Supreme Audit Office looks into SAV’s transformation

The Supreme Audit Office (NKU) will inspect the process of preparing the transformation of Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) organisations into public research institutes (VVI), its spokesman Marek Papajčík announced on Monday. "Inspectors will check the steps that are directly related to the economical and efficient management of the state assets administered by the Academy," stated Papajčík, adding that the Supreme Audit Office has already approached the Education Ministry and requested comprehensive documentation submitted to the ministry by SAV, including support guidelines and transformation projects. The audit should be completed by the end of the year. An open conflict between the Education Ministry and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) over its transformation into a public research institution had gone on for months, with scientists taking to the streets to complain that they were prevented from accessing grants and entering into commercial cooperation. In mid-September, however, MPs voted to return the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) institutes to the state that they were in before their transformation.