In the presence of 150 scientists, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs, two-day educational conference about EU Programme Horizon 2020 started on May 6 in Sarajevo. Conference was organised by project „Capacity building of BiH in European Research and Technology Development Programmes and Initiatives funded with 300,000 Euro by EU in co-operation with the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The aim of the Conference was to present all of Horizon 2020 potentials for economic growth and opening new jobs in BiH as well as an opportunity for participants to acquire knowledge about how to create quality project proposal for this programme.
The Head of Operations Section for the Social Development, Civil Society and Cross Border Co-operation at the EU Delegation to BiH, Natalia Dianiskova, stressed that Horizon 2020 is a key instrument to implement the agreed Europe-2020-Strategy that will have direct impact to the majority people living in the EU.
“Research and innovation has to be developed for the benefit of the society and also needs the acceptance of the people for its wide distribution”, she said, outlining that Horizon 2020 promoted young scientists and involvement of large number of women in science. “Only by mobilising all talents of the society we will be able to manage the modern challenges of the world”, she concluded.
The Head of Department for Science in the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ammar Miraščija, stressed the importance of Horizon 2020 in the process of linking BiH with European research area and Union of Innovations. He added that only fields that are being marked with some progress and success in the yearly Progress Reports in the European integration process are science and research. „Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH continuously motivates BiH research and science community for the participation in these projects because mobilisation of all individuals in this field is crucial for further development of BiH society“, he concluded.
“The fact that Horizon 2020 begins right now is genuine opportunity for universities and companies from BiH to be part of this EU Programme of research and innovation“, said Project Team Leader, Jurgen Henke outlining the fact that until now BiH was falling behind in research project in comparison to the countries in the region. “It is necessary that authorities in BiH intensify their efforts to develop field of research and innovation in BiH in order to create new jobs and make some additional progress in the EU integration process“, concluded Henke.
HORIZON 2020 is the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation from 2014 to 2020. EU Member States, candidate and potential candidate states, including BiH, are eligible for participation.
Horizon 2020 aims at securing Europe’s global competitiveness and it is seen as a means to drive economic growth and create jobs, and overcome of economic crisis. It enables the active participation of business sector, especially small and medium enterprises to initiate innovative projects and increase employment. The Conference offered participants information about what Horizon 2020 had to offer to entrepreneurs and faculties, how they can participate in this programme and how special attention would be dedicated to the drafting of well written project proposals.
