Further information on special sessions

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This session examines the role of Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) in shaping innovation-driven development across the Western Balkans. As several countries in the region advance along the EU accession path, S3 frameworks are becoming a central tool for aligning national innovation systems with EU cohesion policy principles and regional development priorities.

The discussion will explore how governments, universities, businesses, and regional authorities are identifying strategic sectors where competitive advantages can be built through targeted investments in research, technology, and skills. Particular attention will be given to the process of entrepreneurial discovery, stakeholder engagement, and the creation of innovation ecosystems capable of supporting long-term economic transformation.

Participants will reflect on the challenges faced by Western Balkan economies when implementing S3, including institutional capacity constraints, fragmented innovation systems, limited industry–academia collaboration, and uneven territorial development.

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The rapid expansion of digital technologies has transformed the way data is generated, shared, and used in economic and policy decision-making. This session focuses on emerging models of data governance and their implications for innovation, regional development, and institutional cooperation, with particular reference to the DO-AIR initiative.

The discussion will address how open data frameworks, data-sharing infrastructures, and interoperable governance mechanisms can support evidence-based policymaking, research collaboration, and digital innovation. Participants will explore how regional platforms for data exchange can strengthen cooperation between public institutions, research organisations, and private-sector actors.

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Young people represent one of the most important drivers of economic and social transformation in the Adriatic–Ionian and Western Balkan regions. Yet many countries continue to face significant challenges related to youth unemployment, skills mismatches, brain drain, and limited opportunities for meaningful participation in economic life.

This session explores how education systems, labour market policies, and innovation ecosystems can be redesigned to empower young people and better align skills development with emerging economic opportunities. The discussion will examine the role of universities, vocational training institutions, and entrepreneurship programmes in preparing the next generation for rapidly evolving labour markets shaped by digitalisation and technological change.

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EU Macro-Regional Strategies (MRS) are among the most innovative governance frameworks developed by the European Union to address shared challenges across transnational functional areas. Operating without new legislation or dedicated funding, MRS relies on coordination, policy alignment, and multilevel cooperation among Member States, non-EU countries, regions, and stakeholders. In an era of increasing geopolitical fragmentation, they function as soft yet strategic arenas that positively affect regional stability, European integration, and cross-border cohesion. At the same time, macro-regions serve as platforms for knowledge exchange and policy learning, enabling the circulation of expertise and best practices across thematic priorities. Participation in MRS has also triggered significant domestic adaptation processes, leading to institutional innovation, new coordination mechanisms, and administrative reforms. All together, these dynamics position MRS as a geopolitical instrument, a knowledge arena, and a laboratory of institutional transformation within the evolving architecture of European governance. The session welcomes contributions from researchers and policymakers in relevant fields, employing individual case studies or comparative approaches.

Participants are invited to present contributions aligned with these topics:

• Geopolitical dimension of EU Macro-Regional Strategies. Examine how (and if) recognised MRS and emerging or not-yet-recognised macro-regional initiatives function as soft geopolitical instruments that foster regional stability, strategic coordination, and European integration, including in the contexts of enlargement and neighbourhood.
• MRS as a transnational arena of knowledge exchange. Explore how macro-regions create structured (formal, informal or hybrid) spaces for policy learning, epistemic communities, and cross-border circulation of expertise among governments, regional authorities, academia, business networks, and civil society.
• Institutional innovation and domestic adaptation. Analyse how participating countries have redesigned coordination mechanisms, inter-ministerial structures, national contact points, and multilevel governance arrangements to align with macro-regional priorities (and institutional mechanisms).
• MRS as a means of Europeanisation and policy convergence. Discuss how macro-regional cooperation territorialises EU priorities by influencing regulatory alignment, administrative capacity-building, and policy harmonisation beyond formal EU competences. Yet it is important to question how (and whether) they set hegemonic policy discourse.
• Future trajectories (if any) and governance challenges. Consider the sustainability, political legitimacy, and strategic evolution of both established and aspiring macro-regions, with attention to geopolitical tensions, the climate transition, digital transformation, and EU enlargement dynamics.

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Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are reshaping economic structures, business models, and public services across Europe. This session investigates how AI-driven innovation is influencing economic development in the Adriatic–Ionian region and the Western Balkans.

The discussion will focus on the adoption of AI and advanced digital technologies by businesses, startups, and public institutions, highlighting both opportunities and challenges faced by emerging innovation ecosystems. Participants will examine how digital infrastructure, research capabilities, and regulatory frameworks influence the pace and direction of technological transformation.

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This session focuses on the dynamics of entrepreneurial ecosystems across the Adriatic–Ionian region and the Western Balkans, examining how startups, small businesses, and innovation-driven enterprises contribute to regional economic transformation.

The session will explore the conditions that enable entrepreneurial activity, including access to finance, regulatory frameworks, innovation support programmes, and the availability of skilled human capital. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of universities, research institutions, and incubators in nurturing new ventures and facilitating knowledge transfer between academia and industry.

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Trade integration remains a key pillar of economic development for both EU member states and candidate countries in the Adriatic–Ionian region. This session examines evolving trade patterns, regional value chains, and the role of trade policy in supporting economic convergence and integration.

Participants will explore how global economic shifts, geopolitical dynamics, and supply chain restructuring are influencing trade flows in the region. Particular attention will be given to the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in international markets and the challenges they face in accessing export opportunities.

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Interregional collaboration has become an increasingly important mechanism for strengthening innovation ecosystems and fostering economic development across Europe. This session focuses on the role of the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument and related initiatives in supporting cooperation between regions with complementary strengths.

The discussion will examine how collaborative projects across borders can accelerate technology transfer, promote joint research initiatives, and create new industrial value chains. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of regional innovation actors (universities, clusters, SMEs, and public authorities) in developing partnerships that translate research excellence into marketable solutions.