Four New Research Infrastructure Roadmaps in the Western Balkans
The Regional Cooperation Council supported the creation of four new Research Infrastructure Roadmaps in the Western Balkans.
For the first time, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* and North Macedonia have created their research infrastructure (RI) roadmaps. Both Montenegro and Serbia previously developed their RI Roadmaps.
The new roadmaps are available here:
Research Infrastructure Roadmap for Albania
A Framework for Research Infrastructure Roadmap of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Research Infrastructure Roadmap for Kosovo*
Research Infrastructure Roadmap of North Macedonia
Importance of RI roadmaps
RI Roadmaps are critically important policy documents in strategic planning. They serve as a point of reference when planning future scientific development by providing a comprehensive overview of existing RI capacities.
New RI roadmaps provide decision-makers, research and business sectors with an insight into the current state of research infrastructure to make more efficient decisions at all levels.
They assist policymakers to leverage investments in RIs more efficiently according to the domestic and international relevance of identified RIs.
Establishing new RIs, upgrading existing or joining international ones requires additional investments from the public funds.
For that reason, evidence-based decisions are needed to improve the efficiency of spending public money.
New research infrastructure roadmaps
The new research infrastructure roadmaps summarise the existing research potential of each scientific research system.
They identify research facilities, equipment, instrumentation and international cooperation that elevate the research capacity in each of the four WB economies. This is particularly important regarding the involvement of each economy in large European RIs and projects.
In addition, the Roadmaps give the business community a better insight into the research potential. This is the key link toward establishing stronger cooperation with academia.
Finally, the RI Roadmaps may also be of interest to a wider audience, and increase the visibility and acknowledgement of domestic scientific research.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.