The Western Balkans Mobility Scheme is a regional mobility programme launched in the framework of a Horizon Europe funded project entitled POLICY ANSWERS – R&I POLICY making, implementation ANd Support in the WEsteRn BalkanS (https://www.westernbalkans-infohub.eu/about/).

The aim of this scheme is to enhance regional cooperation and sustained support in mobility-driven R&I and – by fostering the interconnectedness of the WB – to support sustainable economic growth, a common regional market, societal resilience and convergence of the WB with the EU. Enhanced cooperation and sustained support in mobility-driven R&I are also pivotal for equipping the WB with the requisite tools and knowledge to address shared challenges, such as climate change and digital transformation, while fostering a generation of innovators who can reshape the region’s future.

This scheme addresses early-career researchers (ECR) only, which means that only PhD students and Postdocs, whose doctorate was awarded no longer than seven years before the deadline of this call, are eligible as applicants. The ECR must be affiliated to a home institution, which must be located in the WB. The home institution must be a research performing organisation (RPO) or higher education institutions (HEI) (public or private) that has to be registered and accredited in the WB. Companies are not eligible as home institution.

A project within this scheme must fulfil each of these three criteria: It must use (1) short-term mobility within the WB and (2) specialised equipment or facilities (research infrastructures) in another WB economy in order to (3) do research. Only mobility projects in the field of research will be funded.

A total budget of the mobility scheme is EUR 100,000. The financial support will be given as a grant with a maximum sum of EUR 5,000 per project.

The prolonged deadline for submission of applications is 26 June 2024.

Please consult the POLICY ANSWERS website with all call-related documents at https://www.westernbalkans-infohub.eu/calls/western-balkans-mobility-scheme/.

In order to support participants to apply, the POLICY ANSWERS team is organising a webinar on 12 June 2024, 14:00 – 15:00 CEST to answer any possible question that may arise in connection with the application process, eligibility criteria and other topics of the WBMS.

Link to the webinar: https://zsigmbh.my.webex.com/zsigmbh.my/j.php?MTID=m412f6d0dc6994ef59ef5b79c7aa87b5c

Registration is not necessary.

All information on the webinar could also be found here: https://www.westernbalkans-infohub.eu/events/webinar-western-balkans-mobility-scheme-questions-answers/