Towards 2020: New Horizons for RTD and Innovation in the Western Balkan Region - WBC-INCO.NET Final Conference and Brokerage event

The overall aim of the conference, project exhibiton, and the brokerage event is to provide an environment to build new partnerships for cooperation in Horizon 2020. This event intends to bring together about 200 science policymakers, scientists and industry representatives from the Western Balkan Region, SEE, Danube Region but also other EU countries who are interested in cooperation with WB countries.

While the core focus of the conference will be primarily on Horizon 2020 and thus the collaboration in science between WBC and EU Member States under the new Programme, information on other on-going/up-coming activities in WBC – in particular focusing innovation issues – will be also exchanged.

Within the conference will be held parallel sessions, which on the first day will deal with the question How to effectively support the participation in Horizon 2020, On the second day the focus will be on the performance of the research and innovation sector in WBC and discussed the achievemnts, challenges and the way forward in the following areas: Human resources and brain drain, RTDI Infrastructues and Knowledge and Technology Transfer.

The Brokerage Event will be held to support the networking and cooperation in Horizon 2020 by focusing on the following areas:

• Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy
• Information and Communication Technologies
• Inclusive, Innovative and Reflective Societies