Thank you Biljana: Celebrating Years of Dedication to Open Science

OpenAIRE warmly thanks and sends our well wishes to Biljana Kosanović, long-standing NOAD for Serbia, as she prepares to retire at the end of the month.

Over the years, Biljana has played an important role in strengthening Open Science in Serbia and across the wider regional community. Through her expertise, dedication, patience, and generosity, she has supported institutions, colleagues, and partners in advancing shared practices, building connections, and making Open Science more visible and meaningful.

As she steps into retirement, her work as NOAD for Serbia will be continued by Obrad Vučkovac. While Biljana will be greatly missed, her contribution will remain part of the foundations on which the community continues to build.

To mark this moment, colleagues from across the OpenAIRE community shared a few words of appreciation and gratitude.

It is truly difficult to put into words how much Biljana has meant to our community. I will especially cherish the memory of her visit to the University of Banja Luka, because it was both a pleasure and an honour to listen to what felt like a lifetime of knowledge concentrated in one person. Her passion for Open Science was truly inspiring. Her influence will continue to shape our work and our community for years to come.

Želimo ti srećno i dugovječno zasluženo penzionisanje – HVALA.

We wish you a happy, fulfilling, and truly well-deserved retirement – THANK YOU.

Dragana Radulović, University of Banja Luka

I always looked forward to OpenAIRE events, both for the wealth of new information and for the opportunity to meet people, especially Biljana. Her expertise, calm attitude, dedication, and perseverance, combined with never-ending smiles and jokes, made everyone attentive and supportive of her suggestions and activities. Her contribution to Open Science in Serbia and Eastern Europe is enormous and has created a solid foundation. It is a great privilege to be her friend.

Mojca Kotar, University of Ljubljana

As the NOAD for Türkiye, I have had the privilege of working closely with Biljana for many years within OpenAIRE, and her departure is truly a significant loss for our entire Open Science community. Beyond her immense professional contributions, she has been a dear friend whose warm personality and delightful conversations made every moment of our collaboration a genuine pleasure.

Gültekin Gürdal, IZTECH, Izmir Institute of Technology

What I will always remember about Biljana is not only her patience, but the wisdom behind it. I still remember her slides about investing time in people, only to see them disappear just when you thought you were building something together. It was funny, honest, and very Biljana, but it also captured how deeply she understood people, institutions, and the realities of building communities.

As Serbia's representative in OpenAIRE, she brought a rare mix of street smarts, political instinct, and genuine warmth. Biljana never needed many words. When she spoke, she was direct, sharp, often funny, and usually right. While she may be retiring from this role, the lessons, laughs, and perspective she brought to all of us will stay very much part of this community.

Natalia Manola, OpenAIRE CEO

With gratitude from the OpenAIRE community

Biljana's retirement marks the end of an important chapter, but also a moment to celebrate the relationships, knowledge, and foundations she has helped build. On behalf of the OpenAIRE community, we thank her for her many years of commitment, collaboration, and friendship, and wish her a happy and well-deserved retirement.