Launched in 2014, the Berlin Process is an intergovernmental initiative supporting the integration of Western Balkan countries into the European Union and fostering regional cooperation in Southeast Europe. It represents a collaborative effort involving 16 European nations and the European Commission. Since 2015, the Berlin Process has entailed a dedicated chapter addressing science, education, research, innovation, technology transfer, which is coordinated by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. The annual meeting of stakeholders involved in this segment is conducted in the form of the Berlin Process Joint Science Conference.

This year, Albania holds the rotating Presidency of the Berlin Process, thereby bringing the Process to Southeast Europe and underlining regional ownership. The seventh Berlin Process Joint Science Conference will be held in Tirana at the Albanian Academy of Sciences. The conference, titled “Partnering for Excellence – Partnering for Europe”, will centre around three key themes:

1. Assessing progress of Balkan and Southeast European higher education, research and innovation communities towards integration in European Union frameworks,

2. Creating excellence in the Balkans through wise instruments and alliances, and

3. Developing customised mobility schemes for students, researchers and professionals, including (re-)connecting the academic diasporas to their countries of origin.