Dear readers,

the WBC-INCO.NET journal autumn 2008 reports on major issues such as

■ Framework Programme 7, which is becoming more and more popular in the region. Currently several networking and training activities are taking place (also with the support of WBC-INCO.NET), several calls are open and researchers from the region are hopefully continuing to work for their successful integration to the European Research Area.

■ The creation of networks is an important activity in order to reach this integration. The Steering Platform on Research met in Ljubljana in June and will meet in December in Paris, SEE-ERA.NET is consolidating with the aim to launch a new call early 2009, the Task Force Building and Fostering Human Capital is building up a network of networks linking research to education and higher education policy. Reports on the development of these networks are included.

■ The Western Balkan countries are taking concrete actions to integrate in the European Research Area. This is confirmed and summarised in the 2008 Progress Reports issued by DG Enlargement as well as in the presented “news from the region”. New initiatives are also expected from the newly appointed ministers in the region.

■ Events are announced, reports are presented, and funding programmes are introduced. The journal covers a wide range activity reports and announcements, based on the daily announcements at our website www.wbc-inco.net. It invites also all the readers to provide information on their activities in science and research with and for the Western Balkan countries.Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any comments and questions regarding the articles. We hope you enjoy the new journal, so please spread the news and invite others to register also via http://www.wbc-inco.net/ejournal/list. Please feel also free to inform us about your projects, initiatives, events and reports!

Best wishes,
WBC-INCO.NET Team <http://www.wbc-inco.net/users/team>

P.S.: We'd like to inform you that for our news an RSS feed is available http://www.wbc-inco.net/object/news/rss.html and our events can also be automatically displayed in your electronic calendar via our iCal feed: http://wbc-inco.net/object/calendar/ical

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Elke Dall
dall@zsi.at