News archive - [Event review] - Western Balkans Steering Platform R&I and Ministerial Meetings (Brussels, 23-24 September 2019) >> WBC-RTI.INFO - Western Balkan Countries Research Technology Innovation

The Western Balkans (WBs) Steering Platform on Research and Innovation R&I and Ministerial meetings were organised in Brussels on 23rd and 24th September 2019. The event was co-chaired by the European Commission (DG Research and Innovation, Directorate for International Cooperation), the Finnish presidency of the Council of the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina on behalf of the Western Balkans. On 23rd September in the morning, the Regional Cooperation Council organised a meeting to discuss on Horizon Europe and the WB related position paper. The preparation of the Ministerial session has continued in the afternoon and the debated focused on Smart Specialisation, Research infrastructures and Mobility of researchers among other topics. On September 24th, the Ministers responsible for Science and Innovation have eventually gathered for a joint debate.

Presentations held at the meeting can be found below and linked with the respective items on the agenda. Minutes and Conclusions are under elaboration and will be available after approval.

AGENDA

23 September 2019

MORNING SESSION (08:30 - 12:00) - REGIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL MEETING ON HORIZON EUROPE

Venue: RCC Offices, Rue Joseph II 12-16, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

08:30 - 09:00 Registrations

09:00 - 09:30 Welcome remarks | Opening statements

Regional Cooperation Council
European Commission, DG Research and Innovation
Finnish EU Council Presidency
Bosnia and Herzegovina co-chair on behalf of the Western Balkans

09:30 - 10:00 Progress reports on R&D and Innovation in the Western Balkans

10.00 - 11.45 Views and discussion on Horizon Europe – Western Balkan Six and EU Member States

Horizon Europe: current status and next steps, DG Research and Innovation
Reflections on Horizon Europe proposal by the Western Balkan Six
Discussion with the EU Member States

11.45 – 12.00 Summary and Conclusions

AFTERNOON SESSION (13:30 - 18:00) - STEERING PLATFORM ON RESEARCH AND INNOVATION MEETING

Venue: Hotel Le Plaza, Boulevard Adolphe Max 118/126, 1000 Brussels, Belgium (Room: Adolphe Max)

12:30 - 13:30 Networking Lunch (Room: Charleston)

13:30 - 15:30 First Session

Researchers’ mobility (Ronald de Bruin, COST; Claire Morel, DG EAC; Fabio Mazzolini, Elettra Sincrotrone; EU MS)
Horizon Europe – State of Play (Dusan Sandor, DG RTD)
Smart Specialisation Strategies (Marek Przeor, DG REGIO; Ales Gnamus, JRC; WB6)

15:30 - 16:00 Coffee break (Room: Esterel)

16:00 - 18:30 Second Session

Research Infrastructures, Roadmaps (Adam Tyson, DG RTD; David Ringrose, DG CNECT; Branka Zizic, SEEIST; Fabio Taucer, JRC; Fabio Mazzolini, Elettra Sincrotrone)
IPA support for R&I (Colin Wolfe, DG NEAR)
Widening in Horizon Europe (Stefan Weiers, DG RTD)
Open Science, Open Access, European Open Science Cloud (Anette Bjornsson, DG RTD)
Why you need to have a National Research and Education Network (Dirk Haex, BELNET)
Research and Innovation aspects of the instrument for pre-accession assistance for rural development - IPARD (Liam Breslin, DG AGRI)

18:45 End of meeting

20:00 – 22:00 Official Networking Dinner at La Manufacture (Rue Notre-Dame-du-Sommeil 12, 1000 Brussels)

24 September 2019

08:00 - 08:30 Registration and Welcome Coffee
(Hotel Le Plaza, Boulevard Adolphe Max 118-126, 1000 Brussels, Room: Theater)
08:30 - 09:00 Finalisation of Conclusions for the Ministerial Meeting

09:00 – 12.30 Ministerial Meeting

09:00 - 10:30 Welcome Remarks I Opening Statements

European Commission, DG Research and Innovation, Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General
Finnish EU Council Presidency, Hanna Lehtinen, Ambassador
Keynote Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation
Keynote Vesselin Petrov Valkanov, Head of Liaison Office in Brussels, Regional Cooperation Council
Keynote Paulo Ferrão, President, European Cooperation in Science and Technology

First session

Report from the Steering Platform and R&I Meeting, Ammar Miraščija, Head of Department for Science, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Western Balkans Position Paper on Horizon Europe, Viktor Nedovic, State Secretary, Serbia

First Round of Discussions, Ministers with Commissioner
Participation in Horizon 2020 – Expectations from Horizon Europe

Announcement by Elettra - Sincrotrone Trieste, Alfonso Franciosi, President Elettra
Wrap up of the session by Commissioner Carlos Moedas

10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break (Room: Gallery Theatre)

11:00 - 12:30 Second Session

Keynote Charlina Vitcheva, Deputy Director-General, Joint Research Centre
Keynote Viviane Hoffmann, Deputy Director-General, Education, Youth, Sport and Culture
Keynote Lorena Boix Alonso, Director, Communications, Networks, Content and Technology

Second Round of Discussions, Ministers

Smart Specialisation Strategies – Implementation, Impact on the national economy; the role of Research and Innovation to support this process