20. Jun 2012

The SP on Research for the WBC was successfully held on June 12-13, 2012 in Tirana, co-chaired by the Danish Council Presidency, Albania and the European Commission.

From June 11 to 14, 2012 a series of meetings took place in Tirana, Albania:

• WBC-INCO.NET - Executive Steering Board Meeting, June 11
• WBC-INCO.NET - 3rd Innovation Dialogue Forum, June 12
• 12th Steering Platform meeting, Tirana, Albania, June 12 and June 13
• Knowledge Transfer Study workshop, June 13
• Preparatory meeting for the SP meeting Serbia / Cyprus, Winter 2012

A short event review on the 12th Steering Platform meeting is provided below, please follow the links above in order to find detailed information as well as presentations and other relevant materials.

[Event review] 12th Steering Platform meeting

In their introductory statements, the co-chairs highlighted in particular the importance of the upcoming FP7 calls wich will serve as a good preparation for participation in Horizon 2020. One of the key issues which also was discussed by the Steering Platform was the concept of Smart Specialisation (which is a strategic approach to economic development through targeted support of Research and Innovation) and its practical implications for the WB region on the road to Horizon 2020.

Albania welcomed the Steering Platform members and confirmed its commitment on EU accession underlining the useful role of the Platform in this context. In its introduction the Danish Presidency highlighted the presidency programme Europe at Work with a focus on the actions to move forward the EU Agenda on Research and Innovation. The European Commission encouraged all members of the Platform to closely follow the developments on the Innovation Union as a way to prepare for Horizon 2020. The importance of the upcoming FP7 calls was highlighted and in this context cooperation of more experienced Platform-members and less successful participants was seen as a way to strengthen the participation of the Balkan region in key research areas to address societal challenges.

The Platform also welcomed the presentation of the Smart Specialization Strategy which helped understanding the need to prepare and plan well in advance the synergies between Horizon 2020 and other EU instruments. The need for good and timely planning was well illustrated by the examples identified in the presentation from Hungary.

The next meeting will be held end of the year in Serbia, co-chaired with the European Commission and the Cyprus Council presidency. We will keep you updated in this regard as well.

WEB-INCO.NET Journal: Spring/Summer 2012

On the occasion of the 12th Meeting of the Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkan countries in Tirana, the 9th edition of the WBC-INCO.NET Journal was published.

In the recent issue of the WBC-INCO.NET Journal you can also read more about developments towards Regional Strategy for Research and Development for Innovation for Western Balkans, in an article provided by Mladen Dragasevic from the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). Another highlight of this issue is “Success stories on innovation from the West Balkans”, kindly prepared by René Wintjes and Jean Severijns.

Find here a WEB-INCO.NET Journal: Spring/Summer 2012.

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Tags: internationalisation