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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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[Call for Applications] European Prize for Women Innovators |
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Highlights
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Erasmus + and the Western Balkans |
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Calls
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Erasmus+ Call for Applications for the Radboud University Summer School Deadline: 14 February 2025
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| Erasmus+ Call: Cooperation Partnerships Deadline: 5 March 2025
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| Erasmus+ Capacity Building in the field of Youth in Western Balkans Deadline: 6 March 2025
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| Erasmus+ Call: Alliances for Innovation – Strengthening Education, Skills, and Enterprise Collaboration Deadline: 6 March 2025
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| Erasmus+ Teacher Academies 2025 Deadline: 26 March 2025
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| Erasmus+ Call: Forward-Looking Projects for Innovative and Digital Solutions Deadline: 25 May 2025
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| Erasmus+ Call: Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) to Transform Vocational Education and Training Deadline: 11 June 2025
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Updates from the Region
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| News | | Western Balkans Media Professionals Engage in European Study Tour to Enhance Journalism Practices | | |
| | Use the ECs Dashboard to Learn which SMEs from the Western Balkans Received EU Funding | | |
| | EU Guarantees to Unlock €750 Million for Small Businesses in the Western Balkans | | |
| | UNIDO Strengthens Regional Cooperation in the Western Balkans | | |
| | Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) supports development of a Knowledge Transfer Tool-kit for the Western Balkans | | |
| | Share Your Insights in the Social Transformations and Resilience Survey | | |
| | Western Balkans First Eco-Industrial Park to be Developed in Serbia | | |
| | FAQ – Western Balkans Research & Innovation Youth Awards | | |
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| Calls | Third Call for Individual Mobility of Artists and Cultural Professionals Deadline: 30 April 2025
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| Call for Applications: Transnational Access Fellowships 2025-26 for scholars on the study of religion (RESILIENCE TNA) with host organisations in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina Deadline: 1 May 2025
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| Call for expressions of interest from EU/EEA/Western Balkans-based businesses to invest in the Western Balkans Deadline: 21 May 2025
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| Erasmus+ Call: Forward-Looking Projects for Innovative and Digital Solutions Deadline: 25 May 2025
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| Erasmus+ Call: Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) to Transform Vocational Education and Training Deadline: 11 June 2025
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| Promotion of Research and Development Projects between Germany and the Western Balkans (WEB2025) Deadline: 11 June 2025
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| Call for Applications: BIRN Offers Investigative Journalism Grants Deadline: 30 June 2025
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| Call for Applications: EIT InfraBooster 2025 Deadline: 7 December 2025
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| EUREKA Open Call for Network Projects Applications Deadline: 31 December 2025
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| Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs – a Unique Opportunity for Youth and Entrepreneurs Deadline: 31 December 2025
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| Call for Participation: European Partnership on Social Transformations and Resilience (STR) Deadline: 1 October 2026
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Events
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| 6th Biannual Conference of the Western Balkans Evaluation Network 2025: Strengthening Evaluation Frameworks: Development, Policy, and Practice 17 - 18 October 2025, Sarajevo | | |
| | Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation (13 - 15 May 2025, Podgorica) 13 - 15 May 2025, Podgorica | | |
| | 20th International Conference on Road Safety in Local Communities 23 - 26 April 2025, Vrnjačka Banja | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS Webinar: How to Become Active in EU Partnerships, the Approach of Türkiye 24 April 2025, online | | |
| | Enhancing FAIR and Trustworthy Data Repositories: Insights from the Repositories in the Western Balkan Region 8 May 2025, online | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS Workshop on Technology-Oriented Research Infrastructures: Opportunities for the Western Balkans 13 May 2025, Podgorica | | |
| | SCAR/BIOEAST conference on research and innovation 10 - 12 June 2025 | | |
| | 7th European Climate Change Adaptation Conference 2025: Smarter, Faster and More Systemic Adaptation 16 - 18 June 2025, Rimini | | |
| | Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) Conference 2025 17 - 19 June 2025, Brussels | | |
| | Call for Participation in the 6th International Conference “Society and Politics” 25 - 26 September 2025, Banja Luka | | |
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Resources
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| The EU’s and China’s Grants and Loans in the Western Balkans | | |
| | Launch of the Western Balkans Regional Innovation Academy | | |
| | To What Extent are Widening Countries Part of Knowledge Networks Formed by the Framework Programmes? | | |
| | Voices from the Horizon, Third Countries' Experiences Guiding the Design of FP10 | | |
| | S3 Community of Practice Information Hub | | |
| | The Role of Universities in Smart Specialisation Strategies | | |
| | Regional Potential for ICT Collaboration in the Context of Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans | | |
| | Guidelines for the Stakeholder Dialogue in the Process of Designing and Implementing Smart Specialisation Strategies in the EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Region | | |
| | E-learning Course: S3 in EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Region | | |
| | Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans: Potential for Knowledge-based Economic Cooperation (2024) | | |
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Programmes & Policies
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| European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder | | |
| | European Innovation Council (EIC) Transition | | |
| | European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Programme | | |
| | Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs | | |
| | Single Market Programme | | |
| | Youth in Business Programme | | |
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Initiatives
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| Yunus Social Business Balkans | | |
| | Western Balkans Start-up Alliance | | |
| | Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) | | |
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Organisations
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| Enterprise Europe Network | | |
| | Western Balkans Enterprise Development & Innovation Facility (WB EDIF) | | |
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| News | | The Third Call of the “Challenge Fund” in Albania, EU4Innovation Support for new Entrepreneurs | | |
| | EU and Albania hold 3rd Horizon Europe Joint Research & Innovation Committee Meeting | | |
| | EIT Info Day in Albania Showcased Innovation and Funding Opportunities | | |
| | Albania and Smart Specialisation | | |
| | Youth Engagement in ORRI: Insights from CORYA Stakeholders Meeting in Tirana | | |
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| Calls | Call for Applications: Transnational Access Fellowships 2025-26 for scholars on the study of religion (RESILIENCE TNA) with host organisations in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina Deadline: 1 May 2025
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| IPA ADRION 2nd Call for Proposals Deadline: 30 June 2025
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Resources
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| Albania Employment and Entrepreneurship | | |
| | The Start-up and Innovation Ecosystem in Albania and its Potential to Connect to Europe | | |
| | Start Up Guide in Albania | | |
| | Assessing Research and Policy Support Needs for Innovation in the South East Europe - Key Findings Based on SmartEIZ Questionnaire Report | | |
| | The Identification of Smart Specialisation Priority Domains in Albania | | |
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Initiatives
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| Yunus Social Business Balkans | | |
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News
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| Boosting Knowledge and Competitiveness in the Danube Region, POLICY ANSWERS Joins Capitalisation Workshop in Bratislava | | |
| | EU Launches EUR 5.5 Million Employment Project to Support Green and Digital Transitions in Bosnia and Herzegovina | | |
| | SpinIT Project Boosts Innovation and Smart Specialisation Across the Danube Region | | |
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Calls
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Call for Applications: Transnational Access Fellowships 2025-26 for scholars on the study of religion (RESILIENCE TNA) with host organisations in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina Deadline: 1 May 2025
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| IPA ADRION 2nd Call for Proposals Deadline: 30 June 2025
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Events
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| Enhancing FAIR and Trustworthy Data Repositories: Insights from the Repositories in the Western Balkan Region 8 May 2025, online | | |
| | EU Strategy for the Danube Region: 1st National Participation Day in Bosnia and Herzegovina 13 May 2025, Sarajevo | | |
| | 20th International Summer School Youth and Heritage (ISSYH) 24 July - 9 August 2025, Sarajevo, Mostar, and Stolac | | |
| | Preserving Cultural Heritage in Times of Climate Change: 1st STECCI Conference 25 - 27 September 2025, Vienna and online | | |
| | 6th Biannual Conference of the Western Balkans Evaluation Network 2025: Strengthening Evaluation Frameworks: Development, Policy, and Practice 17 - 18 October 2025, Sarajevo | | |
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Resources
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| Assessing Research and Policy Support Needs for Innovation in the South East Europe - Key Findings Based on SmartEIZ Questionnaire Report | | |
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Initiatives
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| Innovation Centre Banja Luka | | |
| | IBU Incubator | | |
| | Fondacija 787 | | |
| | Finnosee – Access to Finance for South East Europe Companies | | |
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News
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| Riinvest Researchers Complete POLICY ANSWERS Fellowship at DLR-PT, Germany | | |
| | Kosovo and Austria sign Cooperation Agreement for co-financing the SHER Programme | | |
| | Workshop Report on Innovation and Digital Transformation at Haxhi Zeka University, Kosovo | | |
| | Workshop Report related to Kosovar Draft Law for Scientific Research and Innovation | | |
| | Smart Specialisation Strategy in Kosovo and the role of Riinvest Insitute | | |
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Events
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| Riinvest Institute Conference: Activating the Sources of Economic Growth 15 - 17 May 2025, Pristina | | |
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Resources
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| Assessing Research and Policy Support Needs for Innovation in the South East Europe - Key Findings Based on SmartEIZ Questionnaire Report | | |
| | The Identification of Priority Domains in Kosovo, a Mapping Exercise | | |
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Initiatives
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| VentureUP | | |
| | Launching of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) e-platform | | |
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News
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| Two Successfully Completed POLICY ANSWERS Trainings on Sustainable Agriculture in Montenegro | | |
| | Boosting Knowledge and Competitiveness in the Danube Region, POLICY ANSWERS Joins Capitalisation Workshop in Bratislava | | |
| | Second Conference on Entrepreneurship and Start-up Development Held in Pljevlja | | |
| | Fourth Cycle of the Social Impact Award Programme Officially Launched in Montenegro | | |
| | Training on "NTC Learning System" Held for Teachers from 10 Educational Institutions in Podgorica | | |
| | Awards Presented to the Most Outstanding Scientists in Montenegro | | |
| | Development of the Career Guidance and Counselling Strategy 2025-2030 Begins | | |
| | The Innovation Fund of Montenegro Announces the List of Approved Projects Under the Public Call for Collaborative Innovation Grants | | |
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Calls
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IPA ADRION 2nd Call for Proposals Deadline: 30 June 2025
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Events
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| Preserving Cultural Heritage in Times of Climate Change: 1st STECCI Conference 25 - 27 September 2025, Vienna and online | | |
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Resources
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| Assessing Research and Policy Support Needs for Innovation in the South East Europe - Key Findings Based on SmartEIZ Questionnaire Report | | |
| | Interview with Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation of Montenegro, on the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) | | |
| | Smart Specialisation Strategy of Montenegro 2019-2024 | | |
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Programmes & Policies
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| Smart Specialisation Strategy Montenegro | | |
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Initiatives
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| Finnosee – Access to Finance for South East Europe Companies | | |
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News
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| EIT Community RIS Hub North Macedonia Supports Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Startups | | |
| | North Macedonia Joins Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) | | |
| | Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Republic of North Macedonia 2024-2027 and the Action Plan 2024-2025 | | |
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Calls
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IPA ADRION 2nd Call for Proposals Deadline: 30 June 2025
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Events
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| Business and Entrepreneurship Development Training: The LEADER Project 22 - 30 April 2025, Skopje | | |
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Resources
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| Guide How to Launch in North Macedonia | | |
| | North Macedonia's Growth Acceleration Plan: SME Finance | | |
| | Qualitative Analysis of Economic, Innovation and Scientific Potential in North Macedonia | | |
| | Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Republic of North Macedonia 2024-2027 | | |
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Initiatives
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| CEED Hub Skopje | | |
| | Finnosee – Access to Finance for South East Europe Companies | | |
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News
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| Successful implementation of POLICY ANSWERS capacity development for evaluation of S&T projects | | |
| | Boosting Knowledge and Competitiveness in the Danube Region, POLICY ANSWERS Joins Capitalisation Workshop in Bratislava | | |
| | Second Conference on Entrepreneurship and Start-up Development Held in Pljevlja | | |
| | Event Report on Empowering Female Entrepreneurs Through Digitalisation and Innovative Management | | |
| | National Inspiration Hubs: Bridging STE(A)M, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Management | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS Fellowship: Manual for Startups & Scaleups, Accessing Innovation Funding | | |
| | Western Balkans First Eco-Industrial Park to be Developed in Serbia | | |
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Calls
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IPA ADRION 2nd Call for Proposals Deadline: 30 June 2025
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Events
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| Enhancing FAIR and Trustworthy Data Repositories: Insights from the Repositories in the Western Balkan Region 8 May 2025, online | | |
| | Preserving Cultural Heritage in Times of Climate Change: 1st STECCI Conference 25 - 27 September 2025, Vienna and online | | |
| | EXPO 2027 Belgrade: Play for Humanity - Sport and Music for All 15 May - 15 August 2027, Belgrade | | |
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Resources
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| Assessing Research and Policy Support Needs for Innovation in the South East Europe - Key Findings Based on SmartEIZ Questionnaire Report | | |
| | The Identification of Smart Specialisation Priority Domains in Serbia | | |
| | Smart Regions: A Magazine on Smart Specialisation Strategy in Serbia | | |
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Programmes & Policies
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| Smart Specialisation Strategy Serbia (S4) | | |
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Initiatives
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| ICT Hub | | |
| | Finnosee – Access to Finance for South East Europe Companies | | |
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Other Highlights
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News
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| Riinvest Researchers Complete POLICY ANSWERS Fellowship at DLR-PT, Germany | | |
| | European Commission Concludes Public Consultation on the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy | | |
| | Discussions on the Future of FP10: Research Communities Push for a Stand-alone Programme | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS Fellowship: Manual for Startups & Scaleups, Accessing Innovation Funding | | |
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Calls
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Call for Applications: Transnational Access Fellowships 2025-26 for scholars on the study of religion (RESILIENCE TNA) with host organisations in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina Deadline: 1 May 2025
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| European Innovation Council: EIC Pathfinder Open Deadline: 21 May 2025
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| Call for expressions of interest from EU/EEA/Western Balkans-based businesses to invest in the Western Balkans Deadline: 21 May 2025
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| Erasmus+ Call: Forward-Looking Projects for Innovative and Digital Solutions Deadline: 25 May 2025
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| Erasmus+ Call: Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) to Transform Vocational Education and Training Deadline: 11 June 2025
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| Promotion of Research and Development Projects between Germany and the Western Balkans (WEB2025) Deadline: 11 June 2025
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| IPA ADRION 2nd Call for Proposals Deadline: 30 June 2025
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| European Innovation Council: EIC Transition 2025 Deadline: 17 September 2025
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| European Innovation Council: EIC STEP Scale Up Deadline: 16 December 2025
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| EUREKA Open Call for Network Projects Applications Deadline: 31 December 2025
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| Call for Participation: European Partnership on Social Transformations and Resilience (STR) Deadline: 1 October 2026
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| [Call for Action] Join the Mission Charter for EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters! Deadline: 31 December 2030
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Events
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| EU-Startups Summit 24 - 25 April 2025 | | |
| | Territories in Action: The Journey Begins 29 April 2025, Brussels | | |
| | STS Conference Graz 2025: Critical Issues in Science, Technology and Society Studies 5 - 7 May 2025, Graz | | |
| | Shaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector 8 May 2025, Brussels and online | | |
| | Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation (13 - 15 May 2025, Podgorica) 13 - 15 May 2025, Podgorica | | |
| | POLICY ANSWERS Workshop on Technology-Oriented Research Infrastructures: Opportunities for the Western Balkans 13 May 2025, Podgorica | | |
| | Futures4Europe Conference 2025: Exploring Future-Oriented Collective Intelligence 15 - 16 May 2025, Vienna | | |
| | Horizon Europe Info Day and Brokerage for Cluster 2 'Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Societies' 2025 15 - 16 May 2025, online | | |
| | SCAR/BIOEAST conference on research and innovation 10 - 12 June 2025 | | |
| | European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2025 and Policy Conference 10 - 12 June 2025 | | |
| | European Forum for Studies of Policies for Research and Innovation (Eu-SPRI) Annual Conference 2025: Shaping societal futures with STI Policies 11 - 13 June 2025, Dortmund | | |
| | 7th European Climate Change Adapatation (ECCA) conference 2025 16 - 18 June 2025, Rimini | | |
| | 7th European Climate Change Adaptation Conference 2025: Smarter, Faster and More Systemic Adaptation 16 - 18 June 2025, Rimini | | |
| | 20th International Summer School Youth and Heritage (ISSYH) 24 July - 9 August 2025, Sarajevo, Mostar, and Stolac | | |
| | European Research and Innovation Days 2025 16 - 17 September 2025, Brussels | | |
| | ENRIO Congress 2025: Research Integrity, Power Dynamics and Safe Institutional Culture 22 - 24 September 2025, Ljubljana | | |
| | Macro-regional & Sea Basin Strategies Days 2025 24 - 25 September 2025, Brussels | | |
| | South East European Software Testing Conference Sofia SEETEST 2025 25 - 26 September 2025, Sofia | | |
| | Preserving Cultural Heritage in Times of Climate Change: 1st STECCI Conference 25 - 27 September 2025, Vienna and online | | |
| | 3rd International Danube Cup 2025 Conference on Entrepreneurship Research 10 - 11 October 2025, Györ | | |
| | Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies 2025 3 - 5 November 2025, Vienna | | |
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Resources
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| Southern European entrepreneurship engine:A model for deep tech commercialisation and sustainable growth | | |
| | JRC Essentials, Tools and Practices for Countries and Regions | | |
| | PA7 Reflection on the Future European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) | | |
| | Assessing Research and Policy Support Needs for Innovation in the South East Europe - Key Findings Based on SmartEIZ Questionnaire Report | | |
| | S3 Community of Practice Information Hub | | |
| | Smart Specialisation Strategies in Croatia: Experiences and the Way Forward Conference Recommendations | | |
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Programmes & Policies
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| European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder | | |
| | European Innovation Council (EIC) Transition | | |
| | European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Programme | | |
| | Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs | | |
| | Single Market Programme | | |
| | Smart Specialisation Strategy Montenegro | | |
| | Smart Specialisation Strategy Serbia (S4) | | |
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Initiatives
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| Startup Europe | | |
| | Finnosee – Access to Finance for South East Europe Companies | | |
| | Launching of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) e-platform | | |
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Organisations
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| European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) | | |
| | Enterprise Europe Network | | |
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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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