The integrated panel titled A step towards the European Research Community through Horizon Projects was held on 26 March, 2026, at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Mostar, in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event aimed to explore the synergies between academia, industry, and government institutions in the context of European research funding, specifically focusing on the Horizon Europe Programme.
Introduction of the Panelists
The panel brought together a broad coalition of partners from across the academic, governmental, and private sectors, reflecting the fundamentally cross-sectoral character of the Horizon Europe programme and the collaborative spirit of the AttractAdria project.
The University of Mostar (SUM), represented through both its Faculty of Medicine as the host institution and its Vice-Rector for Science, Prof. Marko Odak, served as the primary academic anchor of the event. The university’s active engagement underscored its commitment to positioning itself as a regional hub for European research collaboration.
Alongside the University of Mostar, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Banja Luka, represented by Prof. Petar Gvero – coordinator of the EMPOWER project – and the University of Sarajevo (UNSA), represented by the Full Prof. Tamer Bego, also the coordinator of the AttractAdria project. They contributed perspectives from across the higher education landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina, demonstrating that the ambition for European research integration extends well beyond any single institution.
On the governmental side, the participation of Marija Buhač, Prime Minister of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNŽ), represented a significant signal of political engagement with the research and innovation agenda. Her presence reinforced the panel’s central argument that public policymakers must become active and equal stakeholders in the development of strategies for BiH’s participation in European research programmes.
The private sector was represented by Genos d.o.o. and GlycanAge, through Ivana Gulušija, a leading private research company based in Zagreb whose collaboration with academic institutions on glycoprotein research within the AttractAdria project exemplifies the productive synergy between industry and academia that Horizon Europe is designed to foster. F6S, represented by Danijel Pavlica, further contributed a private sector perspective.
Together, these partners embodied the triple-helix model of innovation – academia, industry, and government – that underpins the Horizon Europe framework and that the panel identified as the essential foundation for sustainable research development in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider Western Balkans region.
Panel conclusions
The comprehensive panel discussion yielded three primary conclusions, underscoring the necessity of a unified approach to research and innovation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
#1: Research is not solely an academic matter – engagement of the business sector and public institutions is essential
The discussion clearly demonstrated that the research potential of the academic community cannot be fully realised without active partnership with the business sector and without systematic support from public policymakers. Horizon Europe projects, such as AttractAdria and projects implemented in collaboration with the private research company Genos d.o.o., already demonstrate that the most successful outcomes arise through the cooperation of academia, industry, and the public sector. It is therefore imperative that all relevant ministries become active and equal stakeholders in the development of strategies for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s participation in EU research programmes, through concrete financial instruments, tax incentives, and formal mechanisms
of cooperation.
#2: The issue of research excellence must be elevated to the level of the Rectoral Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The panellists agreed that the individual efforts of single universities are insufficient to achieve systemic change. The fragmentation of the academic landscape in BiH weakens the position of institutions within European consortia. It is therefore proposed that the issues of research excellence, capacity building, and a joint internationalisation strategy be formally placed on the agenda of the Rectoral Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the body capable of acting on behalf of the academic community as a whole.
#3: The system must recognise and support individual talent
The examples presented during the panel, the AttractAdria project coordinated by the University of Sarajevo together with the EMPOWER project, coordinated by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Banja Luka, confirm that Bosnia and Herzegovina possesses research capacities that are competitive at the European level. However, the lack of administrative and institutional support continues to limit the full development of this potential.
In this context, a key direction for further development was highlighted in the initiative put forward by the AttractAdria’s project coordinator and supported by the panellists: Future project applications should be directed towards the establishment and strengthening of career centres at the university level, along with their networking and development at the regional level.
Such centres would serve as a fundamental mechanism for the professional development of researchers, for fostering links with the business sector, promoting mobility and internationalisation, and building capacity for participation in European research programmes.
Final words
In conclusion, investment in research infrastructure, the professionalisation of project management, and the development of career centres is not a cost, but a prerequisite for attracting European funding and retaining talent in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region. The event successfully established a foundation for future dialogue and networking among the key stakeholders required to advance the region’s integration into the European Research Area.