This agenda is still a draft and changes can be made in the next weeks.
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
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.
(Platinum Room, floor -1, business attire)
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 Culture and Innovation, Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Ministerial Meeting on Education and Training
Moderation: Normunds Popens, Deputy 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:
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 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:
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 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:
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 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.
Ministerial Meeting on Culture
Moderation: Normunds Popens, Deputy 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:
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
Veronika Varga-Bajusz, Minister of State for Higher Education, Vocational Training Adult Learning and Youth Policy, Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Uniopn
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:
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:
Interventions:
Valentina Superti, Director Western Balkans, DG Neighbourhood & Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission (tbc)
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:
Andras Inotai, Head of Unit Innovation Policy & Access to Finance, DG for Research and Innovation, European Commission
12:45 – 13:00
Closing
Stefan Andonovski, Minister for Digital Transformation, North Macedonia
Andras Inotai, Head of Unit Innovation Policy & Access to Finance, 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)