21 to 23 May 2025, in Sokobanja, the traditional congress of the Society of Engineers and Technicians of the Construction Industry (DIMK) and the Association of Engineers of Construction Practice (SIGP), which is organized every third year, was held.

The Congress brought together more than 100 participants from various sectors of the construction industry – experts, engineers, designers, professors, students, and company representatives, which further confirms the importance of this event for the domestic professional and business public.          

Program and activities

During the three-day program, a series of:

- expert and thematic lectures,

- interactive panel discussions,

- practical workshops and presentations of new technologies and materials.

The topics were focused on contemporary challenges in civil engineering, sustainable construction, infrastructure, innovations in materials and design, as well as harmonization with European standards and practices, with special emphasis on clay products. The Conference program took place in the congress halls of the hotel “Sunce” in Sokobanja.

For the Congress, 57 papers were published and presented  (with abstracts). The full texts of the submitted presentations were anonymously reviewed, with one or two reviewers provided for each paper. There were 21 reviewers, selected from among respected scientists with doctorates in the relevant scientific field, which significantly helped raise the scientific quality of the Congress, and their names were published in the Conference materials, i.e. in the Proceedings (Conference Proceedings 1–2).

A Proceedings volume for 57 papers and  an impressive 527 pages was printed. 

Papers were published from Serbia, the USA, Germany, Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

The Congress was opened by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nenad Ristić on 21.05.2025 at the hotel „Sunce“ in Sokobanja. The invited lectures of the Congress took place on 21 and 22.05, and  more than 100 participants attended in person; of that number,  1/3 were participants from abroad. The lectures were held throughout all three days.

Both Congresses  and the International Symposium are an ideal opportunity for the exchange of experiences, as well as for analyzing the results achieved in the previous period and defining future directions of development in order to improve civil engineering in the field of materials and structures.

This is an opportunity to review the state of our regulations in these areas and the need for their further harmonization with European standards. 

The goals of the congress  are for civil engineers, technologists, and experts from other professions who deal with research in the field of materials and structures, as well as the production of construction materials, especially those made of clay and their  application, through paper presentations and discussion, to summarize the results of research and practice in these fields.

A very wide range of topics was considered:

Research into modern construction materials and their application, then theoretical and experimental analysis of structures, design and construction of buildings from the aspect of sustainable development, project management in construction, assessment of condition, maintenance and rehabilitation of construction structures, technical regulations and quality system, environmental protection and energy efficiency, raw material base and new technological processes, aspects of the application of clay products.

A plaque for the best doctorate in the period from 2022 to 2025 was also awarded. 

The Commission decided that the recipients of the plaque for the best doctoral dissertation are:

• Andrija Z. Zorić, who wrote a doctoral dissertation on the topic:

“Development of a numerical and analytical model of an innovative steel seismic energy dissipator”

• Miloš (Jovan) Milić with the doctoral dissertation topic “Proposal for a new solution for joining steel and cross-laminated timber using reinforced dowels”

After the lectures, on 22 May, an excursion was organized, during which the participants visited Ivo Andrić's apartment, where he created his most famous works, the Ripaljka waterfall, and the Grudno excursion site.

The Conference ended on 23 May  to the satisfaction of the participants, with high-quality papers and the overall organization.

Conclusion and impressions

According to the evaluations of the participants and the organizing committee, the Congress was successfully implemented with excellent organization and attention to all details, and a high level of professional exchange, professional networking, and promotion of new solutions in construction practice was achieved.

The atmosphere during the Congress was professional, but at the same time friendly and open, which further contributed to effective dialogue and networking. Attendance at the lectures was beyond all expectations. By prior agreement, the opening lectures from the SIGP Assembly session, as well as a larger number of papers, were presented on the first day and also before noon on the second day of the Congress. 

I express my great gratitude to the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, the Chamber of Engineers of Serbia, and other sponsors, who supported this Congress and enabled the most modern achievements in the field of civil engineering to be presented in the best light, with special emphasis on the application of the modern industry of construction products in civil engineering.

In Belgrade, 30.05.2025     

On behalf of all the Congress organizers

President of DIMK Serbia

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nenad Ristić