The project “Capacity Building in Bosnia and Herzegovina for European programs and initiatives for research and technological development (RTDPI)”, which was implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, with the financial support of the European Union, was officially completed after 18 months.
In the framework of this project numerous educational conferences, seminars and workshops were held, as well as consultations with experts, in order forabout 350 members of the academic and research community in BiH to mete with EU programs for research and technological development, especially the new seven-year program of the European Union for research and innovation, Horizon 2020.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with the four countries of the Western Balkans (Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) and the Republic of Moldova, signed the agreement in Brussels, thus ensuring full access to the program Horizon 2020.
All six countries have cooperated with the European Union in the field of research and innovation through the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). By joining the program, Horizon 2020, these countries will now have a greater opportunity for cooperation in the field of research and innovation as well as for growth, competition and jobs in their economies. This program will also enable these countries mobility of scientists, strengthen national research systems, and help to integrate into the European Research Area.
At the conference, which was held to mark the completion of the project RTDPI, Head of Operations Section for Social Development, civil society and cross-border cooperation in the EU Delegation in BiH, Natalia Dianiskova, pointed out that through this project, academic and research communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina gained important knowledge on participation in the program Horizon 2020.
“Now it is up to the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the academic community as well to implement this program and make use of all the opportunities provided by Horizon 2020”, concluded Dianiskova.
On behalf of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Alma Hasanović, urged all researchers to participate in this program and told: “This is a great opportunity for cooperation with the best in Europe and we invite the entire academic community to actively participate in Horizon 2020”.
Branko Savić, Head of the Department of scientific research programs and projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republika Srpska underlined that this project was a great opportunity to gain knowledge and develop ideas for future projects as part of the Horizon 2020.
Jasmin Branković, Assistant Federal Minister of Science and Education, specifically stressed that it is important that this is a single program that continuity in the long run will allow the development of the research community, as well as its active participation in the development of local society.
Horizon 2020 aims to increase the global competitiveness of Europe, economic development, job creation and overcoming the economic crisis. It enables the active participation of industry, especially small and medium enterprises, to initiate innovative projects and increase employment. A special focus of Horizon 2020 is the entire process that begins in laboratory and ends in the market.
Source: klix.ba