Report on the held DIMK Serbia Congress and the 10th SIGP Serbia Congress with an international symposium on research and 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 May 21–23, 2025, in Sokobanja, at the “Sunce” hotel, a joint Congress of DIMK Serbia and SIGP Serbia was held with an international symposium on research and application of achievements in civil engineering in the field of materials and structures.

(XXIX DIMK Congress and X SIGP Congress 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 the Modern Clay Products Industry 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 Engineering Chamber of Serbia, as well as by numerous sponsors and donors.

General information

In the period from May 21 to 23, 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 gathered over 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 the following was held:

- professional 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 reference to clay products. The Conference program took place in the congress halls of the “Sunce” hotel in Sokobanja.

For the Congress, 57 papers were published and presented  (with abstracts). Complete texts of submitted papers were anonymously reviewed, with one or two reviewers provided for each paper.  There were 21 reviewers, selected from among esteemed scientists with PhDs in the relevant scientific fields, 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).

Proceedings were printed for 57 papers and an  impressive 527 pages. 

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

The Congress was opened by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nenad Ristić on 21.05.2025 at the “Sunce” hotel in Sokobanja. Invited lectures of the Congress took place on 21 and 22.05, and more than 100 participants attended in person; of that number,  one-third were participants from abroad. Lectures were held on all three days.

Both Congresses  and the International Symposium are an ideal opportunity for the exchange of experience, as well as analysis of achieved results in the previous period and defining future directions of development with the aim of improving civil engineering in the field of materials and structures.

This is an opportunity to consider 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 engaged in research in the field of materials and structures, as well as in the production of construction materials, especially clay products and their  application, through paper presentations and discussion, to summarize research and practice results in these areas.

A very wide range of topics was considered:

 Research of modern construction materials and their application, then theoretical and experimental analysis of structures, design and construction of facilities from the aspect of sustainable development, project management in construction, condition assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of buildings, technical regulations and quality systems, 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 of a new solution for coupling steel and cross-laminated timber with the application of reinforced dowels”

After the lectures, on May 22, an excursion was organized, where participants visited the apartment of Ivo Andrić, where he created his most famous works, the Ripaljka waterfall, and the Grudno picnic area.

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

Conclusion and impressions

According to the assessments of 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 additionally contributed to efficient dialogue and networking. Attendance at the lectures exceeded all expectations. By prior agreement, from the SIGP Assembly session,  introductory  lectures, 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 great gratitude to the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, the Engineering Chamber of Serbia, and other sponsors, who supported this Congress and made it possible to present in the best light the most modern achievements in the field of  civil engineering, with special reference to the application of the modern construction products industry in civil engineering.

in Belgrade, 30.05.2025.      

On behalf of all Congress organizers

President of DIMK Serbia

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nenad Ristić