The six Western Balkan countries, WBC (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo*[1], and Serbia) are Full Members of COST or Near Neighbour Country (Kosovo*). Their participation figures confirm their strong involvement in COST activities, especially when it is compared to the size of their respective research communities.
Since the beginning of Horizon 2020, one fifth of the networking activities carried out by individuals from the Western Balkan Countries region were addressing the mobility schemes, such as short term-scientific missions (STSM) of a 3-month duration as well as training schools. It adds up to a total of 1205 training schools and 730 STSM participation completed.
Additionally, there is a strong impact on researchers’ careers, reinforced mobility of individual researchers and new links forged. The recent study on career advancement[2] showed Serbia as one of the countries with whom the new links were created.
The participation in COST enhancing the integration of WBC to European Research Area (ERA) and the internationalisation of their national research ecosystems. COST is committed to continue serving the Western Balkan Countries and provide its tools to facilitate their stronger integration into the ERA.
Additional information
[1] This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Oepinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
[2] Targeted impact assessment on career development
Read a report on COST relations to the Western Balkan Countries here