There is a good level of preparation in the area of science and research. Some progress, although limited, was made on research activities, while support for innovation in companies was further developed. In the following year, the country should:

• continue increasing the level of investment in research, in particular in the private sector
• promote participation in the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme;
• adopt a 2016-2020 programme for higher education and scientific research and take actions to strengthen research capacity in line with the European Research Area priorities.

In the area of research and innovation policy, no action was taken to strengthen research capacity. The strategy on research, which expired in 2010, has not been updated. Due to lack of funding there were no calls for support of science and research and the national programme on higher education and scientific activity has not been updated. The level of investment in research improved slightly to 0.52% of GDP, which is significantly below the EU average.

With respect to innovation union, an Action plan for implementing the innovation strategy 2016-2018 was adopted. However, the grants available under the Innovation Fund were not fully disseminated due to the companies’ lack of capacity.

The first results on the country’s participation in the Horizon 2020 were mixed: there was successful participation on societal challenges but the participation of SMEs and grants for individual researchers (Marie Sklodowska Curie) was weak. The overall country rate of success in Horizon 2020 is about 10.31% (as of March 2016)with a value of EUR 2 million, which is less than the national contribution.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Research drew up an action plan to stimulate participation in H2020.

In support to the European Research Area, the country provided public funding for 115 researchers to participate in international scientific meetings and ratified the International Agreement establishing a Centre for Research and Innovation of the Western Balkans to implement the Regional Strategy on Research for Innovation. The Ministry of Education, Science and Research has limited capacity to prepare a new European Research Area roadmap.