Although Western Balkans (WBs) have improved in terms of R&I performance, research and innovation efforts should be further enhanced for bridging the remaining ‘gap’ with the other European regions. RRI principles can act as enablers for the sustainable development of the local R&I systems, enhancing the effectiveness of R&I strategies contributing to the advancement of Western Balkan socio-economic progress in a transparent, open, and inclusive way through active participation of all quadruple helix actors.

RRI principles act as enablers to the shared learning and diffusion of R&I governance innovations at the territorial level, enhancing R&I planning, including S3 Strategies in WB.
The project’s approach evolving through an analytical, reflective and implementation thread, operationally addresses the 5 WB territories (partners represent all parts of the quadruple helix) and subsequently influences the wider WB region, by activating the embedding of RRI into their R&I ecosystems. This is realised by RRI activities throughout the entire project (horizontal aspect), raising an active dialogue in the wider WB region and fostering the comprehension of all RRI pillars under a holistic framework based on a ‘smart directionality’ approach, offering stakeholder engagement with a focus on citizen participation. Alongside, 5 RRI ‘anchor’ initiatives (vertical aspect), as interventions touching in-depth specific RRI keys, territorial features and scientific domains, will allow RRI principles to be rooted in the territorial ecosystems leading to concrete impact to R&I territorial policies and societal regional needs. Finally, impact evaluation and dissemination activities focus on the project’s long-term sustainability.