Author: admin@webalkans

Category:  EU Programme – Culture & Creative Industries
EU Managing Body: European Commission
Eligibility: All WB countries eligible
Sector Focus: Culture, arts, creative industries

Creative Europe supports cultural cooperation, artistic mobility, and projects in the cultural and creative sectors. It funds partnerships, networks, and cross-border initiatives.

Who can apply & participate?

Cultural organisations, NGOs, artists, cultural institutions, creative industries

Typical funding type: Project grants, cooperation funding, mobility support
Typical funding range: Highly variable; usually €50k–€2M+ depending on cooperation scale and strand

How to apply?

Funding & Tenders Portal; Creative Europe Desks; EACEA calls

Category: Innovation & SME Support
EU Managing Body: EUREKA Network
Eligibility: Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia participate more consistently; Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina participation depends on national mechanisms; Kosovo participation remains limited
Sector Focus: SMEs, startups, innovation

Eurostars supports innovative SMEs and international R&D cooperation projects. Eligibility and funding availability depend on national participation and mechanisms in each WB country.

Who can apply & participate?

Innovative SMEs, startups, research institutions, innovation consortia

Typical funding type: Innovation grants, R&D funding, SME support
Typical funding range: Highly variable; often €100k–€1.5M+ depending on SME consortium and innovation scope

How to apply?

EUREKA Portal; Eurostars calls; national innovation/funding agencies

Category: Research Cooperation & Networking
EU Managing Body: COST Association supported by the EU
Eligibility: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia eligible; Kosovo participation is more limited and call-specific
Sector Focus: Research cooperation, networking

COST Actions support international research networking and collaboration among scientists, researchers, and innovators. They fund networking activities rather than direct research costs.

Who can apply & participate?

Researchers, universities, research institutions, innovators

Typical funding type: Networking support, mobility support, conference/workshop funding
Typical funding range: Usually €100k–€150k annually for networking activities

How to apply?

COST Association portal; COST Open Calls; national COST coordinators

Category: EU Programme – Research & Innovation
EU Managing Body: European Commission
Eligibility: All WB countries eligible
Sector Focus: Research, innovation, science, technology

Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme supporting collaborative projects, scientific research, startups, and innovation ecosystems. WB institutions can participate through international consortia.

Who can apply & participate?

Universities, research institutes, SMEs, startups, public institutions, NGOs, innovation ecosystems

Typical funding type: Research grants, innovation funding, collaborative project funding
Typical funding range: Highly variable; often €500k–€10M+ depending on call and consortium

How to apply?

EU Funding & Tenders Portal; Horizon Europe calls; National Contact Points (NCPs)

Category: EU Programme – Youth Mobility
EU Managing Body: European Commission
Eligibility:  All WB countries eligible
Sector Focus: Youth travel, mobility, cultural exchange

DiscoverEU enables young people to travel across Europe and experience different cultures, mainly through travel passes. Eligibility may depend on specific Erasmus+ participation frameworks.

Who can apply & participate?

Young individuals (usually around 18-year-olds)

Typical funding type: Travel support, mobility support
Typical funding range: Individual mobility/travel support; relatively small per participant budgets

How to apply?

European Youth Portal; DiscoverEU application calls

Category: EU Programme – Youth & Volunteering
EU Managing Body: European Commission
Eligibility: All WB countries eligible
Sector Focus: Volunteering, solidarity, youth engagement

ESC offers young people opportunities to volunteer, work on solidarity projects, and participate in community initiatives across Europe. It supports youth engagement and social inclusion.

Who can apply & participate?

Young people, NGOs, youth organisations, volunteering organisations, public bodies

Typical funding type: Volunteering support, grants, mobility support, solidarity project funding
Typical funding range: Usually small to medium grants (€5k–€100k+) depending on project type

How to apply?

European Youth Portal; ESC Portal; National Agencies

Category: EU Programme – Education & Youth
EU Managing Body: European Commission (DG EAC)
Eligibility: All WB countries eligible
Sector Focus: Education, youth, mobility, training

Erasmus+ supports student exchanges, university cooperation, youth projects, vocational education, and mobility opportunities. Organisations, schools, universities, and young people from the Western Balkans can participate in various programme actions.

Who can apply & participate?

Students, universities, schools, VET institutions, youth organisations, NGOs, teachers, researchers, municipalities

Typical funding type: Grants, mobility support, exchange programmes, partnership funding, training
Typical funding range: Usually €30k–€400k+ depending on action, partnerships, and mobility scale

How to apply?

Erasmus+ Portal; EU Funding & Tenders Portal; National Erasmus+ Offices and National Agencies

Category:  EU Programme – Audiovisual & Media
EU Managing Body: European Commission
Eligibility: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia eligible; Kosovo participation depends on specific MEDIA strands and calls
Sector Focus: Film, audiovisual production, media

The MEDIA strand supports the European audiovisual and film industry through funding for development, distribution, training, and audience engagement. Eligibility may vary by country and call.

Who can apply & participate?

Film producers, audiovisual companies, cinemas, distributors, training providers

Typical funding type: Production grants, distribution support, training support
Typical funding range: Highly variable; often €10k–€1M+ depending on audiovisual project type

How to apply?

MEDIA calls through EACEA; Creative Europe Desks

Category:  Media Support & Journalism
EU Managing Body: European Union / regional implementing partners
Eligibility: All WB countries eligible
Sector Focus: Journalism, media literacy, independent media

EU4Media supports independent journalism, media literacy, professional development, and media resilience in the region. Activities often include grants, training, and regional cooperation.

Who can apply & participate?

Journalists, media organisations, media NGOs, journalism networks

Typical funding type: Grants, training, capacity-building support
Typical funding range: Usually small to medium grants (€10k–€300k+) plus training/support schemes

How to apply?

EU4Media regional calls; implementing partner websites; EU Delegation announcements

Category: EU Programme – Research & Academic Mobility
EU Managing Body: European Commission / Horizon Europe
Eligibility: All WB countries eligible
Sector Focus: Research, academic mobility, innovation

MSCA funds researchers at all career stages through mobility, doctoral training, and international cooperation. It promotes scientific excellence and research careers.

Who can apply & participate?

Researchers, universities, research institutes, doctoral candidates, academic consortia

Typical funding type: Research grants, fellowships, mobility support, doctoral funding
Typical funding range: Often €100k–€5M+ depending on fellowship or consortium type

How to apply?

EU Funding & Tenders Portal; Horizon Europe calls; National Contact Points (NCPs)