Maria Leptin looks to how Horizon Europe’s successor programme can help bridge the east-west gap in research performance after visiting Croatia and Slovenia

A new report highlights structural problems and bottlenecks that are holding back progress in building up capacity and strengthening the scientific systems in eastern Europe

As the process of reforming research assessment gains momentum, representatives of Widening countries share concerns that their perspectives will not be properly accommodated

Concentrated diplomatic efforts win the day as Romania is made a ‘founding observer’ in the ELI ERIC consortium. The move is a huge step forwards after a long-running row that seriously held up the largest research infrastructure in eastern Europe

Science|Business is tracking various assessments of how Widening initiatives in Horizon Europe are matching up to their objectives with a view to understanding how they should evolve

Almost ten years on, the EU-funded centres are strengthening research and innovation performance. Now the challenge is to ensure they are sustainable and can thrive on their own long term

Science expat networks in eastern Europe aim to turn brain drain into brain circulation, support mobility and narrow the gap between Widening countries and western Europe. But intermittent funding threatens the future of these grassroots initiatives

The country is looking to boost its research, development and innovation landscape with a massive increase in the budget and new focus after decades of stasis

A new deal brings hope a €300M EU investment in eastern Europe’s largest research laboratory will not be lost to management problems

Seven countries have signed up to a Commission initiative to help them in drawing up tailored R&I policies that make the most of EU programmes. Initial reaction is positive, but participants say implementation is what counts