The “Balkan Drive” project aims to develop the capacity of HEIs in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia, countries that are of strategic importance for the economic development of the region.
IASC is developing this project in order to improve their research and innovation performance and address the Online Collaboration Platform.
Besides the traditional training activities such as workshops and study visits, the project foresees establishing new structures in 4 HEIs that will focus research and innovation adopting an inter-disciplinary approach and eventually a close cooperation with partners from businesses and industry in line with the quadruple helix goals.
Also, he opening of HEIs to other partners, domestic and international, will be further enhanced through the development of a network, supported by a virtual platform that will facilitate interaction and synergy between members.
Offices dedicated to research and innovation or networks for such a purpose can be a long time and not something new for developed countries, but for this region and for these countries in particular, characterized by a low trust environment and a highly fragmented ecosystem where collaboration, coordination and synergies are scarce, project outcomes constitute a novelty.