Search
On 5 June 2025, SCiDEV hosted the roundtable “Enhancing Mobility-Driven Research and Innovation in the Western Balkans for Sustained Economic Growth and Convergence with the EU” in Tirana and online. The event gathered around 50 stakeholders from the Western Balkans and EU to discuss the role of mobility-driven R&I in regional development and integration.
Opening the session, Dea Elmasllari (SCiDEV) highlighted the project’s goal to influence policymaking in favour of mobility-driven R&I and stronger regional collaboration. Blerjana Bino, SCiDEV’s Executive Director, highlighted R&I’s strategic importance for European integration, calling for faster integration of the region into EU education and research frameworks, full association with Erasmus+ and future EU programmes, and increased national R&I investments. She pointed to SCiDEV’s ongoing advocacy and partnerships through platforms like the Berlin Process and IGNITA, supported by Open Society Foundations Western Balkans.
The panel “Advancing Research and Mobility in the Western Balkans”, featured Bernhard Fabianek (DG RTD), who highlighted over 500 Horizon Europe projects involving Western Balkan partners and encouraged joining the discussion preparing for FP10.
SCiDEV experts shared findings from policy briefs focused on mobility, Horizon Europe participation, and necessary reforms. Regional success stories followed, including:
- Përparim Alikaj (EIT RawMaterials Albania) on raw materials and EU investment
- Enrik Keco (AADF) on diaspora engagement via READ and BRIDGE
- Igli Hakrama on DiVA, Albania’s European Digital Innovation Hub
- Aleksandar Stamboliev on EIT hubs in North Macedonia
The second panel on increased investment in mobility-driven R&I, emphasised the need for technical engagement, political will, and a possible Western Balkans Facility for Skills, Research and Innovation. Elke Dall, the coordinator of the POLICY ANSWERS project, was also invited to share some thoughts. She presented the current state of play of the pilot initiative of the project, the Western Balkans Mobility Scheme.