Co-ordination of Research Policies with the Western Balkan Countries

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The Western Balkan Countries INCO-NET enhances integration of the Western Balkan countries (WBC) in the European Research Area.

The initiative is supported by the European Commission under the 7^th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.

The issue of enlargement in the direction of the so-called Western Balkan countries is high on the political agenda of the European Union. The Western Balkan countries INCO-NET assists in developing the relationship between the EU and the WBCs in the area of science and technology (S&T). Throughout its total duration of six years (2008 to 2013), the project supports the Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkan countries in the facilitation of interaction between the Western Balkan countries, the EU Member States, states associated to the Framework Programmes for RTD and the European Commission. It is a strategic body designed to deal with European, multilateral and regional issues of science and technology policies in and with the WBCs.

The core objectives of WBC-INCO.NET are:

to support the bi-regional dialogue on science and technology (S&T) by benefiting from and interacting with the Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkan countries
to identify RTD potentials and priorities for take-up in FP7 and other European programmes in a transparent and methodologically sound way
to enhance participation of researchers from the region in European projects of mutual interest and benefit by implementing capacity building measures and accompanying networking activities.
to analyse innovation needs and barriers to innovation in the WBC, to exchange information and best practices on innovation policies and to prepare an Action Plan for further WBC cooperation in the field of innovation and
to establish closer cooperation between research and innovation, to strengthen the intersectoral dialogue and to support the training of innovation stakeholders.

The objectives are being achieved in close interaction with the Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkan countries. The platform members are the EU Member States, the Candidate and Potential Candidate countries, the countries associated to FP7 and the European Commission. It meets twice a year and is typically hosted by the EU Presidency or a Western Balkan country. WBC-INCO.NET supports these meetings logistically and cooperates in an efficient division of labour.

The project implements such activities as:

setting of thematic regional S&T priorities,
analysis of opportunities to access infrastructure, barriers to cooperation and cooperation patterns,
analysis of the needs in innovation policy and innovation support and identification of policy measures to improve the framework conditions for innovation,
organisation of training workshops and learning groups (for innovation stakeholders), in addition to brokerage events and awareness raising sessions,
organisation of Innovation Dialogue Fora and establishment of a WBC Innovation Group of Experts,
support to National Contact Points and Research Information Systems and
publishing of regular newsletters, a journal and the web-based information portal www.wbc-inco.net

How to contribute?

Through its portal www.wbc-inco.net, newsletters and reports, WBC-INCO.NET engages in information exchange on S&T policy cooperation with the Western Balkan countries. We are open to publish your event announcements on the topic, your organisation profile and your project news, as well as to disseminate relevant news and documents on funding opportunities, cooperation possibilities, scholarships, awards, etc. We are interested in your suggestions on how to improve the S&T systems in the region; we would like to learn about your good practices and what you would need in order to improve your links with research communities in other regions.

Access to our platform is free of charge and open to everyone interested in our activities. With your user name and password you will have free access to our databases.

Apply for an account.

Everyone is invited to use our platform by providing information, for example via e-mail to office@wbc-inco.net.

29 partners are participating in the consortium:

Among these are S&T ministries, agencies and analytical partners: more information on the team is available here.

History of this portal

This portal is a product of the projects ASA-MOCO-WB (see-science.eu) and WBC-INCO.NET (including WBC-INCO.NET ENHANCED).

WBC-INCO.NET is co-funded under the 7th Framework Programme for RTD under the Capacities Programme - International Cooperation. The project started in January 2008. In 2010, an amendment has been reached with the European Commission (based on the project application WBC-INCO.NET ENHANCED) which prolongued the project till December 2013 and enhanced its focus towards innovation issues.

ASA-MOCO-WB was co-funded by the European Community's Programme for Specific International Scientific Cooperation Activities (INCO) under the 6th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (2002-2006). The project duration was 24 months: May 2006 till April 2008.

Contact details:

Western Balkan Countries INCO-NET
c/o Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)
Linke Wienzeile 246
1150 Vienna
Austria
office@wbc-inco.net

Project Coordinator:

Ms. Elke Dall
Centre for Social Innovation
tel.: +43-1-4950442-62
fax: +43-1-4950442-40
e-mail: coordinator@zsi.at
Website: http://www.wbc-inco.net

WBC-INCO.NET is a project co-funded by the European Community’s Capacities Programme on International Cooperation under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (2007-2013) (Contract Number: 212029).

WBC-INCO.NET is a project (Contract Number: 212029) co-funded by the European Community's Programme for International Cooperation under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (2007-2013). The sole responsibility for the content of this report lies with the authors. It does not represent the opinion of the Community. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

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.