In October 2007 the Austrian Science and Research Liaison Offices launched two Calls for Proposals for research co-operation and networking with a total funding of € 239.000, provided by the Austrian Ministry of Science and Research:

1. Call for Proposals: "South Eastern Europe's Scientific Response to: Biodiversity protection, climate change and energy scarcity";
2. Call for Proposals: “Research Cooperation and Networking between Austria, Kosovo/UNMIK and South Eastern Europe” (launched within the Austria – Kosovo Partnership for Higher Education and Research http://www.wbc-inco.net/link/2501.html ): this Call for Proposals had no thematic restriction, but a networking approach and added value for solving society driven, current or upcoming problems in Kosovo, which had to be shown.

In total, 39 eligible projects with partners from Austria, the ASO-countries Bulgaria and Slovenia, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Kosovo/UNMIK, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia have been evaluated during the last weeks from local, regional and thematic experts. On March 17, 2008, the evaluation meetings took place in Vienna: Ten selected projects within the Kosovo-Call and nine projects within the Environment-Call were recommended for funding by the evaluators. During the next four weeks, the contract negotiations with the project coordinators will take place. The projects will start at the earliest in May 2008. A list of all funded projects will be available at the ASO website at the end of April 2008.

Authors:
Andrea Mayr http://www.wbc-inco.net/users/286.html
Hanna Scheck http://www.wbc-inco.net/users/2500.html
link Austrian Science and Research Liaison Offices
http://www.wbc-inco.net/org/509.html