| Research and Innovation as Accelerators for EU Integration | |
| Venue: ´Robert Schuman` room, ground floor, Berlaymont Building, Rue de la Loi 200, 1049, Brussels, Belgium | |
| Opening of the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation | |
| 09:00-09:05 | Opening of the Day Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation |
| 09:05–09:15 | Welcome Remarks Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Irish Council Presidency |
| 09.15–09.20 | Research and Innovation as Accelerators for EU integration Valentina Superti, Director for Western Balkans, Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood |
| Policy Debate on Innovation | |
| 09:20-09:30 | Keynote speech Maive Rute, Deputy Director-General, Joint Research Centre |
| 09:30–09:35 | Introductory Remarks Jean-David Malo, Director for Innovation, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation |
| 09:35–09:55 | Testimonials on Best Practices on Innovation Moderated by Jean-David Malo, Director for Innovation, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation Interventions by: Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of Economy and Innovation (tbc) Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation Vesna Janevska, Minister of Education and Science Franz Wirtenberger, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Austria to the European Union Antoine Mercier, Science Counsellor, Permanent Representation of France to the EU Martin Kern, Director, European Institute of Innovation and Technology Arslan Umut Ergezer, Deputy Secretary-General, Regional Cooperation Council |
| 09:55– 10:30 | Policy Debate Chaired by Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Interventions by: Dubravka Bošnjak, Minister of Civil Affairs (tbc) Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, Minister of Education, Science and Innovation Béla Bálint, Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation |
| 10:30– 10:35 | Main Takeaways of the Debate One-minute interventions by Member State Ambassadors Jean-David Malo, Director for Innovation, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation |
| Celebrating 20 years of the Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation | |
| Moderated by Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation | |
| 10:35 – 10:45 | Video and Success Stories |
| 10:45 – 10:55 | Family Pictures |
| 10:55 – 11:15 | Coffee Break |
| Policy Debate on Research | |
| 11:15 – 11:25 | Keynote speech Amanda Crowfoot, Secretary-General, European University Association |
| 11:25 – 11:30 | Introductory Remarks Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation |
| 11:30 – 11:50 | Testimonials on Best Practices on Research Moderated by Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation Interventions by: Dubravka Bošnjak, Minister of Civil Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina (tbc) Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, Minister of Education, Science and Innovation Béla Bálint, Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Verena Kölsch, Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space of Germany Monika Bideau Repčíková, Head of SLORD Office Åse Gornitzka, President, COST |
| 11:50 – 12:25 | Policy Debate Chaired by James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Irish Council Presidency Interventions by: Mirela Kumbaro Furxhi, Minister of Education Hajrulla Çeku, Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska, Minister of Education and Science |
| 12:25 – 12:30 | Main Takeaways of the Debate One-minute interventions by Member State Ambassadors Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation |
| Western Balkans Innovators Ceremony | |
| Moderated by Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation | |
| 12:30–12:45 | Award Ceremony to Best Selected Companies under the Innovation Advisers’ Scheme Ledjon Agalliu, LekoTech Marija Stojaković, NanoPoli Centre Arbnora Kllokoqi, Mendje Danilo Marić, LoRaSi Violeta Shoshevska, Drilltek Ljubiša Vulić, Ultrasound AIssistant |
| Closing of the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation | |
| 12:45–13:00 | James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Irish Council Presidency Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation |
| 13:00–14:00 | Networking Lunch (Catering Area in front of Robert Schuman Room) |
| Foresight workshop debate At the crossroads of R&I futures in the Western Balkans |
| 14:00–14:05 | Welcome and introductory remarks Sabine Henzler, Director for Strategy, Work Programme and Resources, JRC |
| 14:05–14:15 | Presentation of the results of the study “Support for Strategic Foresight on Innovation Futures in EU Enlargement Countries” with focus on the Western Balkans Simon Winter, Senior Expert on Strategic Foresight, DLR Project Management Agency |
| 14:15– 14:25 | Outcomes of JRC technology foresight exercises Antonia Mochan, Deputy Head of Unit, EU Policy Lab: Foresight, Design & Behavioural Insights, Joint Research Centre |
| 14:25–14:55 | Roundtable: “What innovation futures should the Western Balkans prepare for?” Moderated by Antonia Mochan, Deputy Head of Unit, Joint Research Centre Participants: Manuel Irun Molina, EIT Liaison Officer, European Institute of Innovation & Technology Arslan Umut Ergezer, Deputy Secretary-General, Regional Cooperation Council Enrica Chiozza, Deputy Head of Unit, Regional Strategy and Investments, Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood Ewa Kocińska-Lange, Policy Officer, European Innovation Council Unit, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation Gilles Kittel, Team Leader, Macro-regions, Transnational/Interregional/External Cooperation, Enlargement Unit, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy |
| 14:55–15:00 | Closing remarks Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation |