Ms. Tania Friederichs analysed the statistical data on WBC participation and presented an overview of the ratio of submitted and approved projects in the fields of cooperation and capacities, as well as the funding for individual WBC.

As for the individual countries, the following conclusions were drawn:

• Albania had a high number of submissions in certain areas (while completely eschewing others), however the approval ratio was rather low.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina also had a very high application rate in certain areas, but the success rate for capacities and cooperation was overall approximately 12%.
• Croatia had a very high number of submissions and in proportion a much higher percentage of projects retained for funding. However, Croatia had experience through the FP6 as an associated country and this provided valuable input and capacity building money and projects to strengthen cooperation within the FP
• The FYR of Macedonia had successful numbers as for the proportion of proposals and approvals with over 15% success rate in both cooperation and capacities.
• Montenergo was also successful, although less so in the field of Cooperation, but this was compensated under Capacities.
• Serbia is very active, mostly in ICT, with over 15% rate of approval. Serbia is also starting to be successful in collaborative research, which is more finance-intensive.
   

Source: Minutes of the 8th Meeting of Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkan Countries, Belgrade, June 24, 2010.