Western Balkans Innovation & Research Platform Meeting
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) has organized the first Western Balkans Innovation & Research Platform online meeting on 11 May 2022.
The Platform has two key purposes. First, to ensure better coordination between key innovation and research players in the Western Balkans. Second, to help synchronise their actions while keeping the regional partners informed about existing opportunities.
The meeting allowed the key innovation & research stakeholders to present their significant initiatives to the regional audience.
In total, 84 participants from line ministries, innovation infrastructures, research organizations, businesses and EU research & innovation agencies joined the meeting.
Western Balkans Innovation & Research Platform Meeting
To set the stage, Mr Sinisa Marcic informed the participants about the RCC’s planned and potential actions in 2022 within the Common Regional Market Action Plan (CRM). The CRM is, among other things, designed to foster regional innovation ecosystem developments.
The RCC’s experts presented the key takeaways of the forthcoming Western Balkans Research & Innovation Infrastructure Roadmap. They presented the strategic fields for future investments in research and innovation infrastructure. In addition, they focused on the potential to contribute to economic development and post-Covid recovery.
Key speakers from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Enterprise Europe Network, EUREKA Network, COST Association, and Center for Social Innovation (Horizon Europe projects) presented their planned initiative that create opportunities for the region’s research organizations, innovators, and businesses.
Participants agreed on the need to prevent major overlaps and duplication of efforts. We should ensure the identification of complementarities, and facilitate joining forces where possible.
The speakers concluded that the Platform is a handy regional tool. They invited the RCC to turn the Platform's meetings into regular semi-annual gatherings.