On 30 November, the CEI participated in the Dialogue Forum for Innovation in ICT for the Western Balkan Countries organised in Belgrade, in the context of the WINS ICT Project (Western Balkan Countries Inco-Net Support in the field of ICT).
Organised as a policy platform for high-level dialogue on driving the political agenda for ICT research for greater Western Balkan integration into the European Research Area, the event was organised by the European Commission and co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development and by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society of the Republic of Serbia with the logistic support of the FP7-funded WINS-ICT project.
The Forum represented an opportunity for an open debate with the aim to improve interregional as well as EU-Western Balkan research cooperation, through a more active participation of the Western Balkan countries, currently associated to the FP7 EU Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development (RTD). During the meeting, EU Member States discussed good practices and experiences stemming from the implementation of their national ICT policies and encouraged the implementation of similar winning policies in the Western Balkan region.The delegates agreed upon of a joint declaration for the adoption of regional ICT priorities and common resolutions for tackling problems hindering research co-operation that will enable reinforced coordination of national policies and strategies among Western Balkan countries. A Provisional Road Map was also put forward in order to establish a permanent dialogue and cooperation between political leaders and officials in charge for ICT RTD in Western Balkan States. The CEI is Partner in the WINS-ICT Project in charge of disseminating its results among its relevant institutional stakeholders in CEI Member States. Fore more information: http://www.wins-ict.eu/