Agenda

This agenda is still a draft and changes can be made in the next weeks. 

SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2024

18:00 – 19:30

Joint Foresight Exercise based on the ‘Strategic Foresight in the Western Balkans’ report
Signe Ratso, Deputy Director General, DG for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Besar Durmishi, Minister of Economy and Labour, North Macedonia
Sinisa Marcic,  Senior Expert on Human Capital Development, Regional Cooperation Council 

Moderation: 
Julia Schmälter, POLICY ANSWERS Team Member,DLR Projektträger

(Roof Bar No 55 – top floor)

20:00 – 22:00

Welcome Dinner 

The Welcome Dinner is organised within the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, at the Platinum Room, floor -1. Dress code: business attire. Details such as VIP participation and speeches are tbc.

(Platinum Room, floor -1, business attire)

MONDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

08:45 – 09:15

Presentation of the COST Western Balkans Study
Signe Ratso, Deputy Director General, DG for Research and Innovation, European Commission 
Salvatore Grimaldi, President, COST Association

Moderation: 
Ronald De Bruin, Director, COST Association

(Roof Bar No 55  – top floor)

Ministerial Meeting of the Steering Platforms on Education and Training, Research and Innovation, and Culture

(Diamond Ballroom, ground floor - Welcome coffee served in the foyer from 9:15)

Moderation: Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Director General, DG for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, European Commission

10:00 – 10:05

Opening of the Event
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth 

10:05 – 10:15

Welcome Addresses

Vesna Janevska;,Minister of Education and Science, North Macedonia
Zoran Ljutko;,Minister of Culture and Tourism, North Macedonia
Balázs Hankó, Minister of State for Innovation and Higher Education, Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Presidency of the Council of the European Union
 

Ministerial Meeting on Education and Training

Moderation: Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Director General, DG for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, European Commission

10:15 – 10:20

Keynote 
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

10:20 – 11:45

Ministerial Round Table Discussion on Education and Training 

“Education and Innovation”
Topics proposed for discussion:

1. Synergies between education and innovation
2. Teaching and learning in the digital age

11:45 – 12:00

Concluding remarks: 
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
Vesna Janevska, Minister of Education and Science, North Macedonia
Balázs Hankó, Minister of State for Innovation and Higher Education, Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Presidency of the Council of the European Union 

12:00 – 12:15

Family picture

(Within the Diamond Ballroom on the ground floor)

12:15 – 13:45

Lunch Break

(Lunch is served at the Restaurant MONTE on the ground floor)

Ministerial Meeting on Research and Innovation

Moderation:  Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General, DG for Research and Innovation, European Commission

13:45 – 13:50

Welcome and Keynote 
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

13:50 – 15:15

Ministerial Round Table Discussion on Research and Innovation

“Young researchers and innovators: scaling up the skills” 
Topics proposed for discussion:

1. Pooling and building skills required for innovation
2. Scaling up skills: market uptake

Interventions:
Besar Durmishi, Minister of Economy and Labour, North Macedonia 
Salvatore Grimaldi, President, COST Association

15:15 – 15:30

Concluding remarks: 
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
Vesna Janevska, Minister of Education and Science, North Macedonia
Balázs Hankó, Minister of State for Innovation and Higher Education, Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Presidency of the Council of the European Union

15:30 – 15:45

Family picture

(Within the Diamond Ballroom on the ground floor)

15:45 – 16:15

Coffee Break

(Coffee is served in the foyer of the Diamond Ballroom)

Ministerial Meeting on Smart Specialisation Strategies

Moderation: Sabine Henzler, Director, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
 

16:15 – 16:20

Welcome and Keynote 
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

16:20 – 17:30

Smart Specialisation Strategies

“Best Practice on Smart Specialisation Strategies”
Topics proposed for discussion:

1. Moving from development to implementation
2. Exchanging best practices

Interventions:

Oliver Röpke, President, European Economic and Social Committee  
Vesna Janevska, Minister of Education and Science, North Macedonia
Valentina Superti, Director Western Balkans, DG Neighbourhood & Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission
 

17:30 – 17:45

Concluding remarks: 
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
Besar Durmishi, Minister of Economy and Labour, North Macedonia
Balázs Hankó, Minister of State for Innovation and Higher Education, Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Presidency of the Council of the European Union

17:45 – 18:00

Family picture

(Within the Diamond Ballroom on the ground floor)

18:00 – 18:30

Air Quality in Western Balkans Cities: Sources, Impact on Health and Costs

(Roof Bar No 55 – top floor)

Interventions:

Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
Izet Mexhiti, First Deputy Prime Minister at Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, North Macedonia 
Claudio Belis, Project leader, Joint Research Centre
Dejan Mirakovski, Rector, University Goce Delcev 

Moderation: 
Sabine Henzler, Director, Joint Research Centre, European Commission 

19:30 – 22:00

Gala Dinner

The Gala Dinner is hosted by North Macedonia at a venue to be defined, transfer by bus will be provided. Dress code: business attire. Details such as VIP participation and speeches are tbc.

TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER 2024

Ministerial Meeting on Culture

Moderation: Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Director General, DG for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, European Commission

09:00 – 09:05

Keynote

Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

09:05 – 10:30

Ministerial Round Table Discussion on Culture

"Culture"

Topics proposed for discussion:

1. The protection and promotion of cultural heritage, including intangible cultural heritage, as a resource for inclusive and sustainable development
2. EU – Western Balkans / regional cooperation and mobility of artists and cultural professionals

10:30 – 10:45

Concluding remarks
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
Zoran Ljutkov, Minister of Culture and Tourism, North Macedonia
Balázs Hankó, Minister of State for Innovation and Higher Education, Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Presidency of the Council of the European Union

10:45 – 11:00

Family picture

(Within the Diamond Ballroom on the ground floor)

12:00 – 13:30

Farewell break

(Lunch is served at the Restaurant MONTE on the ground floor)

In parallel: Ministerial Exchanges on Digital Education and on Innovation Eco-systems

(Platinum Room, floor -1, welcome coffee served in the foyer from 08:30)

09:00 – 09:15

Welcome and Introductory Addresses

Antoaneta Angelova Krasteva, Director for Innovation, Digital Education and International Cooperation, DG for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, European Commission 
Valentina Superti, Director Western Balkans, DG Neighbourhood & Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission (tbc)
Stefan Andonovski, Minister for Digital Transformation, North Macedonia (

09:15 – 10:45

Round Table Discussion on the multi-stakeholder approach to digital education

Topics proposed for discussion:

1. The Digital Education Action Plan and fostering high-quality digital education for all: learning from policy and practice.
2. The role of education in addressing pressing societal issues in the digital age, such as disinformation and Artificial Intelligence.

Interventions:

Pilvi Torsti, Director, European Training Foundation     
Maida Pasic, Regional Education Adviser, Europea and Central Asia, UNICEF
Renata Petrevska Nechkoska, Associate Professor University St. Kliment Ohridski, Western Balkans Alumni Association (WBAA)
Dejan Dokuzovski, Project Director, USAID's Media Literacy Project YouThink

Moderation: 
Antoaneta Angelova Krasteva, Director for Innovation, Digital Education and International Cooperation, DG for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, European Commission 

10:45 – 11:15

Coffee break

(Coffee is served in the foyer of the Diamond Ballroom)

11:15 – 12:45

Round Table Discussion on the New European Innovation Agenda and Sharing Best Practices on Local and Regional Innovation Eco-Systems

Topics proposed for discussion:

1. Best practices of local and regional innovation eco-systems and their Innovation Fund schemes
2. Impact of the New European Innovation Agenda

Interventions:

Valentina Superti, Director Western Balkans, DG Neighbourhood & Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission (tbc)
Ismail Dogan, President, TÜBITAK
Bernd Schäfer, CEO and Managing Director of EIT Raw Materials 
Diego De Biasio, President, European Business and Innovation Centre Network 
Nikola Dodov, Director, Fund for Innovation & Technology Development, North Macedonia 
Pranvera Kastrati, Acting Head of Programme Department, Regional Cooperation Council 

Moderation: 
Anna Panagopoulou, Director ERA & Innovation, DG for Research and Innovation, European Commission 

12:45 – 13:00

Closing

Stefan Andonovski, Minister for Digital Transformation, North Macedonia
Anna Panagopoulou, Director ERA & Innovation, DG for Research and Innovation, European Commission 
Valentina Superti, Director Western Balkans, DG Neighbourhood & Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission (tbc) 

13:00 – 14:30

Farewell break

(Lunch is served at the Restaurant MONTE on the ground floor)

Questions? Contact us!
© CECOFORMA, 2024