Western Balkan Countries

The scientific communities of all the Western Balkan countries are today active beneficiaries of COST Actions.  Scientists from COST Member countries can propose and join a running COST Action, allowing for capacity building and preventing isolation. A major outcome of this mechanism was the doubling of the Western Balkan Countries’ participation in the programme since the beginning of Horizon 2020.

COST is motivated to continue its contribution in supporting the Western Balkan region by using the mechanisms that provide the necessary springboard to connect with follow-up funding opportunities directly or indirectly related to European programmes on R&I and beyond. The mechanisms developed during the last 50 years have proven to be successful in connecting pockets of excellence, thereby contributing to the deepening and reinforcing of the ERA.

Joining date of the six countries of the Western Balkan region:

Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Members of COST

1991

North Macedonia, Member of COST

2002

Montenegro, Member of COST

2015

Albania, Member of COST

2018

Kosovo*, Near Neighbour Country to COST

2018

Participation levels

The following presentation gives an overview of participation in COST activities by researchers based in the Western Balkan region between 2014-2019.

Cost Conversations

Our COST Conversations video and podcast series allows you to hear directly from researchers about their work and involvement in COST.

Video playlist

In our special Western Balkans Countries focus YouTube playlist we feature an interview with a researcher from each of the six countries and discover how participating in the COST programme has benefited their careers.

Podcast

In this special edition of the COST Conversations podcast we focus on how researchers from the region are contributing to pan-European networking, as well as how they are benefitting from the experiences and knowledge gained through the COST programme.

Further information

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.