Academician Badnjević included on both Stanford–Elsevier lists; following his selection among the world’s 50 leaders in digital public infrastructure, his international engagement is delivering tangible results: Bosnia and Herzegovina participates for the first time in the work of Europe’s highest-level digital interoperability body, while IDDEEA establishes new international partnerships and development projects.
Prof. Dr. Almir Badnjević, Director of the Agency for Identification Documents, Registers and Data Exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina (IDDEEA), has once again been ranked among the world’s top 2% of scientists based on indicators of citation impact and scientific influence. He is included on both lists published by Elsevier in accordance with the methodology developed by researchers at Stanford University – one covering the entire scientific career and the other measuring citation impact achieved during 2025.
The latest edition of this internationally recognized database was published on 7 October 2026, based on data from the Scopus scientific database. The ranking is based on standardized indicators that, in addition to the number of citations, include the h-index, the author’s contribution to scientific publications and other indicators of scientific impact. Badnjević’s simultaneous inclusion on both lists confirms the continuity of the international recognition of his scientific work, as well as its relevance during the most recent reporting period.
This recognition comes only a few weeks after Badnjević was selected among the world’s 50 leaders in digital public infrastructure on the global “The DPI 50 – Leaders of Digital Public Infrastructure” list for 2026, published by the international platform Apolitical in cooperation with the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on GovTech and Digital Public Infrastructure.
The selection specifically highlighted IDDEEA’s achievements in the development of digital identity, qualified trust services, secure data exchange and institutional interoperability. In a short period of time, Badnjević has therefore received two different international recognitions – one for scientific work and the other for achievements in the development of digital public infrastructure. Their significance is particularly reflected in the changes IDDEEA has achieved in strengthening the international position of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
One of the most significant examples is the fact that, in February 2026, thanks to IDDEEA’s international engagement, Bosnia and Herzegovina became involved for the first time in the work of the Interoperable Europe Board, the European Union’s highest-level governance body for coordinating interoperability of digital public services, registers and data exchange. Bosnia and Herzegovina has observer status in this body and is represented by IDDEEA Director Almir Badnjević.
The Board is a European body responsible for steering the development of digital interoperability and the alignment of public administration systems, including processes that will shape how European countries connect their registers, exchange data and provide cross-border electronic services in the future. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, this represents direct participation in discussions and expert processes at a level in which the country had not previously been represented.
At the same time, IDDEEA is participating in the European WE BUILD initiative, focused on the development and implementation of the European Digital Identity, creating additional opportunities to connect Bosnia and Herzegovina’s digital infrastructure with European solutions.
International cooperation is also delivering concrete financial results. The Government of the Kingdom of Spain has secured more than EUR 620,000 for a project aimed at strengthening IDDEEA’s cybersecurity, with implementation carried out by Deloitte Spain. This investment contributes to strengthening the security of national digital systems and developing the Agency’s professional capacities.
These examples demonstrate that international reputation, professional credibility and professional networks can have direct value for public institutions. Through such an approach, IDDEEA is now cooperating with institutions, organizations and technology partners that are shaping the future of digital Europe, while Bosnia and Herzegovina is gaining an opportunity to participate more actively in processes from which it had largely been absent for many years.
“For years, I have been building an international scientific career, professional relationships and trust with people and institutions around the world. Today, my greatest satisfaction comes from being able to use that reputation for the benefit of Bosnia and Herzegovina. When you succeed in ensuring that your country is sitting at the table for the first time where the future of Europe’s digital infrastructure is being discussed, when you create opportunities for new funding, projects and cooperation with leading international institutions, scientific recognition takes on a much greater meaning.
I do not want us to measure our success by the number of meetings or photographs. I want us to measure it by the resources we have secured, the projects we have implemented and the services we have enabled for citizens,” said Badnjević.
He emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the knowledge and experts capable of participating on an equal footing in international processes, but that their potential must be much more strongly connected with the development of domestic institutions.
“It is not enough for Bosnia and Herzegovina to have people who are recognized by the world. We must learn how to turn their knowledge, international contacts and reputation into benefits for the country. I do not want us to be merely those who adopt other people’s technologies and adapt to decisions made by others.
I want us to be present when these technologies are being discussed, when standards are being developed and when opportunities for new projects are being created. Bosnia and Herzegovina must not wait for someone to give it a seat at the table. We must earn it through knowledge, hard work and results,” Badnjević said.
IDDEEA emphasizes that the international recognitions received by its Director represent additional confirmation of the value of connecting science and public administration, as well as recognition of the results achieved by the Agency through the expertise and joint efforts of its employees.
The development of electronic identity, qualified electronic signatures, interoperability and secure digital services represents the foundation upon which IDDEEA’s international recognition is being built. The Agency remains committed to ensuring that Bosnia and Herzegovina has modern and secure digital infrastructure, accessible electronic services and its representatives actively participating in international processes shaping the future of digital government.
It is not enough for Bosnia and Herzegovina to have people recognized by the world. What matters is that their knowledge, reputation and international connections generate tangible benefits for the country and its citizens.
Sources
Stanford/Elsevier – Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators, Version 9:
https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/9
Apolitical – The DPI 50, 2026:
https://apolitical.co/fr-CA/lists/dpi-50
IDDEEA – Bosnia and Herzegovina joins the Interoperable Europe Board: