Montenegro and neighbours adopt regional R&D strategy for cooperation in science and innovation

Podgorica, Montenegro (25 October 2013) – Science Minister Sanja Vlahović took part at the Western Balkans ministerial meeting in Zagreb that adopted the Regional Research and Development (R&D) Strategy for Innovation. The document will serve as a framework for boosting institutional reforms and policy innovation, as well as to promote the region’s interest in fostering innovation, growth, and development.

The main objectives of this cooperation are to strengthen research capacity in the region, improve regional cooperation in science, research, and development, boost cooperation with the private sector, seek finance for R&D programmes through EU funds and other external sources, and integrate the region into the European Research Area (ERA) and Innovation Union.

The Declaration, formally adopted at the ceremony in Zagreb, envisages efforts of the region in improving capacity towards meeting EU R&D objectives. The goal is to make use of the opportunities for development available in this area, which are: (a) meeting the requirements of EU acquis Chapter 25, (b) better absorption of funds from the Horizon 2020 programme, and (c) gradually meeting the R&D objectives set out in South East Europe 2020 Strategy.

At the ceremony, the region’s science ministers concurred that the following may be expected at the regional level from the Strategy implementation: improved conditions for research and research excellence, better cooperation between science and industry and technology transfer, more investment in R&D business and more start-ups, better management of national research and innovation policies.

Minister Vlahović underlined Montenegro’s commitment to the Strategy, noting that the country’s national R&D development strategy objectives are in tune with the regional document: improving research capacity, improved knowledge transfer and mobility of researchers and technology, and better cooperation between science and business.

This regional gathering was hosted by the Government of Croatia, the World Bank, the European Commission, and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).

The Regional Research and Development (R&D) Strategy for Innovation project has been in the making from December 2011 to October 2013, and was coordinated jointly by the RCC, the European Commission, and representatives of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. The team also gathered representatives of region’s leading universities, research institutes, and businesses, who met periodically to discuss and develop the Strategy and the regional cooperation action plan.

The Strategy development was aided by the European Commission and the World Bank, who in June 2011 signed an agreement on providing technical assistance for strategy development. The project was funded from multi-user IPA funds.