How Blum Institute and Bloomteq Plan to Spark a New Scientific Era in BiH
Dr. Elmir Babović, Head of Research at the Blum Institute and Bloomteq, on why young people need to have ideas, challenge established standards, and seek mentorship support.
When Dr. Elmir Babović talks about young people and their potential, he does not speak from the position of a professor giving lectures. He speaks as someone who initiated his earliest drone research from a makeshift setup in his house back in 2013, who went to a competition and scientific conference in Singapore without a laboratory or support to present his paper on metamorphic hyperspace in robotics, and who today leads the research activities of the first artificial intelligence institute in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Blum Institute.
On the occasion of December 12th, Science Day in the Federation of BiH, we are happy to introduce our new Head of Research at Blum Institute. We spoke with Dr. Babović about what young researchers and students need - to realize their potential in a country that is still finding its place on the map of global innovations.
The idea as a starting point
“What would I like to see in the future? That when young people come to the institute, they arrive with an idea,” says Babović. “And that we can tell them: let us help you shape it. That they develop it, and that it becomes a shared journey.”
In his courses at the Faculty of Information Technologies in Mostar, Babović moved away from the traditional model where students email him their project proposals. Instead, he leads brainstorming sessions where ideas are generated collectively, debated, and refined. “Sometimes their concept changes completely - that lecture becomes an essential part of learning the process itself and understanding how to think about the topic,” he explains.
But the idea alone is not enough. "Give me a concrete delivered product. Give me a proposal, what have you physically made, what problem have you solved, and immediately where can it be sold?" This question, first posed to him by the inspiring dean Safet Krkić, founder of FIT Mostar, has since become Babović’s guiding principle. The smartest generation – which needs to challenge
"I tell students; you are the smartest generation that has ever walked the face of the Earth since the origin of man," says Elmir. "They just need to be given the opportunity, given the chance to spread those wings. We hold them back, they just need to be let go."
However, this freedom comes with the responsibility of critical thinking. Babović insists that students stop blindly accepting authorities. "Whenever someone tells you something, ask them why? Always ask why," he advises. "If I say something is best practice, what is your first question? Why, professor?"
This is not merely an academic principle. “Do not take the older generation’s words at face value,” he says. “Expect more from me, challenge me, ask me to justify my claims. Because if I cannot clearly explain why, then perhaps the idea itself is not as solid as it seems.” He emphasizes that the era of rote memorization is long behind us. “That form of knowledge ended the moment the internet arrived,” he notes.
For our Head of Research, these younger generations will no longer “accept everything older people say as unquestionable truth.” And that is a positive shift, he notes, because it is precisely this habit of questioning that ultimately drives innovation.
Mentorship as the key – the role of the Blum Institute and Bloomteq
Ideas and critical thinking need a framework in which they can thrive. This is precisely where Elmir Babović sees the role of the Blum Institute, the first artificial intelligence institute in Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded by Bloomteq.
"Blum Institute is supposed to be a type of institute that will be a long-term generator of market competitiveness," he explains the vision. The institute has two tracks: research-commercial, where innovations are quickly implemented and monetized, and scientific, which builds a deeper scientific base through research and scientific papers. For young researchers, this means concrete support. "The position of the institute needs to be a good sanctuary for young people," says Babović. "To be a hub for master's and doctoral students."
“In 2011, I traveled to Singapore, a friend bought my ticket and covered the conference fee. I presented my paper on metamorphic hyperspace without a laboratory and without institutional support, working entirely from a makeshift setup at home. It can be done.”
Message for Science Day
Babović's message for young researchers on Science Day is simple, but strong: "Clear your mind of the current state here and don't close yourself in a box. In the era of globalization, there are no more limits." And he quotes an Arabic proverb he loves: "He who wants to, finds a way. He who doesn't, finds a reason."
For those who are ready to take the leap, the Blum Institute and Bloomteq provide a framework, guidance, and the opportunity to transform their ideas into reality. As our Head of Research, Elmir Babović, puts it: “They just need the space to spread their wings.”
