The newly launched European project, called Policy answers, will apply a wide range of tools – from high-level meetings to information services, from launching pilot activities to policy recommendations on key innovation issues – to support the better integration of the Western Balkans into the European Research Area (ERA). 

The project aims to continue and increase the joint efforts of the European Union and the Western Balkans – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia – for cooperation in the fields of innovation, research, education, culture, youth and sports. The goal is to ultimately promote stability and prosperity while strengthening the European perspective of the region. Led by the Center for Social Innovation (ZSI) from Vienna and involving 14 partner institutions, the project is based on solid ground created by successful past experiences. Policy answers officially kicks off on 14 and 15 April 2022 in Vienna, bringing together all of its 14 partner organizations. 

The project will last until 2025 and will focus, among many things, on the following activities:

• Organizing policy dialogue events such as ministerial and management platform meetings and ad-hoc policy coordination meetings, offering a space for information exchange on policy implementation. 
• Provision of a web platform, www.westernbalkans-infohub.eu, dealing with research and innovation, education, culture, youth and sports in the Western Balkans to enable better exchange of information, create opportunities for joint actions and bring the SB closer to EU policy making.
• Conducting analytical activities such as mapping relevant institutions, programs, initiatives, needs and common priorities in the Western Balkans, and monitoring ongoing activities related to the implementation of the World Bank Agenda
• Making policy recommendations based on information to decision makers in the region, addressing key EU priorities such as: digitalization, green economy and health, and their harmonization.
• Implementation of regional pilot activities that reach directly to academia, industry and civil society, in order to strengthen links between academia and industry in the Western Balkans region, and to support the mobility of researchers within the field. 

Targeted actions will also be taken to increase the visibility of the research infrastructure of the Western Balkans in the wider European research landscape. In all phases of the project, special emphasis will be placed on the inclusion of hitherto underrepresented groups and coordination with key actors and international organizations.