University of Banja Luka Partner in a New European Project

University of Banja Luka is a partner in the new European project "POLICY ANSWERS" funded through the EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme - Horizon Europe.

It is a project led by the Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI) in Vienna, implementation of which began on 14 April 2022 in Vienna with a meeting of all 14 partners gathered around the project. Among those present were representatives of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Banja Luka, the official partner of the project.

In the next four years, the previous joint efforts of the European Union and the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia and Serbia will continue and improve the cooperation through the project in the field of innovation and research, education, culture, youth and sports. This project will use various instruments in order to better integrate the countries of the Western Balkans into the European Research Area.

Activities on the project

The "Policy Answers" project will include activities such as organizing meetings to promote dialogue, such as ministerial meetings, Western Balkans Steering Platform meetings, and ad hoc meetings to better coordinate regional policies and discuss the implementation of newly adopted policies.

The plan is also to provide information through the www.westernbalkans-infohub.eu platform, focused on current topics in the fields of research and innovation, education, culture, youth and sports in the Western Balkans, with the aim of better flow and exchange of information, and promotion of calls and opportunities for joint activities to bring the Western Balkans closer to EU policies. Through the project, the plan is to provide analytical services such as mapping of relevant institutions, programmes, initiatives, needs and common priorities in the Western Balkans, as well as monitoring existing implementation activities of the Agenda for the Western Balkans. 

There is also the creation of policy development recommendations for relevant actors in the region on key EU development priorities, such as: digitalisation, the green economy and health, as well as their harmonization. The plan is also to undertake regional pilot activities through this project for academia, business and civil society, with the aim of strengthening links between academia and business sector in the Western Balkans, supporting the mobility of researchers within the region, and improving the visibility of Western Balkans research infrastructure in Europe within the broader research context.  

In all phases of the project, special emphasis will be placed on the involvement of previously underrepresented social groups, as well as on coordination with all key actors and international organizations. Through the work program, this project will have an impact on science, the economy and society as a whole, thus contributing to a faster recovery from the crisis caused by the emergence and spread of the coronavirus, and the digital and green transition of the Western Balkans. 

For more information on the project, please see the following links:
•    Webpage: www.westernbalkans-infohub.eu
•    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WBInfoHub
•    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wbinfohub
•    Twitter: https://twitter.com/WBInfoHub
•    YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9aLLG2bY28G9fFp2kIOkAg
•    E-mail: policy-answers@westernbalkans-infohub.eu