In detail the report states:

"Cooperation with Western Balkan Countries A meeting of the Western Balkan Countries (WBC) steering platform took place on 26 May in Ohrid, FYRoMacedonia, back to back with meetings of the WBC IncoNet and South-east Europe (SEE) ERANET Plus projects. The meetings brought together representatives from the Ministries of Science in Balkan Countries, the EU Presidency, the Commission, several Member States, as well as other stakeholders involved in strengthening the research capacity in the Balkan Region, to take stock of the actions taken by the WBC on research and innovation policy and how the WBC could further align with ERA and contribute to the Innovation Union. All WBC expressed interest in learning more about the Innovation Union and how they could contribute to it.

Under the WBC INCO.NET, work has already started to map innovation capacity. During the events, the OECD presented a study on how to bring academia and private sector closer and the Zagreb Institute of Economics presented a survey on how innovation is addressed in the region. The increase in FP7 participation of all WBCs was noted but all countries requested that support for research capacity building would continue in both the Common Strategic Framework, as well as the next EU Pre-Accession Instrument. Turkey, which is also a member of the Steering Platform asked for close cooperation between all enlargement countries. There was great interest shown in extending cooperation to jointly address the challenges identified in the Danube Strategy and in this context the SEE.ERA.NET and SEE.ERA.NET Plus projects were considered very good actions to structure research efforts at regional level."

For more information contact Tania Friederichs or Michele Genovese"

The report also informs about EC activities towards Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Argentinia, Egypt, Kazakhstan and China.

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/pdf/newsletter/newsletter_number_15_july_2011.pdf#view=fit&pagemode=none