Conclusions of the 2025 Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation

The Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Platform on Research and Innovation was organised in Podgorica on 20-21 October 2025 with participation of Ministers from the Western Balkans responsible for research and innovation. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to discuss recent achievements and possible next steps in scientific cooperation and in innovation, as well as to take stock of the progress on the enlargement process.
The European Commission was represented by the Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva. The Ministerial Meeting was co-chaired by the European Commission, the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union – represented by the Embassy of Poland in Montenegro, and by Montenegro represented by Anđela Jakšić-Stojanović, Minister of Education, Science and Innovation.

The Western Balkan economies are committed to strengthen their scientific cooperation and innovation within the region and with European Union Member States, to align with European research and innovation priorities, to improve their research policy structures and their innovation ecosystems. Participation of Western Balkan partners in Horizon Europe, the European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation is ever increasing, strengthening scientific excellence, the knowledge base, the growth potential of the region, and facilitating the internationalisation of economies. There are more and more initiatives supporting academia-industry cooperation, digitalisation and greening of the economy, and artificial intelligence. Smart Specialisation Strategies have been or are being developed, creating a strong basis for prioritisation and focused research and innovation (R&I) investments. Priorities of economies are also financed by the Western Balkans Economic and Investment Plan and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. EU Member States support bilateral research and innovation efforts across the region. Synergies between these various funding sources increase efficiency and impact.

Check out the file below and learn more on the results of the 2025 Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation.