Third session of the SEEIIST project Steering Committee: Further strengthening of cooperation between participants important for the next phase

The meeting was attended by the members of the Committee and their representatives: Mr. Ervin Demo, Mr. Leander Litov, Mr. Kostadin Kostadinov, Ms. Alma Hasanović, Mr. Arber Geci, Mr. Baton Dushi, Ms. Mimoza Ristova, Ms. Biljana Trajkovska, Ms. Milica Golubović Tasevska and Ms. Marijeta Barjaktarović Lanzardi.
In the introductory part of the meeting, the participants were welcomed by the newly appointed Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Arber Ademi, who pointed out the scientific, technological and economic significance of the project for the region, confirming the firm support of Macedonia for the project. Furthermore, he invited all participating countries to unite and act towards the implementation of the joint project.

Minister Damjanović, the current Chairperson of the Steering Committee, thanked the host and indicated in her address the significance of cooperation in the ensuing, so-called preparatory phase of the project. Moreover, she reflected on the multiple benefits of the regional project, especially highlighting its importance for young people and preventing talent outflow.
Prof. Herwig Schopper, former Director General of CERN and a special guest of the meeting, said that the project did not only imply the strengthening of scientific capacities, technological development and economic empowerment, but that its particular quality consisted precisely in the fact that it connected the countries involved. In this regard, he commended the current dynamics of cooperation in this project in the region.

At today’s session, the Steering Committee discussed the steps to follow and joint activities on the preparatory phase of the project, as well as the funding opportunities. The Committee agreed that it was necessary to work continuously on capacity building and, in this regard, finalized project proposals had already been presented. Finally, the options for applying for various international research and innovation programmes were also discussed.

The members of the Committee concluded that the most important step to be taken at this stage of the project was further strengthening of the cooperation between the participants and commitment in identifying all the possibilities that could contribute to the successful implementation of the project.
The meeting of the Steering Committee was preceded by a bilateral meeting of Minister Damjanović with the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Ademi. Minister Ademi took the opportunity to reaffirm Macedonia’s strong support for the project, while Minister Damjanović expressed her satisfaction with the fact that the Macedonian side quickly understood the significance of the project for the region, thanking her counterpart for an active and dedicated contribution to its implementation.

The two Ministers also discussed the joint activities to follow on the project, as well as the additional strengthening of a very successful bilateral cooperation in the field of science and technology between the two countries.