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The Newsletter to Support the Western Balkans’ Knowledge Societies and Ecosystems
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Updates from the Western Balkans
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Select the Economy to Explore Further
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Current Theme in Focus
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How the EU is Building an AI Ecosystem for Science - Interview with Axel Leisenberg, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission |
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Highlights
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) |
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News
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| Horizon Europe Work Programme Drafts 2026-27: Calls with Relevance to Artificial Intelligence | |  |
| | Leading Global Cybersecurity and AI Fund Visits Montenegro | | |
| | Constitutive Session of the Working Group for the Development of Montenegro's Artificial Intelligence Strategy Held | | |
| | Albania to Invest €10 Million in AI Startup Thinking Machines Lab | | |
| | Albania Appoints World’s First AI-Generated Government Minister | | |
| | North Macedonia Launches “Vezilka”, First National Centre for Artificial Intelligence | | |
| | New AI Collective Chapter Established in Skopje to Boost National AI Ecosystem | | |
| | EU Expands AI Infrastructure, Boosting Opportunities for North Macedonia and Serbia | | |
| | Training on Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Higher Education at the University of Prishtina | | |
| | Focus Group Explores Integration of AI in the Higher Education System in Kosovo | | |
| | EU Launches new Tools to Support the Implementation of the AI Act | | |
| | European Commission has Launched the Apply Artificial Intelligence Alliance | | |
| | Montenegro Science and Technology Park (STP MNE) and Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Launch an AI Laboratory | | |
| | Montenegro Presents its first AI Readiness Assessment Report for the Public Administration | | |
| | Bosnia and Herzegovina Showcases National Supercomputing Initiatives at CMBEBIH 2025 | | |
| | Serbia Adopts Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence for the Period 2025–2030 | | |
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Calls
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Digital Europe: Second Call for Innovation Studies for the Development of Generative AI Models Deadline: 25 February 2026
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| Digital Europe - ELEVATE: European League of Advanced Digital Skills Academies Deadline: 3 March 2026
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| Digital Europe: European Advanced Digital Skills Competitions Deadline: 3 March 2026
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| Digital Europe: GenAI for the Public Administrations Deadline: 3 March 2026
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| Digital Europe: Deployment of Cutting-edge Multi-modal AI-based Solutions in Medical Imaging Deadline: 3 March 2026
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| Digital Europe: Consolidation of the Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs with reinforced AI focus) Deadline: 3 March 2026
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| Digital Europe: Cybersecure Tools, Technologies and Services Relying on AI Deadline: 31 March 2026
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Events
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| E-society Conference: Regional Forum for Digital Transformation and AI-era Challenges 10 December 2025, Skopje | | |
| | EC-OECD workshop: The Future of Artificial Intelligence and the Implications for Materials Science 16 December 2025 | | |
| | Online Brokerage Event: Artificial Intelligence in Horizon Europe Calls 25 February 2026, Online | | |
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Resources
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| AI in Local Government, Driving Innovation Bridging Gaps and Shaping the Digital Transition in the Western Balkans and Moldova | | |
| | Factsheet - European Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Science | | |
| | AI Innovation Package | | |
| | AI Continent Action Plan | | |
| | A European Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Science | | |
| | Artificial Intelligence Governance and Ethics in Bosnia and Herzegovina | | |
| | Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in Serbia for the Period 2020-2025 | | |
| | Advancing the Measurement of Investments in Artificial Intelligence | | |
| | Aligning North Macedonia’s AI Policy with the EU: Bridging the Regulatory Gap | | |
| | Kosovo Women on the Front Line of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity | | |
| | e-Government Strategy Kosovo 2023-2027 | | |
| | Artificial Intelligence Landscape Assessment (AILA) in Montenegro | | |
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Programmes & Policies
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| Digital Europe Programme | | |
| | European Lighthouse on Secure and Safe AI (ELSA) | | |
| | Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Science | | |
| | Apply AI Strategy | | |
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Initiatives
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| e-Kosova | | |
| | AI Gigafactory | | |
| | EU Artificial Intelligence Act | | |
| | Resource for Artificial Intelligence Science in Europe (RAISE) | | |
| | Montenegrin Artificial Intelligence Association (MAIA) | | |
| | INNOFEIT EDIH | | |
| | AI Factory Network | | |
| | MontEDIH | | |
| | InvestAI Initiative | | |
| | European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking - EuroHPC JU | | |
| | Sarajevo Initiative | | |
| | Map of Serbia's AI Ecosystem | | |
| | Artificial Intelligence Association AI NOW! | | |
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Updates from the Region
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| News | | SCiDEV Hosts First Advocacy Dialogue on Mobility, Research, and Innovation in the Western Balkans | | |
| | Science|Business Conference: From Knowledge to Impact: Nurturing Research and Innovation in Southeast Europe | | |
| | Implementing the Western Balkans Agenda – Monitoring Cards Published by POLICY ANSWERS (July 2025) | | |
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| Calls | Digital Europe: Second Call for Innovation Studies for the Development of Generative AI Models Deadline: 25 February 2026
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| Digital Europe - ELEVATE: European League of Advanced Digital Skills Academies Deadline: 3 March 2026
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| Digital Europe: European Advanced Digital Skills Competitions Deadline: 3 March 2026
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| Digital Europe: GenAI for the Public Administrations Deadline: 3 March 2026
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| Digital Europe: Deployment of Cutting-edge Multi-modal AI-based Solutions in Medical Imaging Deadline: 3 March 2026
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| Digital Europe: Consolidation of the Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs with reinforced AI focus) Deadline: 3 March 2026
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Events
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| E-society Conference: Regional Forum for Digital Transformation and AI-era Challenges 10 December 2025, Skopje | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS Webinar: EIT Communities as Drivers of EU-Wide R&I Integration 11 December 2025, Online | | |
| | European Startup and Scaleup Hubs Pilot Call Info Session 11 December 2025 | | |
| | ONEX CONNECT 2025 17 December 2025, Bosnia and Herzegovina | | |
| | 17th informativa. Education and Youth Career Fair 9 - 10 January 2026, Ljubljana | | |
| | Horizon Europe Info Days on WIDENING calls in the WIDERA Work Programme 2026-27 22 January 2026, Online | | |
| | Virtual Media Workshop to Strengthen Reporting on Environmental Threats and Solutions in the Western Balkans 28 - 29 January 2026, Online | | |
| | Online Brokerage Event: Artificial Intelligence in Horizon Europe Calls 25 February 2026, Online | | |
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Resources
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| Science|Business Event Report - From Knowledge to Impact: Nurturing Research and Innovation in Southeast Europe | | |
| | Converge2EU Dashboard | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS Report and Policy Brief on the Promotion of Research Infrastructures | | |
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| | | Integrating the Western Balkans into Europe’s AI and Science Ecosystem |
| | Western Balkans Info Hub Overview |
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| News | | Albania to Invest €10 Million in AI Startup Thinking Machines Lab | | |
| | Albania Appoints World’s First AI-Generated Government Minister | | |
| | Erasmus Mundus WINTOUR Master Opens Scholarship Opportunities for Students from the Western Balkans | | |
| | SCiDEV Hosts First Advocacy Dialogue on Mobility, Research, and Innovation in the Western Balkans | | |
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Resources
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| Artificial Intelligence for Health in the WHO European Region: Country Profiles | | |
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News
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| Bosnia and Herzegovina Showcases National Supercomputing Initiatives at CMBEBIH 2025 | | |
| | Erasmus Mundus WINTOUR Master Opens Scholarship Opportunities for Students from the Western Balkans | | |
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Resources
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| Artificial Intelligence Governance and Ethics in Bosnia and Herzegovina | | |
| | Artificial Intelligence for Health in the WHO European Region: Country Profiles | | |
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Initiatives
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| Sarajevo Initiative | | |
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Organisations
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| e-Transformacija | | |
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News
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| Training on Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Higher Education at the University of Prishtina | | |
| | Focus Group Explores Integration of AI in the Higher Education System in Kosovo | | |
| | Baseline Study on the Circular Economy in Kosovo | | |
| | GÉANT Connect Online reporting about the Kosovo Research and Education Network | | |
| | Erasmus Mundus WINTOUR Master Opens Scholarship Opportunities for Students from the Western Balkans | | |
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Calls
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Grant Scheme to Support Kosovo’s Participation in Horizon Europe Deadline: 31 May 2027
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Resources
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| Kosovo Women on the Front Line of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity | | |
| | e-Government Strategy Kosovo 2023-2027 | | |
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Initiatives
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| e-Kosova | | |
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| | | | EIT Communities as Drivers of EU-Wide R&I Integration |
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News
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| Leading Global Cybersecurity and AI Fund Visits Montenegro | | |
| | Girls in Information and Communication Technology Day II: Inspiring Future Female Leaders | | |
| | Call for Applications to Inno-Bootcamp: "Transforming Research into Marketable Solutions and Developing Startups" | | |
| | Info Day for the InnoFin Hackathon, 19 Teams Begin Mentoring Sessions | | |
| | Constitutive Session of the Working Group for the Development of Montenegro's Artificial Intelligence Strategy Held | | |
| | Erasmus Mundus WINTOUR Master Opens Scholarship Opportunities for Students from the Western Balkans | | |
| | Science|Business Conference: From Knowledge to Impact: Nurturing Research and Innovation in Southeast Europe | | |
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Calls
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Pre-Announcement: Third Call for Proposals – Danube Region Programme Deadline: 15 December 2025
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| Danube Region Programme Call for Proposals Deadline: 15 December 2025
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| Call for Proposals: Health Data for Biotechnological Innovations Using the European Health Data Space Deadline: 6 January 2026
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Resources
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| Artificial Intelligence for Health in the WHO European Region: Country Profiles | | |
| | JRC Report on Innovation Output Indicator 2024 | | |
| | Artificial Intelligence Landscape Assessment (AILA) in Montenegro | | |
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Initiatives
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| Montenegrin Artificial Intelligence Association (MAIA) | | |
| | MontEDIH | | |
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Organisations
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| National Competence Centre for High-Performance Computing (NCC Montenegro) | | |
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News
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| POLICY ANSWERS Innovation Management Training for Companies Working with Products and Services | | |
| | North Macedonia Launches “Vezilka”, First National Centre for Artificial Intelligence | | |
| | New AI Collective Chapter Established in Skopje to Boost National AI Ecosystem | | |
| | MIR Completes First Training on Digital Transformation for Businesses | | |
| | ScaleUP Bootcamp 2025: Accelerating Digital Transformation and Smart Growth | | |
| | EU Expands AI Infrastructure, Boosting Opportunities for North Macedonia and Serbia | | |
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Events
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| E-society Conference: Regional Forum for Digital Transformation and AI-era Challenges 10 December 2025, Skopje | | |
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Resources
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| Artificial Intelligence for Health in the WHO European Region: Country Profiles | | |
| | Aligning North Macedonia’s AI Policy with the EU: Bridging the Regulatory Gap | | |
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Initiatives
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| INNOFEIT EDIH | | |
| | Artificial Intelligence Association AI NOW! | | |
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News
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| Serbia Adopts Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence for the Period 2025–2030 | | |
| | EU Expands AI Infrastructure, Boosting Opportunities for North Macedonia and Serbia | | |
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Events
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| International Conference: Road Safety in Local Communities 22 - 25 April 2026, Vrnjačka Banja | | |
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Resources
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| Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in Serbia for the Period 2020-2025 | | |
| | Artificial Intelligence for Health in the WHO European Region: Country Profiles | | |
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Initiatives
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| Map of Serbia's AI Ecosystem | | |
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Organisations
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| The Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research and Development of Serbia | | |
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Other Highlights
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Calls
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European Innovation Council Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up Deadline: 16 December 2025
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| Horizon Europe: Expanding Investment Ecosystems (HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-02) Deadline: 20 January 2026
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| Horizon Europe Call: The Impact of Pollution on the Development and Progression of Brain diseases and Disorders Deadline: 16 April 2026
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Events
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| Horizon Europe Info Days on ERA calls in the WIDERA Work Programme 2026-27 11 December 2025 | | |
| | EC-OECD workshop: The Future of Artificial Intelligence and the Implications for Materials Science 16 December 2025 | | |
| | Science Diplomacy - Bridging Divides in a Fragmented World 17 - 18 December 2025, Copenhagen | | |
| | Horizon Europe ERA Brokerage event: Reforming and enhancing the EU research and innovation system 17 December 2025 | | |
| | Horizon Europe Info Days on WIDENING calls in the WIDERA Work Programme 2026-27 22 January 2026, Online | | |
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We Are always Here To Talk
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The Western Balkans Information Hub acts as a source of high-quality targeted Information on research, technology and innovation but also education, culture, youth and sports in, with and for the Western Balkans. It is supported by the project POLICY ANSWERS, funded by the Horizon Europe programme - Grant Agreement no. 101058873, and coordinated by Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)
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*Kosovo This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
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