Support for R&I policy making in the Western Balkans

The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed the important role of research and innovation to tackle the immediate crises but also to ensure a sustainable and inclusive recovery while boosting the resilience of production sectors, the competitiveness of economies, and the transformation of the socio-economic systems across Europe. The Western Balkans are trying to catch up on Research, Development and Innovation (RDI). Closer links between research and innovation and institutional cooperation to produce high-quality knowledge, underpinning economic and societal solutions are paramount to help bridging the R&I gap between the EU Member States and (potential) Candidate Countries. Actions stemming from this Call will foster the capacity building in the Western Balkans to allow successful participation in the R&I process, improve the Technology Transfer Process, promote networking of and access to excellence, thus optimising the participation in and impact of Horizon Europe across the region. Activ