Empowering participation and accelerating synergies in Widening countries with a focus on Green & Digital Transition

There is a substantial differentiation in terms of R&I performance among the EU member states. This divide has also been reflected in differing levels of participation in the framework programmes, for which the allocation of funding is based on excellence. Low participation in turn limits the potential of under-performing countries to overcome the shortcomings in their R&I systems. In recent years, one of the main priorities of the European Commission was bringing Cohesion policy and Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe closer together with an aim of strengthening the impact of both policies by creating complementarities, especially in less developed and peripheral regions. Considering these facts, TWIN SYNERGIES project aims at supporting the EU strategic context in regard to creation of synergies at the operational and governance level, directing towards the Upstream synergies mode – Human resources development and Internationalisation. In this manner, especially Smart Specialization Strategies, essential instruments for creating combined effects with smart growth-related instruments at EU level (especially with HE) will be taken into consideration. TWIN SYNERGIES project, gathering 9 partners from 4 Widening countries and 1 EU Member State will in 24-month project duration develop and apply upstream compatible, tailor-made, but transferable activities for capacity building, internationalisation, HR development, collaboration, valorisation, and technology uptake, focusing on the current developments related to the Green and Digital transition. Besides, as essential part of upstream/downstream synergies, the project will put a strong focus improving the cooperation stage and communication corridors among the relevant actors – particularly the EU and national authorities involved in the programming and implementation of HE and ERDF support.