Innovation. Media. Minds In the western balkans program
Funded by the European Union, the Innovation. Media. Minds: Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans Program, is managed by the Goethe-Institut on behalf of the European Commission and in collaboration with its implementing partner DW Akademie.
Focusing on public service broadcasters, the Innovation. Media. Minds (IMM) Program aims to enhance content and engage audiences. Implemented from September 2023 to August 2026, the program has three objectives:
to elevate public service media content production
to foster an environment of creativity, innovation and regional cooperation
to ensure that public service media remain at the forefront of quality journalism
The three pillars of the IMM Program, support to public service media, support to journalists and financial support, are closely interconnected. These include:
– support to public service media through cooperative needs analysis, capacity building, study visits and in-house support
– support to journalists through innovation labs, hackathons, multimedia workshops, training of trainers
– financial support for innovation projects, seed funding, independent investigative media, regional cooperation and international mobility grants
Our grants offer opportunities for new project ideas, helping to address specific challenges and support impactful journalism. Discover the different types of grants available, how to apply, and how these funds have already contributed to meaningful change in the region.
Our events serve as dynamic platforms for knowledge exchange, strategic discussions, and fostering collaboration among key stakeholders. Find out how our events contribute to quality journalism and strengthen the role of public service media in the Western Balkans.
Behind every grant, event and initiative, there are stories of progress, collaboration and transformation. Explore the journeys of media professionals and public service broadcasters who are developing new formats, strengthening editorial practices and connecting with audiences in meaningful ways.
Financial support plays a pivotal role by providing opportunities for co-financing newly developed project ideas, addressing specific needs and challenges faced by public service media (PSM) and media professionals in the Western Balkans.
Within the Program, the following types of grants are provided:
– Innovation Projects: PSM committed to the Program can apply for grants to support innovation projects, which may include initiatives such as mobile journalism sets for reporting, production, trainings, equipment and regional staff exchanges. Amount: Up to 50.000 EUR.
– Grants for Regional Co-production: PSM in the Western Balkans can apply for grants to produce stories of regional importance with contributions from journalists in other regional PSM. This fosters collaboration and a shared regional perspective. Amount: Up to 20.000 EUR.
– International Mobility Grants: Job shadowing opportunities focused on enhancing professional skills and knowledge related to the modern EU standards and practices in journalism. Amount: Up to 4.000 EUR.
– Seed Grants: These grants are intended to provide financial support exclusively in conjunction with individually tailored consulting, training, and/or mentoring programs. They aim to kickstart innovative ideas generated during various program activities. Amount: Up to 5.000 EUR.
– Grants for Independent Investigative Media: These grants support independent research and production groups to create content that will be broadcasted by a partner PSM. The aim of these grants is to promote independence and diversification on crucial cultural and social topics. Amount: Up to 30.000 EUR.
Estimated results
improved management skills, internal structures and workflows of PSB, and improved programming and public interest content,
improved skills and innovation techniques of media Professionals, with a focus on young journalists, multipliers and trainers, concerning quality journalism audience involvement and
engagement and expanded Cooperation and networking capacity of PSM.
We are delighted to announce the results of the second call for innovation project grants for Western Balkan public service media. Five Western Balkan public service broadcasters received up to 60,000 euros for their innovation projects to improve their content, engage new audiences, and address issues ranging from youth engagement, accessibility for the disabled, cultural heritage preservation, sustainability, and the integration of new technologies.
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Contacts
Georgia Trismpioti
Regional Team Leader EU Program “Innovation.Media.Minds" Support to the Public Service Media in Western Balkans
Goethe-Institut Athen
Regional Events and Advocacy Manager EU-funded Program "Innovation. Media. Minds: Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans"
Goethe-Institut Athen
For the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of contributing to the Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT), where I currently lead the Graphics Department. My journey in media production has been rich with experiences in graphics, visual effects and television production. The significant milestone in my professional development was a recent opportunity to participate in a specialized Vizrt software training in Belgrade, as part of my mobility grant within the EU’s Innovation. Media. Minds Program: Support to Public Service Journalism in Western Balkans.
Co-hosted with Macedonian Radio Television (MRT), the EU-funded Innovation. Media. Minds. Program held its First Semi-Annual Western Balkan Public Service Broadcasters’ Meeting from 24–26 February 2025 in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Maja Argakijeva
Maja Argakijeva
Bridging Technology and Creativity: My Vizrt Training Story from Belgrade
By Alen Pavić, Head of Graphics Department, BHRT
For the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of contributing to the Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT), where I currently lead the Graphics Department. My journey in media production has been rich with experiences in graphics, visual effects and television production.
Spending ten days with the Albanian Language Department at Deutsche Welle (DW) in Bonn, Germany through the EU Innovation. Media. Minds. Program’s International Mobility Grant, provided invaluable insights into ethical reporting practices—particularly on sensitive and tragic events—and reshaped my approach to journalism.
EU-funded Innovation. Media. Minds. Program, is holding a workshop for Bosnian national broadcaster BHRT on program promotion from 10 -14 February 2025 in Sarajevo, BiH. The training includes overview of current processes, challenges and opportunities, drawing on examples from other public service media such as Deutsche Welle (DW) and Croatia’s HRT.
The opportunity to visit Croatian National Television (HRT) through the EU Innovation. Media. Minds. Program’s international mobility grant was one I eagerly embraced. Beyond the professional insights I hoped to gain, this visit turned out to be a deeply meaningful experience, connecting me to shared histories and cultures between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
Five independent media organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia have been awarded EU-funded production grants through the Innovation. Media. Minds. Program. These grants aim to strengthen collaboration between independent media and public service broadcasters (PSBs) while fostering impactful journalism on key regional issues such as European Union integration, climate justice, corruption, disinformation, and mental health.
The EU Innovation. Media. Minds. Program has awarded International Mobility Grants to nine media professionals from public service broadcasters in the Western Balkans. These recipients will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at esteemed media institutions across the European Union (EU) and the region.
Join us for online info sessions, where the Goethe-Institute will provide detailed insights about the Call for production grants for independent media and media organisations in the Western Balkans. The sessions will help potential applicants to better understand the requirements of the call and the application process.
Join us for online info sessions, where the Goethe-Institute will provide detailed insights about the Call for production grants for independent media and media organisations in the Western Balkans. The sessions will help potential applicants to better understand the requirements of the call and the application process.
The EU-funded Innovation. Media. Minds.: Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans Program is pleased to announce the first open call for independent media and media organisations in the Western Balkans.
Five public service broadcasters in the Western Balkans—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo*, and Serbia—have each been awarded €60,000 EU grants to co-finance their innovation projects over the next 12 months. These initiatives focus on advancing children, youth and minority programming, upgrading technology, improving content, and boosting community engagement.
The EU-funded Innovation. Media. Minds.: Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans Program is pleased to announce the first open call for independent media and media organisations in the Western Balkans.
Join us for online info sessions, where the Goethe-Institute will provide detailed insights about the Call for production grants for independent media and media organisations in the Western Balkans. The sessions will help potential applicants to better understand the requirements of the call and the application process.
The Innovation. Media. Minds.: Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans Program opens a first call for the International mobility grants for media professionals affiliated with Western Balkan Public Service Media (PSM).
With deadline for the first call for international mobility grants extended until 18 September, 2024, the Innovation. Media. Minds. EU Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans Program, is holding another joint info session on 10 September 2024 at 11:00 CET.
The Innovation. Media. Minds.: Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans Program opens a call for financial support of the Western Balkan public service media participating in in the Innovation. Media. Minds Program
Information sessions for the first public call for Innovation project grants within the Innovation. Media. Minds. Program: EU Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans were held over the course of the past month. The Program is implemented by the Goethe-Institut on behalf of the European Commission, with its implementing partner DW Academy.
During the online informative session, Goethe-Institute will provide detailed information regarding the Call for International mobility grants to help potential applicants better understand the content and requirements of the Call.
EU-funded Innovation. Media. Minds. Program, is holding a workshop for Bosnian national broadcaster BHRT on program promotion from 10 -14 February 2025 in Sarajevo, BiH. The training includes overview of current processes, challenges and opportunities, drawing on examples from other public service media such as Deutsche Welle (DW) and Croatia’s HRT.
“We are a great group of young people. We had good and fun times, shared many nice ideas, and built strong friendships. We’re constantly communicating, collaborating, and improving our projects. Regardless of the result, we now have 30 new friends, and that’s what matters most,” said Vedran Prodić, Editor-in-Chief of the Youth Program at BH Radio 1, ahead of the EU’s Innovation. Media. Minds. (IMM) Next Gen Media Expo held in Belgrade on November 1, 2024.
Tirana, Albania, September 29 - October 6, 2024 – Young media professionals from seven public broadcasters across the Western Balkans, alongside university students, influencers, and colleagues from other media outlets and organizations, gathered in Tirana for the NextGen Media Lab (NML). This week-long event is part of the European Union’s (EU) Innovation. Media. Minds. (IMM) Program, which supports public service journalism in the Western Balkans.
28. May, Budva, Montenegro – In a significant move to advance public service journalism in the Western Balkans, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Director Generals of seven public service broadcasters, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut and DW Akademie.
Bonn, Mainz (14-20 April, 2024) - As part of the European Union (EU) Program “Innovation. Media. Minds.: Support to Public Service Journalism in Western Balkans” managed by the Goethe Institut on behalf of the European Commission and its implementing partner DW Akademie representatives from six Western Balkan public service media completed a week-long visit to DW News headquarters in Bonn and ZDF in Mainz from 14 – 19 April 2024.
