The mapping exercise described in this technical report contributes to gather evidence based information as a basis to select and define the priority areas of the Smart Specialisation Strategy of Albania.
The commitment of Albania in the Smart Specialisation process started in 2016, under the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, and currently strongly supported by the Prime Minister Office.
The quantitative analysis was started end-2020 and finalized in 2021, and was followed by the qualitative analysis that was closed end-2022.
The qualitative analysis refined the results of the quantitative mapping leading to the identification of five preliminary priority domains for the Smart Specialisation Strategy. Both quantitative and qualitative diagnostic stages dealt with relevant challenges related to data availability in the first case, and difficulties in reaching out with the stakeholders of the priority areas selected, for a number of reasons including mistrust, post-Covid effects and related constraints, as well as lack of information on Smart Specialisation.
Further exploration will be the goal of the next Entrepreneurial Discovery Process that is expected to be launched by the end of 2022.