Continuous support to the Steering Platform on R&I for Western Balkan countries

The overall objective of this service delivery is the integration of the WBCs into the European Research Area and thus contributing to the EU-Western Balkans Enlargement Strategy of the European Commission (EC). It shall help create synergies between the many existing actions and instruments in formulating joint initiatives and action plans. At the operational level, the service delivery includes a range of different actions, such as the implementation of:

• 2 Ministerial meetings of the Western Balkan Steering Platform on R&l (one in 2019 and one in 2020),which is a stable and reliable format for political cooperation and exchange up to the highest level;

• 4 Research and Innovation (R&l) meetings or regional events (one in 2019, two in 2020 and one in 2021) targeting policy stakeholders in a given R&l policy area (e.g„ technology transfer, mobility, cluster development); the R&l meetings can serve to prepare the SP meetings by providing technical input and setting agenda points;

• 25 interventions in the Western Balkans by experts to support the implementation of national Smart specialisation and cluster efforts; the interventions are tailor made to the needs and specific requirements in the region addressed by the WBCs;

• A study on the status of Smart Specialisation Strategies and R&l cluster activities in the region; the results of the study will be presented in a final event in the region in order to disseminate and discuss the information;

• An analysis for the provision of a researcher's mobility system in the WBC based on existing material and programmes, leading to the formulation of 3 to 5 options for mobility schemes and recommendations for their operation;

• An analysis on the ERA progress monitoring, which concentrates on monitoring the WBC's progress in their efforts towards ERA integration; the results are laid down in half-yearly reports;

• The strengthening of visibility of the WBC's potential of the regional science communities and dissemination of their achievements, furthermore the continuation of the dedicated website and the update of the newsletter.

Team:

• Magª. Désirée Pecarz (project leader)
• Ing. Gabriela Cikikyan, MA
• Marie Croce, M.A.

Section: Research Policy & Development

Partners:

• Intrasoft International SA
• Project Management Agency at the DLR (German Aerospace Center)
• TEAMWORK
• Technopolis Group

Related Articles:

• Project: Service Facility in Support of the Strategic Development of International Cooperation in Research and Innovation
• Project: ISF Support for the Steering Platform on Research and Innovation for Western Balkan Countries
• News: Foresight study on Research and Innovation in the Western Balkans
• Project: ISF - Foresight study on Research and Innovation in the Western Balkans
• Publication: Strategic Foresight in the Western Balkans: Recovery on the Horizon
• Project: R&I POLICY making, implementation ANd Support in the WEsteRn BalkanS

Tags: Balkan, international cooperation, internationalisation, research and innovation policy, Southeast Europe