University of Sarajevo’s Participation in the Horizon 2020 - EU Research and Innovation Program

A work meeting between University of Sarajevo representatives and Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held on Thursday, 12 September 12. The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Dženana Husremović, University of Sarajevo Vice-Rector for Research, Nina Begović, Head of the University's Research Service, and Suvad Džafić, Assistant Minister for Science and Culture, and Ammar Miraščija, Head of the Science Department at the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The topic of discussion was the University of Sarajevo’s participation in the EU Research and Innovation Program - Horizon 2020 (H2020). UNSA organizational units are participating in 7 H2020 projects, 4 of which approved under the 2019 Call for Proposals. Joint promotion activities for those projects were agreed. The importance of financial support for applications to the H2020 program for institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina awarded by the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs through the Support Grant for the preparation of projects and potential candidates from the H2020 Fund was emphasized.

Activities on the preparation of the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between BiH and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) were also discussed. In light of the existing cooperation the University of Sarajevo is pursuing with this institution, the importance of signing this agreement as soon as possible would allow full implementation of scientific and technical cooperation between B-H institutions and CERN.

Considering the success rate of BH institutions in the H2020 Program, which currently exceeds the EU average, it was concluded that it is necessary to intensify the joint efforts of all actors in the science and research area in BiH and take steps to ensure participation of B-H research institutions in projects under the H2020 Program and increase to the maximum the number of their applications.