Horizon Europe in Kosovo – Recent Developments and Key Figures

Kosovo continues to gradually strengthen its engagement with the Horizon Europe Programme, supported by increased capacity-building efforts, institutional development, and participation in European research networks.

Since becoming an associated country to Horizon Europe, 179 applications have been submitted by Kosovar institutions and researchers. Of these, 138 proposals were assessed as eligible, while 15 projects have been funded, resulting in a success rate of 10.9%. Although below the EU average, Kosovo’s performance is comparable to several Western Balkan economies and reflects a steady improvement in proposal quality and institutional readiness.

Over the past year, multiple capacity-building activities have been organised in Kosovo by initiatives such as POLICY ANSWERS, SHER, and ResearchCult, training more than 100 researchers and institutional staff in proposal writing, consortium building, project management, and Horizon Europe rules. These efforts aim to strengthen both the quantity and quality of applications, as well as institutional research support systems.

Looking ahead, further improvements in national coordination, research management capacities, and targeted funding instruments are expected to enhance Kosovo’s participation. The adoption of the new Law on Research and Innovation, alongside continued investments in training and international partnerships, will be critical for accelerating Kosovo’s integration into the European Research Area.