SEE Regional Workshop on the “Role of Public Research Institutes in Development of Countries” was co-organised by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Istanbul on 8 March 2010 under the auspices of the Turkish Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP). The workshop was followed by the site visits to the TÜBİTAK research institutes in the Marmara Research Center on 9 March 2010.

55 representatives from the Western Balkan Countries in the field of science and technology management and TÜBİTAK as well as representatives of relevant international organisations and respective stakeholders participated to the event, which was supported by TÜBİTAK, RCC and TURBO.

This event aimed to contribute to the enhancement of the science and technology competitiveness of Western Balkan countries with regard to the impact of public research institutes in technological development of these countries and their integration into the European Research Area (ERA) by sharing Turkish experience.

The workshop started with the opening speeches of TÜBİTAK Vice President Prof. Dr. Ömer ANLAĞAN, SEECP representative from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr.Güçlü KALAFAT and Head of the RCC Building Human Capital Unit Mladen DRAGASEVIC and continued with the discussions on the contribution of public research institutes to the overall progress of a society; sharing good practices and lessons learned as well as identifying strengths and challenges the Western Balkan countries may encounter in the development of research infrastructure.

In his opening speech, the Vice President of TÜBİTAK Prof. Dr.Ömer ANLAĞAN stressed the importance of this event organized under the auspices of the Turkish Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in terms of promoting mutual cooperation in Western Balkan Countries in order to exchange good practices, create a learning platform, and benefit from synergies. 

Please find the Conclusions of the Workshop here.

Agenda of the workshop can be found here.

Presentations of the workshop:

• Prof. Dr.Ömer ANLAĞAN, TÜBİTAK, Turkey
• Prof. Dr. Djuro KUTLACA, Mihajlo Pupin Institute, Republic of Serbia
• Dr. Zoran ARALICA, Institute of Economics, Zagreb, Republic of Croatia
• Radosav CEROVIC, Ministry of Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia
• Bilgehan ÖZBAYLANLI, State Planning Organisation, Turkey
• Silvo KOREZ, ZSI, Austria
• Prof. Dr. Monika JENKO, IMT, Slovenia

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