Participation in the Meeting on the Horizon Europe Programme

On 14 May 2024, Head of the Research Development and Support Centre of the University of Banja Luka, Asst. Prof. Anđela Pepić, PhD, participated in the meeting of the Joint Committee between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union for the EU programme for research and innovation Horizon Europe.

In addition to representatives of the European Commission and representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the meeting organized by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina was attended by representatives of relevant ministries in charge of science and representatives of universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the meeting, they discussed the degree of success and the participation of research and other institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina in projects funded by the Horizon Europe programme, as well as the opportunities that this programme provides. Numerous good practices, both from Bosnia and Herzegovina and from the region, were presented, as well as the possibilities for supporting innovation and improving the research infrastructure both through this programme and through the Western Balkans Investment Framework, which, among other things, provide the European Union support for the Economic Reform Programme of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2024-2026.

Representative of the University of Banja Luka Asst. Prof. Anđela Pepić, PhD, presented various innovation support schemes, including improving cooperation between the research community and the business sector through projects funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), Horizon Europe projects, as well as other national projects such as those funded by the programme "Synergy" of the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska.

The University of Banja Luka takes active part in the Horizon Europe programme with a success rate of 17.07% (which is higher than the average for Bosnia and Herzegovina), including two coordination projects, implementation of which begins in September 2024. Moreover, the University has actively been taking part in EIT projects with altogether 7 EIT projects so far, including one coordination project.