University of Sarajevo Rector Participated in a Prestigious Panel Discussion on the Future of EU Research Policy

Prof. Dr. Tarik Zaimović, University of Sarajevo Rector participated on 26 June 2025, in a high-profile event “Beyond participation: Empowering Widening Countries in FP10,” held in Brussels and organized by the Science|Business network. This event brought together representatives of universities, research institutes, companies, and European institutions to discuss the future framework of the European Union’s research and innovation program — FP10 — with a special emphasis on so-called “widening” countries (a group of member and associated countries targeted by measures to increase participation and support in research and innovation activities, given their lower success rates in EU research and innovation programs and weaker research-innovation capacities).
In his presentation, Rector Zaimović emphasized that it is crucial for the European Union to simplify processes and support structures for research and innovation so that research capacities and results are more quickly and efficiently transformed into innovations relevant to the real sector. “This is a way to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the EU, especially in relation to the United States and China, which have much more agile approaches,” he stated.
From the perspective of an accession country in the “Widening” category, Rector Zaimović presented several concrete proposals for strengthening the capacities of universities and research institutions from countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina. He particularly highlighted the need for developing regional centers of excellence and inter-university networks, additional investments in research infrastructure through dedicated budget lines within FP10, and strengthening instruments such as Teaming, Twinning, and ERA Chairs, with greater flexibility and regional coordination. He also emphasized the importance of enhancing research management capacities, which, as he noted, are “silent but key prerequisites for successful participation in European programs.”
At the end of his speech, Rector Zaimović issued a strong message to European decision-makers: “We should not see candidate countries as aid beneficiaries but as strategic investments in the resilience and sustainability of the European research area. FP10 should enable science to be a tool for transformation, connected with people, territories, and purpose.”

More information about the event is available on the organizer’s website:
🔗Science|Business: Empowering Widening Countries in FP10