SMIC Community: Connecting Manufacturers in the Western Balkan

Call for expressions of interest from EU/EEA/Western Balkans-based businesses to invest in the Western Balkans

In the framework of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and to support investments in the region by EU/EEA/Western Balkans companies, the European Commission is launching a Call for Expression of Interest from EU/EEA/Western Balkans (WB) based businesses who seek to invest in any of the WB economies or at regional level in line with EU strategic areas of interest and policy priorities.

The objective of this Call for Expressions of Interest is to enter into dialogue with EU/EEA and Western Balkans private companies on concrete investment opportunities and identify how to overcome related constraints in the Western Balkans region.

This dialogue is aimed at building a pipeline of transformative private investments in the region, that could potentially be supported by the European Commission with its available policy, technical and financial instruments. Based on assessment criteria, subsequent contact with partner Financial Institutions may be facilitated for potential financial cooperation.

Participation in this Call does not constitute any form of partnership, joint venture, or other legal relationship between the Participant and the European Commission. It does not imply any guarantee of financial support, either from the European Commission or any partner Financial Institutions. The publication of this Call for Expressions of Interest also does not commit the EU to finance the project investment proposal.

All project proposals presented to the European Commission will be assessed based on the criteria outlined in this Call and will be treated equally, ensuring a fair and transparent assessment process. All information submitted as part of the project proposal will be treated confidentially and used solely for the purposes of evaluating the proposals in accordance with the criteria specified in this Call.

The priority areas of the Call are based on the strategic priorities of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans as well as of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). They are focused on key economic sectors requiring Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) including:

Green Transition: Investments in clean energy solutions, including renewable energy sources, energy efficiency measures, and innovative energy technologies, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, foster circular economy, mitigate climate change and modernise existing energy, water and wastewater treatment infrastructure, waste management infrastructure.
Integration into the industrial supply chains/manufacturing: Investments that foster integration into notably EU industrial supply chains and modernisation of manufacturing sectors.
(Critical) Raw Materials: Investments to ensure reliable and environmentally responsible access to (critical) raw materials in order to support the development of key industries across all supply chain stages.
Sustainable Transport: Investments to modernise sustainable transport systems, including urban mobility, and digital infrastructure to enhance connectivity, build smart cities, reduce emissions and foster innovation and cross-sector efficiency.
Digital transition: Investments to promote the overall digital transition of the economy (e.g. digitalisation of businesses, the roll-out of broadband - including 5G, compliant with the EU security toolbox, data infrastructures, digital infrastructures in education and health, etc.).
Sustainable tourism: Investments in sustainable tourism initiatives that prioritize environmental protection, cultural and natural heritage preservation and community engagement, with the aim to promote economic growth, quality employment and social development.
Human Capital Development: Investments to support the development of skills and/or have a social dimension (e.g. care economy, social housing, health, etc.)
Impact finance: Investments to set up private equity and venture capital funds aimed at supporting policy priorities of the EU and notably to have a strong green and/or social impact.

More information: https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/enlargement-policy/enhanced-eu-engagement-western-balkans/publication-call-expressions-interest-eueeawestern-balkans-based-businesses-invest-western-balkans_en#express-interest

POLICY ANSWERS Call for Participation: Western Balkans Research & Innovation Youth Awards

The Western Balkans R&I Youth Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding youth-focused initiatives from the Western Balkans that have significantly managed to get youth involved in research and innovation between 2020 and 2024. These awards aim to increase the visibility of Western Balkans (WB) youth-focused R&I success stories, showcase inspiring WB initiatives that encourage careers in R&I and, promote learning and professional upskilling opportunities in research and innovation (R&I).

Why Participate?

The “Western Balkans R&I Youth Awards” offer participants the chance to:

Be one of six award winners from the region
Win an up to EUR 8,000 award for your success story
Gain regional recognition for your impactful youth-focused initiatives
Showcase successful models of involving youth in R&I
Inspire the next generation of young professionals
Network with students, educators, innovators, and industry leaders, creating potential partnerships and collaboration

Who can apply?

This call is open to legally established organisations (Micro enterprises, SMEs, CSOs, schools, universities, or other entities) based in or focused on the WB (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia or Serbia).

Eligible initiatives must:

Be youth-focused (targeting individuals aged 15-29, typically in secondary school, high school, or early university/career stages)
Have been implemented between 2020 and 2024

Focus on involving youth in one or more of the following areas:

Research (e.g., in STEM fields, digital or green technologies)
Innovation (e.g., innovative entrepreneurship, business development, endeavours in creative sectors)

Submission deadline 18 April 2025.

For more information: https://westernbalkans-infohub.eu/calls/policy-answers-call-for-participation-western-balkans-research-and-innovation-youth-awards/

Promotion of Research and Development Projects between Germany and the Western Balkans (WEB2025)

This call is announced in the context of the Federal Government’s Strategy for the Internationalisation of Science and Research and the Programme “Strengthening Germany in the European Research and Education Area”: Guideline for the Promotion of Research and Development Projects between Germany and the Western Balkans (WEB2025), Federal Gazette of 20.03.2025.

The purpose of the funding directive is to offer universities, non-university research institutions and companies in the commercial sector (especially small and medium-sized enterprises – SMEs) the opportunity to implement joint projects with partners from Germany and the Western Balkans in accordance with their scientific strengths and problem-solving competence.

The grants are granted by way of project funding as a non-repayable grant and usually with up to 300,000 euros per network and usually for a duration of up to 36 months.

The project outline must be submitted by a German applicant or association together with at least one cooperation partner from a Western Balkan state. There is no intention to support multilateral projects (e.g. with partners from several Western Balkan countries). Projects should document the potential for long-term and sustainable cooperation with the respective Western Balkan state.

Eligible applicants are universities, non-university research institutions and other institutions that provide research contributions, companies in the commercial sector and, in particular, SMEs. Funding goes to an institution serving the non-economic activity of the recipient of the grant in Germany (first grant recipient) who also receives any funds to be forwarded to the final grant recipient in the Western Balkans (final beneficiaries).

Please note, that only German project partners are allowed to submit applications. In case of any questions, please contact your German project partner who can check with the responsible call administrators.

Projects in the three cross-sectional areas of Digital Transformation, Green Deal and Healthy Societies are funded. These issues are in line with the strategic priorities of the “Smart Specialisation Strategies” as well as the national research strategies of the Western Balkan countries themselves and are the central themes of the European Commission in the introduction of the Western Balkans to the European Union. These themes can also be found in the thematic areas of the Research and Innovation Strategy for the Future and in the thematic priorities of the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe. Topics in the humanities and social sciences (keyword “social innovation”) are also eligible for funding.

For more information: https://foerderportal.bund.de/easyonline/reflink.jsf?m=IB-EUROPA&b=WBC25FUEZ4&t=SKI