The Center Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV) was engaged with the 7th Joint Science Conference of the Berlin Process “Partnering for Excellence – Partnering for Europe,” organized by the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and hosted by the Albanian Academy of Sciences in Tirana. The conference centered around three key themes: assessing the progress of Balkan and Southeast European higher education, research, and innovation communities towards integration in European Union frameworks; creating excellence in the Balkans through wise instruments and alliances; and developing customized mobility schemes for students, researchers, and professionals, including reconnecting the academic diasporas to their countries of origin.

The Executive Director of SCiDEV, Blerjana Bino, presented the outcomes of SCiDEV’s work in the framework of the Thematic Working Group “Advancing Inclusive Regional Mobility and Catalyzing Mobility-Driven Innovation and Knowledge Transfer in Western Balkans,” part of the Civil Society and Think Tank Forum of the Berlin Process. This Thematic Working Group explores the potential of inclusive regional mobility in fostering regional cooperation and creating shared values in the Western Balkans and with the EU, as well as in catalyzing innovation through knowledge and technology exchange, research and development collaborations, and entrepreneurial networks. During the third panel on mobility at the Joint Science Conference, Bino emphasized the significant role of mobility and knowledge transfer in addressing socio-economic disparities, enhancing regional cooperation, and incorporating the WB6 into the European research and innovation landscape.

With Albania currently holding the rotating Presidency of the Berlin Process, enhancing regional ownership and synergizing efforts are imperative. SCiDEV is collaborating with the Joint Science Conference to develop shared recommendations on mobility schemes within the region and the EU, including initiatives for diaspora engagement. The results of the consultation meetings with stakeholders, desk research, and advocacy visits conclude that focusing on science, research, and innovation is imperative. As a global powerhouse in research and technological advancements, the EU offers an opportunity to foster closer ties in these sectors between the WB6 and the EU. This engagement in the Berlin Process can harness this potential to stimulate economic growth, enhance regional competencies, and bridge the technological divide. Intensified cooperation in science and research would equip the WB6 with tools and knowledge to tackle shared challenges such as climate change, health, and digital transformation and nurture a generation of innovators and thinkers who can redefine the region’s future.