The impact of publicly funded research on innovation and economic development in the economies of the Western Balkans remains limited. One of the barriers is the level of international integration and the capability to create benefits from the spill overs of such interactions also due to the lack of linkages between public research organisations and front runners in the private sector in most of the region. Therefore, the actions aim at strengthen the research infrastructure in the SEE and, more importantly, innovation capacity to pave the way for a fast and full integration into the EU.

Open science has become a significant way of promoting science and increasing transfer of scientific knowledge both internationally and within the EU. Through open science, research results are quickly available to other researchers thus preserving resources, improving the quality of research and enabling advanced research-related questions to be raised. Open science and research gives access to citizens, companies and decision-makers, and increases the opportunities to participate in scientific research. This calls for open access to publications, open research data, open research methods and tools, as well as increasing skills, knowledge and support.