First S3 thematic workshop for the Western Balkans – Collaboration in the Agri-Food domain

  • 05 Oct 2021 to 06 Oct 2021

  • Online meeting 

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) aims at supporting initiatives and actions that may increase collaboration opportunities for the Western Balkan economies that can enhance competitiveness of the region in terms of its economic and innovation potential. Deeper analysis of the regional agri-food potential, being a common priority area for the economies that are in the advanced stage of the Smart Specialisation process, and the related analysis of agri-food value chains in the region serve this objective. 

To this purpose, a two-day online workshop will be held on October 5 and 6 in order to identify the opportunities for regional cooperation in the Smart Specialisation priority domain of agri-food (and respective sub-domains), as well as initiatives to promote such cooperation. 

This event will bring together various national stakeholders in the agri-food area from the Western Balkan region who will discuss potential promising areas for cooperation, regional research and innovation potential in the context of agri-food cooperation, and opportunities and challenges for joining efforts in advancing regional competitiveness in the agri-food area. The workshop will build on previous works on the topic, JRC’s findings from the ongoing research on value chains in the Western Balkans as well as on the updates on the ongoing S3 processes in the six economies.”

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Programme

Day 1: October 5, 2021 Day 2: October 6, 2021

Day 1: October 5, 2021

  1. 10:00-10:15
    Opening session and welcome note
    • Alesandro Rainoldi, Head of Unit, Joint Research Centre
    • Monika Matusiak, Team Leader, Joint Research Centre
       
  2. 10:15-10:30
    The concept of thematic S3 workshops and collaboration perspectives in the Western Balkans in the agrifood area
    • Nikola Radovanovic, Economic and Policy Analyst, Joint Research Centre
  3. 10:30-11:45
    Supporting regional collaboration in the agri-food area in the Western Balkans Panel discussion moderated by the Elisa Gerussi, Economic and Policy Analyst, Joint Research Centre
    • Alexis Loeber, Policy Officer, DG NEAR
    • Max Philipp Lehne, Policy Officer, DG NEAR
    • Zigo Rutkovskis, Programme Manager, DG AGRI
    • Sinisa Marcic, Expert on Human Capital Development, Regional Cooperation Council
    • Judith Litjens, Policy Officer, COST
    • Pirita Vuorinen, Human Capital Development Specialist, European Training Foundation
    • Adela Franja, Project Officer, Adrion
  4. 11:45-12:00
    Technical break
  5. 12:00-13:20
    Agri-food in the Western Balkans - From smart priorities to smart implementation Round table moderated by Aleksandra Nikolic, Professor, University of Sarajevo

    Speakers:

    • Djordje Brkuljan, Head of the S3 Team, Montenegro
    • Dubravka Radulović, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, Montenegro
    • Viktor Nedovic, Head of the S3 Team, Serbia
    • Jelena Begovic, Director of the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetical Engineering, Serbia
    • Jasna Mastilovic, Scientific Advisor, Institute of Food Technology, Serbia
    • Jasmina Majstoroska, Head of the S3 Team, North Macedonia
    • Aleksandra Martinovska Stojcheska, Head of Institute of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food – Skopje, North Macedonia

    Discussants will include other representatives from the Western Balkan economies
     

  6. 13:20-13:30
    Technical break (for summing up the results from the round table)
  7. 13:30-14:15
    Expert feedback on the round table Discussion moderated by Martin Banse, Director, Thuenen Institute
  8. 14:15-14:30
    Wrap-up of Day 1

Day 2: October 6, 2021

  1. 10:00-10:15
    Opening session on agri-food complementarities in the Western Balkans
    • Nikola Radovanovic, Economic and Policy Analyst, Joint Research Centre
  2. 10:15-10:45
    Analysis of the agri-food value chains in the Western Balkans
    • Branimir Jovanovic, Economist, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies
  3. 10:45-12:30
    Strengths and challenges for research and innovation collaboration in the agri-food area in the Western Balkans and beyond

    Panel discussion moderated by Martin Banse, Director, Thuenen Institute

    Speakers:

    • Aleksandra Martinovic, Director, Centre of Excellence FoodHub, University of Donja Gorica, Montenegro
    • Ilija Moric, Director, Moric LLC, Montenegro
    • Bogdan Zigic, Director, Biofor System, Serbia
    • Dejan Milijanovic, Key Account Manager, Desing company, Serbia
    • Ana Simonovska, Associate Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food – Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, North Macedonia
    • Stefan Orozovic, Executive Director, National Federation of Farmers, North Macedonia
    • Hafize Veseli, Food Technology Expert, Initiative for Agricultural Development, Kosovo* 
    • Jakub Butkovic, Head of department, Office for Harmonization and Coordination of Payment Systems in Agriculture and Rural Development, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  4. 12:30-12:45
    Technical break
  5. 12:45-13:30
    Exploiting collaboration opportunities - way forward Expert feedback on the panel discussion
    • Discussion moderated by Aleksandra Nikolic, Professor, University of Sarajevo
  6. 13:30-13:45
    Wrap-up by JRC - End of day 2

Practical Information

When
05 Oct 2021 to 06 Oct 2021
Where

Online meeting 

Registration Information

Registration for this event is limited. Registered participants will receive the link to the event the day before

Register