Research funding opportunities
The European Commission will invest almost €16 billion in research and innovation in the next two years under Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation funding scheme, following a new Work Programme for 2016-17 adopted in October 2015. All Western Balkan countries (except Kosovo* which also can participate as a third country) are associated to Horizon 2020, thus legal entities from Associated Countries can participate under the same conditions as legal entities from the Member States. Following the first preliminary results of the WBC participation in Horizon 2020, indicating overall low participation rate (Albania: 10%; Bosnia & Herzegovina: 13%; FYROM: 15%; Montenegro: 18%; Serbia: 11% and in particular low participation of industry/SMEs) – research organisations from WBC, universities, SMEs and single researchers are invited to put their ideas on paper and find partners to jointly prepare excellent proposals within a new work programme 2016/2017.
“Horizon 2020 will continue to fund researchers and innovators at the cutting edge of their research disciplines, working on the latest breakthroughs in science. It supports projects across the cycle from research to innovation, using a range of financial instruments to facilitate their exploitation and access to markets. It will also invest in training of researchers including exchanges between industry and academia, create opportunities to build research teams in Member States where the research and innovation potential is underexploited, and take a strategic approach to international cooperation in research and innovation. In line with the "Open Science, Open Innovation, Open to the World" agenda set by Commissioner Moedas, responsible for Research, Science and Innovation, the Work Programme is designed to open up European research and innovation, for instance, by attracting more SMEs; ensuring better use of research results and strengthening research cooperation with other countries. It will also greatly enhance the impact of EU research funding, in line with the EU Budget focused on Results strategy launched by the Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva, responsible for budget and human resources.” (Source: European Commission - Fact Sheet, MEMO/15/5832)
There are several topics introduced within different calls for proposals in Horizon 2020 but also some other current or future funding programmes which might be of high interest for Western Balkan countries. Please find below some selected calls and useful documents.
Research funding opportunities and performance of WBC was in focus of the WBC-RTI.info newsletter in October 2015. Related article is available here . Please find below also a selection of the topic related articles.
News
-
€60 million for innovators awarded under EIT Crisis Response Initiative
Almost 1 500 innovators from 44 countries applied for the EIT’s EUR 60 million Crisis Response Initiative. The funds have now been unlocked by the EIT Governing Board to ensure critical support swiftly...
-
STOA - the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology of the European Parliament has published an update of the study 'Overcoming innovation gaps in the EU-13 Member States' of March 2018. The original...
-
ECCP survey identifies key needs for SMEs to meet COVID-19 challenges
Three key areas where European SMEs need help to counter the impact of the COVID-19 crisis have been identified by a European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) survey.
[ Show all News ]
Events
-
ReMaT workshop: Research Management Training for early career researchers
This ReMaT workshop is designed for early-stage researchers, particularly PhD candidates from the 2nd year onwards. The idea of European networking is very much embedded in the concept, and we encourage...
-
Rapid R&I Force: Post-COVID, can we create a reserve force of deep-tech innovation?
In the COVID-19 crisis, we have all seen how important it is to have a ready supply of smart researchers, clever innovators and entrepreneurial companies with disruptive ideas and technologies that could...
-
Building on the success of the #EUvsVirus Hackathon, the European Innovation Council (EIC), under the patronage of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, is organising a Matchathon with the participation of the...
[ Show all Events ]
Organisations
-
Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)
Founded in 1964 by the late Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam, ICTP seeks to accomplish its mandate by providing scientists from developing countries with the continuing education and skills that they need to...
-
ERSTE Foundation evolved from the Erste Österreichische Spar-Casse in 2003. In 1819, this savings bank association opened the first bank in Vienna for individuals who previously had not been able to provide...
-
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) was officially launched at the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Sofia, on 27 February 2008, ...
[ Show all Organisations ]
Calls
-
Second pilot VET mobility scheme for the Western Balkans
The Economic Reform Programme for the Western Balkans recognises the importance of vocational educational and training (VET) in underpinning industry and propelling economic growth.
-
In order to provide a targeted response to the global outbreak caused by COVID-19, the CEI is glad to launch the COVID-19 Extraordinary Call for Proposals 2020. The call purposely aims at addressing quickly...
-
STARTUP3 Business and Growth Programme aims to build an ecosystem where cluster SMEs, technology SMEs, market-oriented researchers, deep tech ventures, individual innovators/researchers with innovative...
[ Show all Calls ]
Documents
-
Exploring the performance gap in EU Framework Programmes between EU13 and EU15 Member States
The European Union (EU)'s Research and Innovation Framework Programmes are the largest programmes for international research collaboration worldwide. Repeated reports point to the issue of underperformance...
-
Assessment of financing needs of SMEs in the Western Balkans countries - Synthesis Report
This study was commissioned by the EIB with funding from the Enterprise Development & Innovation Facility , EDIF. The study assesses the financing needs of the SMEs in the Western Balkans countries...
-
COST relations to the Western Balkan Countries
The 6 WBC countries (Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo*, Serbia) are Full Members of COST or Near Neighbour Country (Kosovo*).
[ Show all Documents ]
Links
-
Albanian National Startup and Innovation Program
The Startup and Innovation Program responds to the country's needs for economic growth, sustainable socio-economic development, investment in human capital, increase in the number of self-employed...
-
InnovFin – EU Finance for innovators
Whether you are a small and medium sized enterprise (SME), a large company or a research institution, InnovFin by the EIB Group can provide the right financing instrument for your research and innovation...
-
KEEP is the only source of aggregated information regarding projects and beneficiaries of European Union programmes dedicated to cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation within the European...
[ Show all Links ]
Projects
-
Open European Quantum Key Distribution Testbed Fact Sheet
Quantum communication has the potential to protect the EU's sensitive data and digital infrastructure for years to come. A test quantum communication infrastructure will be set up in several European ...
-
Regional Research Promotion Programme
The RRPP is aimed at fostering and promoting social science research in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia). Social science research aids in...
-
Green-Tech-WB is an Erasmus Mundus action focused on partner countries in lot number 2: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro & Serbia. GREEN-TECH-WB mobility includes 153 grants (...
[ Show all Projects ]
