The importance of research infrastructures and networks for advancing research and innovation in Southeast Europe took centre stage at this year’s Science Business Widening Conference, titled “From Knowledge to Impact: Nurturing Research and Innovation in Southeast Europe.” The event was hosted by the University of Montenegro in Podgorica on 21 October, alongside the EU – Western Balkans Ministerial Meeting on Research and Innovation.
Supported by the POLICY ANSWERS Project, the EIT Community, COST Association, and SciDEV, the conference brought together policy makers, researchers, and innovation leaders to explore how knowledge can translate into tangible impact for the region. The programme featured inspiring keynote talks, powerful success stories from across Southeastern Europe, two engaging panels, and insightful data-driven discussions focused on integrating the region more deeply into the European Research Area (ERA).
A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the essential role of research infrastructures as key enablers of innovation and cross-border collaboration. Regional National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) were prominently represented as vital supporters of the Southeastern European research and innovation ecosystem, including RASH (Albania), MARNet (North Macedonia), and MREN (Montenegro), which acted as the local hosting partner.
Professor Enis Kochan, member of the MREN Board, used the occasion to announce a major milestone for the Western Balkan NREN community: the development of a regional terrestrial digital backbone in connection with the EAGLE undersea cable linking Egypt and Albania. The initiative, announced earlier at the Western Balkan Investment Forum in Tirana, is being developed in collaboration with the European Commission, GÉANT, and 4iG Group, marking a transformative step toward enhanced digital and research connectivity across the region.
This year’s conference continued the successful practice established in 2024 in Skopje, North Macedonia, once again underlining that the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Research Area is a growing reality in which NRENs play a pivotal role in enabling collaboration, innovation, and inclusion.
