The Western Balkan region in particular was badly hit by the war and economic crisis of the 1990s. The research scene in the affected countries also experienced problems in terms of financial difficulties, scientific isolation and emigration of scientific staff.
Through the Southeast European Era-Net (SEE-ERA.NET) project, the European Union is supporting networking between countries through international research initiatives. The joint call budget for supporting projects comes however, from the countries themselves, which because of also their financial involvement are deeply interested in the process. As the target region of the project, the project partners from the Western Balkans have however the same rights as the EU partner countries in all decision-making processes.

Summer schools, research- and network projects are being supported through the first SEE-ERA.NET call. For a successful application, at least three research teams from three different countries must be involved, with at least one of which coming from the Western Balkans.

SEE-ERA.NET is coordinated by the Centre for Social Innovation (Zentrum für soziale Innovation) in Austria, with project partners, research ministries and agencies in the project countries (Austria, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, France, Greece, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbian, as well as Slovenia and Hungary).

Source: see-era.net Press Release - CORDIS Wire
http://cordis.europa.eu/wire/index.cfm?fuseaction=article.Detail&rcn=13371

Further questions:
Florian Gruber, Zentrum für Soziale Innovation
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