Fostering the application of Responsible Research and Innovation
Key aspects of our project
Our network is comprised of reputable WB implementing partners and RRI experienced partners.
We emphasize spreading of our activities through the 5 target territories.
WBC-RRI.NET is an international project funded by the Horizon 2020 programme.
Building capacities and developing innovative ways of connecting science to society. RRI principles act as enablers to the shared learning.
Our RRI Strategies present an inclusive way through active participation of all quadruple helix actors.
Research and innovation efforts in the Western Balkans for bridging the remaining ‘gap’ with the rest European regions.
Our Story
International EU-funded Project
The project Embedding RRI in Western Balkan Countries: Enhancement of Self-Sustaining R&I Ecosystems, highly recognized by its acronym WBC-RRI.NET, is part of the H2020-SwafS-2018-2020 programme, with grant agreement No. 101006279.
RRI in the Western Balkan Countries
WBC-RRI.NET fosters the application of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) at the territorial level in five Western Balkan Research and Innovation (R&I) ecosystems and promotes a multi-level governance framework for steering R&I in the Western Balkans (WB). Although Western Balkan countries have improved in terms of R&I performance, research and innovation efforts should be further enhanced.
Smart Specialization Strategies
RRI principles act as enablers to the shared learning and diffusion of R&I governance innovations at territorial level, including Smart Specialization Strategies (S3) in the WBCs. The framework is based on a ‘smart directionality’ approach. R&I planning and S3 strategies have the potential to be characterised by an RRI-driven open and inclusive approach, entailing a comprehensive stakeholder involvement and engagement with a focus on citizens’ participation.
Five different WB territories
The project’s approach will operationally address Province of Vojvodina (Serbia), Kune-Vain-Tale ecosystem (Albania), Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Country of Montenegro and Skopje planning region (North Macedonia), and will activate the embedding of RRI into them.
RRI approach
The procedural approach of RRI contains the following conditions, that are a priori inherent into RRI processes and therefore applicable to the development of (regional) R&I ecosystems: anticipation while contemplating on the possible or unintended results and applications of R&I in accordance to societal goals; inclusion when considering the perspective of individuals from all layers of an ecosystem; reflexion when considering the context-based circumstances and motivations of a given situation; responsiveness referring to how the actors involved react to the new state/knowledge resulting after the aforementioned reflections.
Vertical Aspect of Implementation
Within a vertical aspect, the all-encompassing activities are accompanied by the development and implementation of 5 RRI ‘anchor’ initiatives in each territory. The RRI ‘anchor’ initiatives are specific interventions that will touch in-depth specific RRI keys and territorial features and will focus on specific scientific domains in each WB territory.