MILETUS addresses capacity building in the field of virtual, real and blended mobility runs (MR) at Serbian and TURIL (Territory of the Ukraine as recognized by international law) higher education institutions (HEI). By creating the needed governance on a ministerial and institutional level, MILETUS achieves the improvement of Master graduates’ employability chances in companies working internationally and the quality enhancement of PhD students’ research, and thus their contribution to high quality research in the partner countries.To build students mobility capacity, governance of ministries responsible for HE will be improved and functions of existing International Relations Offices at HEIs will be extended or founded newly. Teaching staff will be methodologically prepared for supervision of MR and necessary learning materials will be prepared. Focus on students with disabilities will open up mobility learning experiences to a wider range of students, primarily as a result of tapping into potential of virtual mobility.These virtual MRs for Master students will include tasks that enable mobilizing and developing skills that allow for working in international geographically dispersed teams, under consideration of competences expected of graduates by employers. Deployment of mobility programs addresses the need for broadening collaboration research circle for PhD students ultimately improving the quality of their research.The main outcomes of the project are:• improved governance of students’ mobility programs on a ministerial and institutional levels• framework for virtual, real and blended MRs to guide future implementation also for nonparticipating HEIs• enhanced teaching methodologies during MRs• solid learning basis for students participating in MRs• eased access to mobility programs for students with disabilities• enhanced employability chances for graduates by developing international skills• and broader research collaboration circle for PhD student

Agriculture is facing enormous challenges today. Not only does it have to provide enough safe and healthy food for the ever-increasing Earth’s population, it is also expected to offer alternatives to fossil fuels and to protect the non-renewable resources such as soil, water and energy inputs. ANTARES aims to evolve BioSense Institute from Serbia into a European Centre of Excellence (CoE) for advanced technologies in sustainable agriculture, by implementing a detailed business plan prepared during ANTARES Phase 1. This endeavor is supported by the participation of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development who will provide both institutional and legislative support, as well as by a strong commitment of the Republic of Serbia to provide co-financing of 14 mil . The participation of DLO from the Netherlands, the leading European institute for applied and market-driven research in the agrifood sector will secure that the know-how and experience of the highest European standards are transplanted to Serbia. ANTARES builds upon the complementary expertise of BioSense and DLO: the synergetic combination of ICT and agricultural knowledge will strengthen the competitive positions of both institutions and provide answers to challenges that go far beyond borders of any single country. ANTARES envisages a long-term strategic cooperation between DLO and the new CoE, relies on a well-developed joint strategic research agenda and on a documented financial analysis that proves the long-term sustainability and growth of the new CoE beyond Teaming funding. CoE’s mission and vision are aligned with needs of European and Serbian society and focus on science for impact and economic growth. ANTARES is a smart investment, as it simultaneously helps an associated country to bridge the gaps with Europe through research and innovation, while at the same time contributes to safe and adequate food for future generations of Europeans.

NCP_WIDERA.NET aims at support the capacity and effectiveness of WIDERA National Contact Points with a special attention to less experienced entities in low performing Member States (MS) and Associated Countries (AC) to bridge the knowledge gaps to enhance access to funding possibilities under the Framework Programme. Through strengthening and enhancing the role of the NCPs, the project shall support international networking and coordination, as well as improve the quality of proposals from legal entities from low R&I performing MS and AC providing them with better access to services during the application process in particular with regard to Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area, as well as Pillar II actions. NCP_WIDERA.NET will focus on identifying and sharing good practices within NCP community and raising standards of support offered by NCPs to the applicants, taking into account the diversity of actors that constitutes both the Widening and ERA parts. Moreover, this project will equip the transnational network of NCPs to be in a better position to effectively address cross-cutting objectives such as gender equality and open science.

The National Contact Points perform valuable services in guiding and supporting national applicants in preparing proposals for Horizon 2020 funding. We expect that through an enhanced cooperation and networking between these national entities, a higher quality of their consulting services and thus of proposals and projects can be achieved. Therefore, the overall objective of NCPs CaRE is to form a joint cooperation network of experienced and less experienced NCPs on SC5 “Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials” which aims at pooling their resources and know-how to raise the overall quality of services provided to their clients. By involving 23 formally nominated National Contact Points across Europe, the NCPs CaRE project will significantly strengthen trans-national cooperation. In addition, NCPs CaRE will extensively involve the 26 NCPs that have decided to become “associated partner”. To harness synergies is especially relevant to SC5 NCPs, since potential applicants within this Challenge are very diverse with respect to their scientific or organisational background, level of experience, involvement in transnational networks. Concretely, activities of NCPs CaRE towards this goal include, amongst others, teaming and twinning schemes, the compilation of best practices handbooks and manuals, events, meetings and trainings both on-line and on a face-to-face basis, as well as a wide range of other communication and dissemination tools and platforms. These activities foreseen by NCPs CaRE will contribute to enhancing the impact of R&I in SC5 and ensure a more efficient use of resources and R&I developments by improving the work flow between NCPs, applicants, the Commission, and other parties with a stake in SC5. Tailor-made like they are for the SC5 constituency, these activities will make it easier for all participating and benefitting NCPs to enhance the number of proposals with regards to both quantity and quality.