SCiDEV Hosts First Advocacy Dialogue on Mobility, Research, and Innovation in the Western Balkans

On 30 October 2025, the Center for Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV) held its first advocacy dialogue in Brussels under the IGNITA Initiative (Igniting Collaboration), supported by the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans (OSF-WB). The roundtable, “Diaspora for Convergence: Mobility-Driven Research and Innovation for EU Integration,” brought together EU officials, academics, civil society, and the Albanian diaspora to explore how mobility, research, and innovation can accelerate the region’s convergence with the European Union.

Participants highlighted that these areas are not mere technical components of EU enlargement but essential drivers of democratic and European integration. Key topics included:

• Transforming mobility into brain circulation through structured diaspora engagement, mentoring, and joint research projects.
• Strengthening regional cooperation and turning policy alignment into practical impact.
• Linking research excellence with good governance, transparency, and accountability to ensure innovation serves sustained growth and democracy.

The dialogue concluded that mobility, research, and innovation must be recognized as democratic infrastructures, connecting citizens, academia, and government while supporting EU integration. A full summary can be found below.

Source: SCiDEV Brings Western Balkans Voices to Brussels: Mobility, Research, and Diaspora as Engines of EU Convergence – SCiDEV