KCSS SECRETARY ATTENDS 2ND CONFERENCE FOR MANAGERS OF THINK TANKS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS (20-23 FEBRUARY 2017)

Mentor Vrajolli, the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) Secretary and Senior Researcher, is attending the 2nd Conference for Managers of Think Tanks in the Western Balkans “Between Survivals and Development: The Challenges and Prospects in the Western Balkans” organized in Vienna which formally started in 20 February 2017. This three days long conference is a follow-up of the 1st Conference for Managers of Think Tanks in the Western Balkans organized in Sarajevo during the November 2015.

The aim of this conference is to discuss current environment of think tanks in Western Balkans.  More precisely, given the combination of global and regional challenges and opportunities, its aim is to explore the potential for a more influential future of the policy research sector in the region and beyond.

As such, although the debate will touch upon relevant trends in the sector in general, this conference firmly focuses in the context of the Western Balkans by exploring deep into challenges and opportunities which may impact the think tank industry in the region in the present time and also in the near future.

Hence, the key questions that the conference seeks to answer are: Do think tanks in the Balkans have what it takes to evolve and thrive in a rapidly changing and potentially hostile context? How can think tanks surmount the challenges they face in order to create sustainable business models, achieve impact and stay true to their mission?

The conference is organized by Open Society Foundation (Budapest) and coordinated by Institute Analitika from Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is attended by more than 70 Directors and Senior Managers from think tanks from Western Balkans, European Union and also from Eastern European countries such as Ukraine and Georgia.  It also involves presentations from some of the most well-known think tank related personalities and experts providing special opportunity to all participants to further increase their knowledge and network about think tanks in this regional and also in broader European context.