What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfA: CORYA Seminar in Tirana to Spotlight Citizen Science & Youth Innovation (4–5 June 2025)

The CORYA project is hosting a 2-day seminar in Tirana focused on empowering young researchers, students, academics, entrepreneurs, and civil society professionals through Citizen Science. The event offers interactive sessions, practical workshops, expert lectures from the Centre for Social Innovation Vienna, networking opportunities, and collaborative project development to strengthen local innovation ecosystems and youth participation.

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CfA: Advancing Mobility-Driven Research and Innovation in the Western Balkans (5 June 2025)

SCiDEV is hosting a roundtable event focused on strengthening mobility-driven research and innovation in the Western Balkans. The event will gather researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from the EU and the Western Balkans to exchange insights and develop policy recommendations to boost regional integration into the European Research Area (ERA) and foster innovation ecosystems. Target Group:

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CfA: Western Balkans & Türkiye – EU Investigative Journalism Award 2025 (Deadline: 16 June)

The 2025 EU Award for Investigative Journalism is now open for submissions. This prestigious annual award recognises outstanding investigative stories published in the previous calendar year. Eligible topics include corruption, organised crime, extremism, foreign influence, human rights violations (including digital rights), and other key issues impacting national and regional discourse. Target Group: Investigative journalists and

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CfA: Civil Dialogue Award 2025 (Deadline: 15 July)

Target Group: EU Institutions, Agencies, and Bodies (including committees, units, and directorates), as well as civil society organizations involved in civil dialogue initiatives since 2022. Location: EU-wide Short Description: Civil Society Europe (CSE) has launched the Civil Dialogue Award’s first edition, recognizing outstanding meaningful engagement practices between EU institutions and civil society. Civil dialogue—rooted in

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CfA: Read Japan Project (Deadline: 3 July)

Target Group: Institutions recommended by a Japanese diplomatic establishment (embassy, consulate, or permanent mission), such as universities, libraries, and research centers interested in receiving Japan-related, English-language books. Location: Global Short Description: The READ JAPAN PROJECT invites eligible institutions to apply for Japan-related, English-language books. Applications are only accepted from institutions that a Japanese diplomatic establishment

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CfA: Second Call Launched: Western Balkans – Visegrad Fellowship (Deadline: 15 June)

Target Group: Open to PhD holders or doctoral students from the Western Balkans and V4 countries Short Description: Following the success of last year’s inaugural edition, the Western Balkans – Visegrad Fellowship is back! In partnership with the International Visegrad Fund, the programme supports academic exchange and regional cooperation between scholars from the Western Balkans

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CfA: Japan Youth Summit 2025 JYS 2025 (Deadline:15 June 2025)

Target Group: Students, young professionals, and youth leaders aged 15–40 from all nationalities and academic backgrounds. Location: Osaka, Japan Short Description: The Japan Youth Summit 2025 invites young changemakers from around the globe to Osaka for a transformative experience under the theme “Pioneering Innovation for Sustainable Futures.” Organized by the Youth Break the Boundaries Foundation,

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CfA: Spring School on Climate Citizens’ Assemblies (Deadline: 28 May)

Target Group: Aspiring and current practitioners, civil servants, climate advocates, and civil society organisations interested in public participation and deliberative democracy. Location: Warsaw, Poland Short Description: Join the Spring School on Climate Citizens’ Assemblies in Warsaw to gain practical, hands-on experience in designing and running citizens’ assemblies. Organized in collaboration with the Shipyard Foundation, Field

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CfA: WeBalkans Photo Competition is launched (Deadline: 24 May)

Target Group: Young people aged 18-29 from the Western Balkans Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia Location: Online Short Description: Launched by the WeBalkans initiative, funded by the European Commission, the Regional Youth Photo Contest invites young people across the Western Balkans to capture the unifying power of sport. Running

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CfA: Protest Lab – Innovation for Peaceful Protest (Deadline: 23 May 2025)

Target Group: Human rights defenders, student leaders, trade union leaders, journalists, academia, artivists, digital activists, and changemakers passionate about transforming protest movements. Location: Global (Online and In-Person) Short Description: The Protest Lab, a new initiative under the CIVICUS Freedom of Peaceful Assembly (FoPA) Workstream, is inviting applications from individuals with experience in peaceful protests and

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CfA: BCSDN Civic Space Hackathon: Open Call for NGOs and Academic Institutions (Deadline 11 May)

Target group: Registered NGOs and academic institutions from the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia). Applicants must form interdisciplinary teams of 4–6 people, combining skills in activism, technology, design, legal affairs, communications, or research. Individual applications are not accepted. Countries: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro

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CfA: The Innovation Hub is calling for passionate media professionals from the Western Balkans to apply for a fully funded workshop (Deadline: 11 May)

Target Group: Passionate media professionals, journalism students, journalists, content creators, and media initiatives from civil society organizations Countries: Western Balkans Short Description: Fully funded workshop for journalists and content creators from the Western Balkans. It will take place June 7-8, 2025, in Subotica, Serbia. It will focus on developing impactful storytelling and digital solutions for

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