Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path towards European Union membership is not only a political and institutional process — it also brings immediate access to important financial opportunities. As an EU candidate country, Bosnia and Herzegovina can already participate in major programmes such as Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme, which offer significant funding and collaboration opportunities for research institutions, businesses, and public sector actors.
Horizon Europe, with a budget of €95.5 billion, is the EU’s largest research and innovation programme. The Digital Europe Programme, with over €7.5 billion, supports digital transformation in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced digital skills.
Despite these opportunities, the potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina remains underutilized. Addressing the key challenges includes increasing awareness of funding calls, improving coordination among responsible stakeholders, as well as providing training for participation in international partnerships and the preparation of project proposals.
To address these gaps, GIZ — on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union — is implementing the EU4Digital Transformation (EU4DT) initiative within the broader Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion Programme (SEDEP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Running until 2028, the initiative aims to strengthen the country’s digital transformation and improve access to EU funding programmes.
A key element of this support is close cooperation with relevant state-level institutions, ensuring national ownership and alignment with EU integration priorities.
In the area of Horizon Europe, activities are implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which coordinates EU research and innovation programmes and manages the National Contact Points system.
For the Digital Europe Programme, cooperation is established with the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which plays a key role in coordinating digital transformation priorities.
This partnership approach ensures that activities are institutionally anchored and strategically aligned.
Building on this, GIZ supports stakeholders in moving from general awareness to active participation in EU programmes — from early-stage idea development and partner matchmaking to structured proposal preparation.
As a first step, a series of targeted information sessions is being launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, focusing on Horizon Europe opportunities. The sessions are aimed at researchers, public institutions, businesses, and innovation actors, and will cover the following priority areas:
Digital Transformation & Creative Industries, May 26, 2026
Link for registration 👉 https://digigreen.ba/digital-transformation-creative-industries/
Widening Participation & Research Capacity, June 5, 2026
Link for registration 👉 https://digigreen.ba/info-session-widening-participation-research-capacity/
Climate, Energy, Smart Mobility & Innovation, June 12, 2026
Link for registration 👉 https://digigreen.ba/info-session-climate-energy-smart-mobility-innovation/
Food Systems, Bioeconomy & Health, June 18, 2026
Link for registration 👉 https://digigreen.ba/info-session-food-systems-bioeconomy-health/
Interested participants may register for one or more sessions to gain a clear overview of upcoming funding opportunities, as well as practical guidance on how to get started, identify relevant calls, and position their project ideas within the Horizon Europe programme.
A similar series of sessions will follow later in the year in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Transport, focusing on opportunities under the Digital Europe Programme.
Stakeholders ready to take the next step are encouraged to participate. Following the sessions, GIZ will provide tailored support to selected applicants, including project idea refinement, partner search and matchmaking, and guidance throughout the proposal development process. This step-by-step approach ensures that participants are not only informed about opportunities but are also supported in developing strong and competitive project proposals.
