Why Blum Institute
Find out more about the life of the man who stands to be an inspiration for Blum Institute.
Emerik Blum — Inspiration for the grounding of the first AI Institute in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Emerik Blum was born on August 7, 1911, as a Bosnian Jew of Hungarian descent. He graduated from the Polytechnic University of Prague. In 1930, at the age of 20, he became a member of the artistic group Collegium Artisticum.
In 1941, Emerik Blum was arrested and detained in the notorious Jasenovac camp. After three years, he managed to escape and joined the Partisan’s Army at the front. In November 1944, he successfully escaped from Stara Gradiška. Out of six people captured, only Blum swam to the other side of the Sava River.
From 1981 to 1983, he served as the Mayor of Sarajevo. On June 24, 1984, after completing his final duties on the committee for organizing the 14th Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, he passed away..
About his career
“The faculty is our most important factory”
⸺ Emerik Blum
After World War II
Emerik Blum worked as the Head of the Ministry of Industry and Mining of Bosnia and Herzegovina, General Engineer at the Federal Power Company, and held various high-level positions in the power sector.
In 1951
Emerik co-founded the company “Elektroprojekt,” which later became the regional giant “Energoinvest,” operating worldwide. In 1951, with around seventy employees, the company grew to employ nearly 42,000 people by 1987, with a turnover of one billion dollars.
In 1954
He established a Welding and Defectoscopy Laboratory and created a welding society and school in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In 1964
He introduced data processing machines with the digital "GAMINA 30" and analog "PACE 231" computers to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Blum aimed to create a large engineering force that would produce, build, and export with a significant international impact.
In 1966
Energoinvest employed 900 engineers and technicians, and in that year, it awarded 801 new scholarships.
In 1972
Energoinvest had an annual growth rate of 20%, with a revenue of 160 million dollars, spending five to six million dollars on research, development, and scholarships.
By the mid-1970s
Energoinvest became one of the largest Yugoslav companies, the biggest Yugoslav exporter, accounting for about 5% of Yugoslavia’s total export and about 35% of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s exports.
In April 1981
As Mayor of Sarajevo, Blum focused on solving the city’s pollution problems. He attempted to reduce traffic congestion by constructing a bypass and introducing trolleybus services. Today, Energoinvest is not what it used to be, a natural outcome of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the loss of its market.
Awards
Emerik Blum is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, among which the "Legion of Honor Knight" distinction from France stands out.
Video source — BLUM Documentary
Author — Arijana Saračević Helač
Partisan Memorial Medal
— 1941
Order of Bravery
— 1963
Order of Labor and Merit
— 1964
6th of April Award of the City of Sarajevo
— 1966
AVNOJ Award
— 1970
Order of the Republic with Golden Wreath
— 1971
Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy
— 1971
Commander’s Cross of Poland
— 1973
Order of National De Lion (France)
— 1974
Commander of Senegal
— 1975
Order of the Yugoslav Flag with Ribbon
— 1976
Awards
Emerik Blum is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, among which the "Legion of Honor Knight" distinction from France stands out.
Video source — BLUM Documentary
Author — Arijana Saračević Helač
Partisan Memorial Medal
— 1941
Order of Bravery
— 1963
Order of Labor and Merit
— 1964
6th of April Award of the City of Sarajevo
— 1966
AVNOJ Award
— 1970
Order of the Republic with Golden Wreath
— 1971
Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy
— 1971
Commander’s Cross of Poland
— 1973
Order of National De Lion (France)
— 1974
Commander of Senegal
— 1975
Order of the Yugoslav Flag with Ribbon
— 1976
