The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) opened the Western Balkans Ministerial Meeting in Skopje with a dedicated session highlighting its key role in promoting research cooperation in the region. A newly presented study showed an impressive doubling of their participation in COST since 2014.
Later in the day, the Western Balkans Ministerial Meeting hosted a Ministerial Round Table on ‘Young Researchers and Innovators: Scaling up the Skills’, which further explored the impact of COST in promoting innovation skills.
European Commissioner Iliana Ivanova praised COST as “the catalyst that has enabled regional partners for decades” and underlined its crucial role in integrating researchers from the Western Balkans into the wider European scientific community.
Ronald de Bruin, Director of the COST Association, began by introducing the COST Programme and its Actions, which are open to all researchers and selected based on excellence. This openness, he said, ensures equal opportunities for all, regardless of background, ethnicity or gender, and promotes a diverse and inclusive scientific community.
“The COST Western Balkans 2024 study shows how COST is empowering researchers from the region to take the lead. They don’t just participate – they drive progress. COST helps them to make connections across Europe and places Western Balkan innovation at the heart of European research”, highlighted the COST Director.
Signe Ratso, Deputy Director General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, spoke about the significant impact of COST on the Western Balkans. “COST has been instrumental in connecting the Western Balkans to European research and innovation projects,” she noted, adding that its unique structure and funding have greatly benefited the region.
In particular, Ms Ratso underlined COST’s emphasis on supporting early-stage researchers:
"COST’s commitment to supporting young researchers is exemplary. Involvement in working groups and leadership roles within COST has enabled many young scientists from the Western Balkans to advance their careers and make significant contributions to the European and global research landscape."
She also mentioned COST’s role in opening new research frontiers: “COST enables researchers from the Western Balkans to be at the forefront of emerging scientific fields, positioning them at the forefront of discovery and innovation.”
Key findings of the study
COST President, Prof. Salvatore Grimaldi, presented the results of the COST Western Balkans Study. He highlighted the growing number of researchers from the Western Balkans in COST Actions, noting their involvement in COST from its creation.
Since 1971, COST Actions have been perfectly suited to stimulate new ideas and opportunities, allowing researchers and innovators from the Western Balkans to become more involved in the European Research Area”, said the President. Today, almost 300 researchers from the region are in leading positions in ongoing projects.
Prof. Grimaldi highlighted the doubling of participation since 2014 since Horizon 2020, with a significant proportion being young researchers, reflecting COST’s role in supporting early-career scientists. “Pooling skills and promoting collaborative research among young researchers secures impact for society” added the COST President.
Over the past three years, an impressive 240,000 connections have been made with the Western Balkans through COST networking activities, strengthening pan-European collaboration. The study also showed that hosting international scientific events in the Western Balkans has raised the profile of local research institutions. A recent survey showed that participation in COST Actions has had a positive impact on researchers’ careers, leading to new collaborations and opportunities for professional development.
COST contribution to the Ministerial Round Table
During the following Ministerial Round Table, the COST President Prof. Salvatore Grimaldi stressed that COST is building innovation capacity and creating a supportive environment for young innovators. He mentioned a case study from the University of Novi Sad in Serbia, which illustrated the impact of the COST Action RIBMINS in promoting meat safety. This Action has brought together 250 members from 36 countries, trained over 100 young researchers and provided guidance to European policymakers. He reiterated that COST’s inclusive, bottom-up approach has significantly increased the participation of researchers from the Western Balkans since 2014, strengthening the region’s integration into European research and innovation and contributing to a more cohesive European Research Area.
"COST is the catalyst that has enabled regional partners for decades“
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
The impact of COST’s work resonated strongly with several delegations from the Western Balkans. Representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia and Serbia specifically acknowledged COST as an important tool for networking with peers across Europe and beyond. In particular, the Serbian delegation underlined the importance of COST in promoting young researchers, further confirming the organisation’s focus on supporting emerging talent.
Further information
European Commission videos and photos of the Western Balkans Ministerial Meeting
Overview by the Western Balkans Info Hub on the Ministerial Meeting
Download the COST Western Balkans booklet
More information about the Western Balkans in COST Actions
This article was first published 1 October 2024 by COST.
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