Deadline: 29-Sep-21
The European Commission (EC) is pleased to launch a call for proposals to 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. Activities from this Call will strengthen and foster the development of the human capital base in the region, they will promote the establishment of open, inclusive and responsible national research and innovation systems, support an institutional change through the development of inclusive gender equality plans in line with Horizon Europe and the ERA objectives, as well as support evidence based policy making.
Underpinning the Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, this action will foster a comprehensive policy approach, while seeking synergies across the entire Horizon Europe and other EU funding programmes. An action funded under this call will support the coordination and synchronised interaction among a multitude of instruments and programmes targeting the Western Balkans region. This should not only facilitate an increased participation of Western Balkan entities in relevant European funding programmes but also create economies of scale, complementarity, synergies, and avoid overlapping of actions.
Funding Information
The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for:
- public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
- cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).
Expected Outcomes
Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
- Support to the Western Balkans Steering Platforms for Research and Innovation, and Education and Training as valuable instruments of policy dialogue with the region (incl. support to the annual Ministerial meeting of the Western Balkans Platforms on Education and Training, Research and Innovation and Culture);
- Facilitation of the implementation of the Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport:
- Highlighting the strategic importance of the Western Balkans and facilitating actions aiming to support the region’s EU integration process, covering Research, Innovation, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.
- Aiming to promote regional economic growth and prosperity through planned investments, to be directed towards game-changing innovations and actions that create a sustainable and human centric development and digital future. Support the ongoing process of reforming education, training and research systems, and the development of the cultural and creative sectors with more and better opportunities for capacity building.
- Contributing to the closer integration of the Western Balkan partners with the EU’s priorities, most notably the Green Deal, the Digital transformation, including the enhancement of ICT and digital skills along the lines of the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans and the renewed Digital Education Action Plan, the European Education Area and an Economy that works for and connects people and communities.
- Providing support to the accession process and facilitate the association of Western Balkan countries to relevant European funding programmes.
- Identification of common priorities agreed among the participating national and regional R&I, education and cultural programmes as well as activities in the field of youth and sport, taking into account international developments where relevant;
- Contribution to joint initiatives, resulting in the funding of cross-border innovation actions, design/implement a portfolio of complementary actions which would enable Western Balkans stakeholders and policy makers to better internationalise and integrate in EU actions and policy making.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions;
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States;
- eligible non-EU countries:
- countries associated to Horizon Europe;
- low- and middle-income countries.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3yrPrdw