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The Newsletter to support the Western Balkans' knowledge societies and ecosystems
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Updates from the region
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The theme of the month
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Meetings of the Western Balkans Steering Platforms |
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Focus article
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POLICY ANSWERS review of the progresses shared at the Meeting of the WB Steering Platforms in June |
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Other highlights
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Updates from the region
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| News | | Six Western Balkans universities involved in new European Universities Alliances (Erasmus+ 2024) | |  |
| | Western Balkans Mobility Scheme Closed with Good Response from Early-career Researchers | | |
| | European Heritage Hub Announces Grants to 7 Heritage Projects in the Western Balkans | | |
| | Western Balkans R&I updates - a review by POLICY ANSWERS | | |
| | [Event Review] Implementation of the European Research Area (ERA) in the Western Balkans | | |
| | Western Balkans Talents Selected for EIT Jumpstarter Bootcamps 2024 | | |
| | The European Training Foundation in the Western Balkans | | |
| | [Event Review] Workshop on Western Balkans European Research Area (ERA) reporting, 5 June 2024 -Skopje | | |
| | 2024 EIT Jumpstarter Cohort selected with strong participation from Western Balkans | | |
| | [Event Review] Western Balkans Steering Platforms Meeting on Culture, Education and Training & Research and Innovation (Skopje, 3-5 June 2024) | | |
| | Have your say on Creative Europe - public call open until 6 September 2024 | | |
| | Workshop: How to Initiate Sustainable Changes in your Company by Implementing Green Transformation? (Video) | | |
| | Shape the Future of Soil Education: Participate in the LOESS Survey! | | |
| | Biodiversity Task Force for the Western Balkans | | |
| | Exploring Political Dynamics Between Western Balkans and Central Europe: An Electronic Survey and Policy Recommendations | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS presented at the official launch of the European Insitute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) RIS Hub Montenegro | | |
| | FAQ - Western Balkans Innovation Vouchers Call for Applications | | |
| | 60 new COST Actions approved in May 2024 | | |
| | Be Part of the M-ERA.NET Call 2024 Evaluation Team! | | |
| | Horizon Europe EU Missions: over €230 million available under the Adaptation to Climate Change and Restore Our Oceans and Water Calls | | |
| | Join the Next POLICY ANSWERS Webinar on Mission-oriented Innovation: Status and Future Opportunities for the Western Balkans on 27 May 2024! | | |
| | Watch the Recordings of the POLICY ANSWERS Webinars! | | |
| | Western Balkans Ministers of European Affairs and Finance met with focus on Growth Plan and Regional Cooperation | | |
| | Key Points of the Online Workshop on Critical Raw Materials Potential in the Western Balkans Region | | |
| | Western Balkans European Research Area (ERA) Country Reports 2023 | | |
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| Calls | RCC Balkaton 5.0: Competition for Digital Innovation in the Western Balkans is Open Deadline: 5 July 2024
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| Call for Proposals: Sustainable High-throughput Production Processes for Stable Lithium Metal Anodes for Next Generation Batteries Deadline: 5 September 2024
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| Call for Proposals: Post-Li-ion technologies and relevant manufacturing techniques for mobility applications (Generation 5) Deadline: 5 September 2024
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| Call for Proposals: Synergy with National and Regional Initiatives in Europe on Innovative Materials Deadline: 10 September 2024
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| Circular Biobased Economy (CBE) Joint Undertaking (JU) Call 2024 Deadline: 18 September 2024
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| Call for Proposals on EU Mission "Adaptation to Climate Change" (HORIZON-MISS-2024-CLIMA-01) - 9 topics Deadline: 18 September 2024
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| Call for Proposals on EU Mission "Restore Our Oceans and Waters" (HORIZON-MISS-2024-OCEAN-01) - 5 topics Deadline: 18 September 2024
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| Call for Proposals on EU Mission “Restore Our Oceans and Waters” (HORIZON-MISS-2024-OCEAN-02) – 2 topics Deadline: 18 September 2024
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| European Molecular Biology Laboratory Calls for Input to the 'Discover Your World: Molecular Wonders of Nature' Science-Art Project Deadline: 18 October 2024
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| COST Open Call 2024 Deadline: 23 October 2024
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| Call for Applications: Western Balkans Innovation Vouchers Deadline: 20 November 2024
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| EEN2EIC: Open Call for Local Nodes Deadline: 1 March 2025
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| EUREKA Open Call for Network Projects Applications Deadline: 31 December 2025
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Events
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| Applications Open for Summer School for Students and Researchers Knowledgeable About the Danube Region 16 - 22 July 2024, Sarajevo | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS Webinar: Challenges and Opportunities for the Mission-oriented Implementation of Climate Adaptation and Sustainable Cities 18 July 2024 | | |
| | Colloquium: Beating Cancer with SEEIIST while Shaping Science in South-East Europe" by Dr. Sanja Damjanovic 29 August 2024 | | |
| | International Workshop on Promoting AI-Supported Eco-Activism in the Western Balkans 26 - 27 September 2024, Prilep | | |
| | International Physics Conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina - PHYCONBA 2024 (Registration Fee) 26 - 27 September 2024, Sarajevo | | |
| | Public ScienceBusiness event in Skopje: The role of Southeast Europe in the European Research and Innovation Area - How to maintain, build, and interconnect the research and innovation infrastructures? 1 October 2024, Skopje | | |
| | Conference of Chemists, Technologists and Ecologists of the Republic of Srpska 18 - 19 October 2024, Banja Luka | | |
| | European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Symposium 2024 21 - 23 October 2024, Berlin | | |
| | BIOEAST and BEYOND High level Conference on CEE R&I priorities for soil, fresh water resilience, food system security and bioeconomy related policies 4 - 6 December 2024, Budapest | | |
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Resources
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| World Bank Report: Policies to Improve the Environmental Performance of Road Vehicles in the Western Balkans | | |
| | OECD Western Balkans Competitiveness Outlook 2024: Regional Profiles, Economy-specific profiles, Western Balkans Competitiveness Data Hub | | |
| | EU-Western Balkan cooperation through Erasmus+ | | |
| | Grant Scan for Digital Innovation Hubs | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS review of the progresses shared at the Meeting of the WB Steering Platforms in June | | |
| | Strengthening the R&I capacity in the Western Balkans through knowledge valorisation | | |
| | The Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans at a glance | | |
| | Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council 2023-2024 | | |
| | Hungarian EU Presidency Priorities in the Context of the BIOEAST Initiative and Strong Engagement of Western Balkans | | |
| | Environment and Climate in EU Enlargement | | |
| | Smart specialisation development in the WBs: State of play and JRC support | | |
| | Commission Staff Working Document: Guidelines for the Implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans | | |
| | Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans: potential for knowledge-based economic cooperation (2024) | | |
| | Driving the Green Transition: The Role of Critical Raw Materials in the Western Balkans | | |
| | FAQ - Western Balkans Mobility Scheme Call for Applications | | |
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Initiatives
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| Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans (CC4WBs) | | |
| | INSPIRING ERA Project | | |
| | TRATOLOW (Transition towards low emissions and climate-resilient economy in the Western Balkans and Türkiye) | | |
| | EU support to Western Balkan Six Chamber Investment Forum for the Development of the Common Regional Market | | |
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| News | | Six Western Balkans universities involved in new European Universities Alliances (Erasmus+ 2024) | | |
| | [Event Review] Horizon Europe Stakeholder Workshop in Albania | | |
| | Scientific Collaboration between Albania and Kosovo and Infrastructure Supported in Albania | | |
| | Green Transport in Tirana: €110 Million Project Ready by 2029, Three Rapid Bus Lines | | |
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| Calls | Call for Applications: Western Balkans Innovation Vouchers Deadline: 20 November 2024
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Events
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| COWEB International Workshop 3 - 5 July 2024 | | |
| | UNECE 8th Expert Meeting on Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals & Workshop 15 - 17 October 2024, Tirana | | |
| | International Student Scientific Conference 2024 in Tirana 24 October 2024, Tirana | | |
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Resources
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| European Research Area (ERA) Country Report 2023 for Albania | | |
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Initiatives
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| COWEB - Promoting and Facilitating Collaborative Virtual International Learning in the Western Balkans Higher Education Institutions | | |
| | EU4Innovation | | |
| | EU for Inclusion in the Labor Market (EU4LMI) | | |
| | Biodiversa+ partnership supporting excellent research on biodiversity | | |
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Organisations
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| Durana Tech Park | | |
| | Union for the Mediterranean Secretariate | | |
| | EIT RawMaterials Regional Innovation Center | | |
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News
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| Six Western Balkans universities involved in new European Universities Alliances (Erasmus+ 2024) | | |
| | Bosnia and Herzegovina Hosts Horizon Europe Info Day to Promote EU Research and Innovation | | |
| | Creative Europe Offers Opportunities for BiH Cultural Sector | | |
| | The University of Banja Luka staff meets representatives of Styria region in Austria | | |
| | Three Western Balkans Regions are part of the Regional Innovation Valleys Receiving Support from the European Commission | | |
| | The European Researchers' Night in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2024-2025 | | |
| | Training on “Organising and Managing Research Support Services” at University of Banja Luka organised mid May 2024 | | |
| | Second EU – Bosnia and Herzegovina Horizon Europe Joint R&I Committee Meeting Successfully Held | | |
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Calls
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Call for CEEPUS Scholarships for the Academic Year 2024/2025 Deadline: 15 October 2024
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| Call for Applications: Western Balkans Innovation Vouchers Deadline: 20 November 2024
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Events
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| COWEB International Workshop 3 - 5 July 2024 | | |
| | 8th International Conference on Engineering Technology and Innovation - ICETI 2024 2 - 6 October 2024, Sarajevo and Online | | |
| | International Symposium on Industrial Electronics and Applications – INDEL 2024 (Registration Fee) 6 - 8 November 2024, Banja Luka | | |
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Resources
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| European Research Area (ERA) country report 2023 for Bosnia and Herzegovina | | |
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Initiatives
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| COWEB - Promoting and Facilitating Collaborative Virtual International Learning in the Western Balkans Higher Education Institutions | | |
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Organisations
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| Union for the Mediterranean Secretariate | | |
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News
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| [Event Review] Advancement of support for the development of innovation in Kosovo: Riinvest Round Table | | |
| | The Museum of Kosovo will Undergo General Restoration | | |
| | 14th Edition of Chopin PianoFest in Pristina | | |
| | Training in the "Cultural Heritage in Janjevë" project | | |
| | Kosovo Archival Material Digitization: New High-Resolution Scanners in Action, 1.4 Million Documents Scanned | | |
| | Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center has been Established in the University of Pristina | | |
| | Skills for the Labor Market - Fit for Jobs project provides free IT Training to 240 Young People in Pristina | | |
| | The Center for Education of Youth and Adults has been opened in Prizren | | |
| | Kosovo Approved the Law on the Promotion of the Use of Renewable Energy Resources | | |
| | 20 Participants from Kosovo Certified by the EU Environmental Academy | | |
| | First Auction for the 100 MW Solar Energy Park in Kosovo | | |
| | EIB accelerates green transition with €33 million for new solar power plant in Kosovo | | |
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Calls
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Call for Applications: Western Balkans Innovation Vouchers Deadline: 20 November 2024
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Events
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| COWEB International Workshop 3 - 5 July 2024 | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS event "Advancing Study Programs and Curricula with Contents of Green Agenda, Digitalisation and Research & Innovation at Universities in Kosovo" 3 July 2024, Pristina | | |
| | Pristina International Summer University 2024 8 - 19 July 2024, Pristina | | |
| | International Student Scientific Conference 2024 in Tirana 24 October 2024, Tirana | | |
| | Riinvest Institute conference: Activating the Sources of Economic Growth 15 - 17 May 2025, Pristina | | |
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Resources
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| Circular Economy Roadmap of Kosovo | | |
| | European Research Area (ERA) Country Report 2023 for Kosovo | | |
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Initiatives
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| COWEB - Promoting and Facilitating Collaborative Virtual International Learning in the Western Balkans Higher Education Institutions | | |
| | Biodiversa+ partnership supporting excellent research on biodiversity | | |
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Organisations
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| Innovation and Training Park (ITP) Prizren | | |
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News
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| Third Meeting of the Horizon Europe EU-Montenegro Joint Research and Innovation Committee | | |
| | [Event Review] Unleashing the innovation potential in Montenegro and Western Balkans - Official Launch of the EIT Community RIS Hub Montenegro | | |
| | Three Western Balkans Regions are part of the Regional Innovation Valleys Receiving Support from the European Commission | | |
| | Montenegro and Austria Launch Joint Scientific Cooperation Projects for 2024-2026 | | |
| | IAEA Donates Equipment to Montenegro for Rapid African Swine Fever Diagnosis | | |
| | Expansion of EduRobotic Project Nationwide | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS partners celebrate the grand opening of the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS participated in the European Fair in Montenegro | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS presented at the official launch of the European Insitute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) RIS Hub Montenegro | | |
| | Invitation to the Public Debate on the Draft Strategy for the Development of Sports in Montenegro | | |
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Calls
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Call for Applications: Western Balkans Innovation Vouchers Deadline: 20 November 2024
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| Public Call for Innovation Vouchers (Innovation Fund of Montenegro) Deadline: 31 December 2024
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Events
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| COWEB International Workshop 3 - 5 July 2024 | | |
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Resources
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| European Research Area (ERA) country report 2023 for Montenegro | | |
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Initiatives
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| Digital Technologies for Food Safety Decision Support (FoodDecide) | | |
| | COWEB - Promoting and Facilitating Collaborative Virtual International Learning in the Western Balkans Higher Education Institutions | | |
| | Integrating Biodiversity into Sectoral Policies and Practices and Strengthening Key Biodiversity Areas in Montenegro | | |
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Organisations
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| Union for the Mediterranean Secretariate | | |
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News
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| Six Western Balkans universities involved in new European Universities Alliances (Erasmus+ 2024) | | |
| | Second EU – North Macedonia Joint R&I Committee Meeting under Horizon Europe | | |
| | Three Western Balkans Regions are part of the Regional Innovation Valleys Receiving Support from the European Commission | | |
| | Macedonian Short Film 'Mala Šega' Selected for Odense International Film Festival | | |
| | Skopje has been Declared the European Capital of Culture for 2028 | | |
| | Skopje's STEM Academy Triumphs at Global Robotics Olympiad in Crete | | |
| | Renewable Energy Fair at Skopje City Mall | | |
| | Erasmus+ Info Centre Opens in Bitola to Support Youth | | |
| | Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Republic of North Macedonia 2024-2027 and the Action Plan 2024-2025 | | |
| | The First Conference on Green Engineering, Sustainable Materials and Technologies for Circular Economy was successfully held in Skopje | | |
| | Open Laboratory for Advanced and Sustainable Materials was opened at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje | | |
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Calls
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Call for Applications: Western Balkans Innovation Vouchers Deadline: 20 November 2024
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Events
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| International Student Scientific Conference 2024 in Tirana 24 October 2024, Tirana | | |
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Resources
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| A Roadmap towards Circular Economy of North Macedonia | | |
| | Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Republic of North Macedonia 2024-2027 | | |
| | A Roadmap towards Circular Economy of North Macedonia | | |
| | European Research Area (ERA) country report 2023 for North Macedonia | | |
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Initiatives
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| Igniting Innovation Capacities - EIT Community RIS Hub North Macedonia | | |
| | Reducing Plastic Waste Through The Production Of Green Composites By Valorisation Of Lignin - The Environmental Investment Programme For 2023 | | |
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Organisations
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| Union for the Mediterranean Secretariate | | |
| | Together 4 Circular | | |
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News
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| Initiating Sustainable Changes in Your Company through Green Transformation in Serbia - POLICY ANSWERS workshops | | |
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Calls
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Call for Applications: Western Balkans Innovation Vouchers Deadline: 20 November 2024
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| Public Call for Innovation Vouchers (Innovation Fund of Serbia) Deadline: 31 December 2024
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Events
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| 3rd PROFEEDBACK Training School: Introduction to Qualitative and Participatory Methods 9 - 11 July 2024, Belgrade | | |
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Resources
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| European Research Area (ERA) country report 2023 for Serbia | | |
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Initiatives
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| ERC project in Serbia: Numerically exact theory of transport in strongly correlated systems at low temperature and under magnetic fields (Acronym: SCLoTHiFi) | | |
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Organisations
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| Fund for Innovation Activities | | |
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Meetings of the Western Balkans Steering Platforms |
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News
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| Western Balkans R&I updates - a review by POLICY ANSWERS | | |
| | The European Training Foundation in the Western Balkans | | |
| | [Event Review] Western Balkans Steering Platforms Meeting on Culture, Education and Training & Research and Innovation (Skopje, 3-5 June 2024) | | |
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Resources
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| EU-Western Balkan cooperation through Erasmus+ | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS review of the progresses shared at the Meeting of the WB Steering Platforms in June | | |
| | Strengthening the R&I capacity in the Western Balkans through knowledge valorisation | | |
| | Smart specialisation development in the WBs: State of play and JRC support | | |
| | Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans: potential for knowledge-based economic cooperation (2024) | | |
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Other highlights
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News
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| New EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community planned with focus on water, marine, and maritime sectors and ecosystems | | |
| | Three Western Balkans Regions are part of the Regional Innovation Valleys Receiving Support from the European Commission | | |
| | 2024 EIT Jumpstarter Cohort selected with strong participation from Western Balkans | | |
| | Shape the Future of Soil Education: Participate in the LOESS Survey! | | |
| | 60 new COST Actions approved in May 2024 | | |
| | Horizon Europe EU Missions: over €230 million available under the Adaptation to Climate Change and Restore Our Oceans and Water Calls | | |
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Calls
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Western Balkans Mobility Scheme: A POLICY ANSWERS Pilot Programme – Call for Experts (Closed) Deadline: 14 July 2024
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| Call for Nominations for UNESCO / Madanjeet Singh Award for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence for 2024 Deadline: 22 July 2024
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| Call for Proposals: Sustainable High-throughput Production Processes for Stable Lithium Metal Anodes for Next Generation Batteries Deadline: 5 September 2024
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| Call for Proposals: Post-Li-ion technologies and relevant manufacturing techniques for mobility applications (Generation 5) Deadline: 5 September 2024
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| Call for Proposals: Synergy with National and Regional Initiatives in Europe on Innovative Materials Deadline: 10 September 2024
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| Circular Biobased Economy (CBE) Joint Undertaking (JU) Call 2024 Deadline: 18 September 2024
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| Call for Proposals on EU Mission "Adaptation to Climate Change" (HORIZON-MISS-2024-CLIMA-01) - 9 topics Deadline: 18 September 2024
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| Call for Proposals on EU Mission "Restore Our Oceans and Waters" (HORIZON-MISS-2024-OCEAN-01) - 5 topics Deadline: 18 September 2024
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| Call for Proposals on EU Mission “Restore Our Oceans and Waters” (HORIZON-MISS-2024-OCEAN-02) – 2 topics Deadline: 18 September 2024
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| Call for Members of the Evaluation Committee for the Western Balkans Innovation Voucher Pilot Programme - Closed Deadline: 11 October 2024
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| European Molecular Biology Laboratory Calls for Input to the 'Discover Your World: Molecular Wonders of Nature' Science-Art Project Deadline: 18 October 2024
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| COST Open Call 2024 Deadline: 23 October 2024
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| Public Call for Innovation Vouchers (Innovation Fund of Serbia) Deadline: 31 December 2024
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| Public Call for Innovation Vouchers (Innovation Fund of Montenegro) Deadline: 31 December 2024
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| EEN2EIC: Open Call for Local Nodes Deadline: 1 March 2025
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| EUREKA Open Call for Network Projects Applications Deadline: 31 December 2025
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| [Call for Action] Join the Mission Charter for EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters! Deadline: 31 December 2030
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Events
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| COWEB International Workshop 3 - 5 July 2024 | | |
| | Colloquium: Beating Cancer with SEEIIST while Shaping Science in South-East Europe" by Dr. Sanja Damjanovic 29 August 2024 | | |
| | Annual conference of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) Toulouse 2024 17 - 20 September 2024, Toulouse | | |
| | ERA 2024: Stakeholder Conference on the European Research Area 18 September 2024 | | |
| | South East European Software Testing Conference Zagreb SEETEST 2024 (with participation fee) 26 - 27 September 2024, Zagreb | | |
| | Public ScienceBusiness event in Skopje: The role of Southeast Europe in the European Research and Innovation Area - How to maintain, build, and interconnect the research and innovation infrastructures? 1 October 2024, Skopje | | |
| | UNECE 8th Expert Meeting on Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals & Workshop 15 - 17 October 2024, Tirana | | |
| | European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Symposium 2024 21 - 23 October 2024, Berlin | | |
| | REvaluation Conference 2024 4 - 6 December 2024, Vienna | | |
| | BIOEAST and BEYOND High level Conference on CEE R&I priorities for soil, fresh water resilience, food system security and bioeconomy related policies 4 - 6 December 2024, Budapest | | |
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Resources
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| Spatial Planning: The Crucial Element for Sustainable and Resilient Local Development (IN-PLAN Policy Brief) | | |
| | European Critial Raw Materials Act (CRM Act) | | |
| | European Critial Raw Materials Act (Factsheet) | | |
| | Net-Zero Industry Act | | |
| | Green Deal Industrial Plan | | |
| | EC Communication on Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership | | |
| | Study on the Critical Raw Materials for the EU 2023 | | |
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Initiatives
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| INSPIRING ERA Project | | |
| | TRATOLOW (Transition towards low emissions and climate-resilient economy in the Western Balkans and Türkiye) | | |
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We are always here to talk
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The Western Balkans Information Hub acts as a source of high-quality targeted Information on research, technology and innovation but also education, culture, youth and sports in, with and for the Western Balkans. It is supported by the project POLICY ANSWERS, funded by the Horizon Europe programme - Grant Agreement no. 101058873, and coordinated by Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)
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*Kosovo This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
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