From knowledge to impact: Nurturing research and innovation in Southeast Europe

As evidenced by the priorities of the current trio of Council presidencies (Poland, Denmark and Cyprus), the EU’s strategic agenda reflects the challenge of keeping dual perspectives in balance – from managing the shorter-term causes and effects of multiple crises to implementing agreed longer-term goals such as enlargement of the Union in both Southeastern and Eastern Europe.  

Against a backdrop of conflict, economic constraint and geopolitical turbulence, there are plenty of obstacles in the way of the EU and candidate countries achieving their enlargement goals. Nonetheless, and to paraphrase JFK’s time-honoured comment, the way forward may not be to ask what Brussels can do for the region, but rather what the region can do for – and, more importantly, with – Brussels in the years to come.  

This question has particular importance for research and innovation (R&I), given its unique and transversal relevance to every part of today’s economies and societies. Put simply, creating European added value through R&I – whether for resilience, preparedness, competitiveness or sustainability – has necessarily become a two-way street. In parallel, it now becomes imperative to understand not only where and how the EU’s collaborative R&I instruments are already generating impact in Southeastern Europe, but also the region’s own assets and success stories in fostering science-based ecosystems that can strengthen the European Research, Innovation and Education Areas. 

On October 21, Science|Business will organise its first-ever event in Montenegro – in line with the ministerial meeting of the EU Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation – to debate the way forward, informed by “living” case studies of R&I in action. Our public conference will bring together leaders and decision makers from the region and beyond, and from the worlds of science, policy, industry and finance, to air bold policy ideas, share good practices and develop recommendations to optimise the regional impact of EU instruments in the years ahead.