Regional Cooperation Council | Research and Innovation

Research and Innovation

Through innovation to economic recovery and sustainability

Objectives

Research systems which foster innovation
Robust innovation ecosystems in the Western Balkans
Integration of Open Science principles,
Mapping and opening research infrastructures
Removal of obstacles to mobility of researchers within WB6 and between WB6 and the EU
Provide coordinated personalised information and services to researchers, and capacity building to and networking of EURAXESS offices in South East Europe

Results

Open Science and Open Access Policies and Instruments introduced in the Western Balkans
Regional action plan on Open Science facilitated
Regional networking of technology transfer offices supported
Contributed to increasing EURAXESS capacity
Partnered with the World Economic Forum to launch the Western Balkans Competitiveness and Innovation Accelerator

The RCC helps create a more robust research & innovation ecosystem, boost collaboration between academic and business communities, and introduce Open Science policies, assists the regional mapping, usage and networking of research infrastructures, promotes equality in research and innovation, helps launch the Western Balkans Competitiveness and Innovation Accelerator, and enables regional capacity building.

Next steps

Coordinate activities in creating more robust regional innovation ecosystem with a view to facilitate introduction of regional innovation schemes aimed at supporting regional innovative projects
Facilitate a more dynamic collaboration between academic and business communities
Support development and coordination of Open Science policies on access to and preservation of scientific information
Assist the regional mapping of research infrastructures
Further support harmonisation of policies on access to Research Infrastructures
Coordinate regional networking of Research Infrastructures
Promote increased participation of women in STEM fields
Enable capacity building and regular meetings of the Western Balkans Research & Innovation Working Group and its subgroups