News archive - Albania seeks to address barriers via a comprehensive Startup & Innovation Program
Startup Nations member Florensa Haxhi, Director General, Development Programs and Cooperation Unit, from the Albanian Prime Minister's Office, shared information about the barriers to entrepreneurship her government identified and how the Startup and Innovation Program (SIP) is addressing them by creating via a multi-pronged approach: a) a National Program for startups and innovation; b) a Startup Law c) Three support centers; d) Strengthening cooperation between ecosystem actors.
Startup Nations is a global community of public sector officials and policy advisors focused on unearthing the most effective ways that local and national governments can empower entrepreneurs in their economies and increase rates of new firm formation.
The Startup and Innovation Program (SIP) – aims to coordinate development interventions in the established entrepreneurial and innovation sectors, according to a cross-cutting approach, as well as involving actors on the ground.
Startups in Albania and the entrepreneurship ecosystem are still in the early stages. The current ecosystem needs to be fully developed. According to SEE Ecosystem Report 2018, there are specific policy measures that influence start-up ecosystem, specifically enablement, education and promotion policies, and empowerment policies. In Albania in relation to enablement policies, there is a) no specific start-up strategy. Subject covered within SME related policies. Action plan to boost R&D; b) No public start-up specific institutions; c) No start-up specific legislative measures. Regarding education and promotion policies there is a) Limited public promotion; b) No national entrepreneurship or startup awards; c) Promoting Junior achievement programs in pre-university education system. Municipalities supporting local centres for development of start-up skills. Related to empowerment policies there are a) Four public funds currently provide seed funding for newly established business; b) No specific tax incentives for tech startups; c) No public smart Money; d) No public funding for support institutions.
The SIP program aims to respond to the above-mentioned needs by taking action and creating a) a National Program for start ups and innovation; b) a Startup Law c) a Supportive environment for startup and innovation by developing 3 supportive centers; d) Strengthening cooperative relationships between ecosystem actors.
Policy timeline
a. Ecosystem Assessment (2019)
i. Ecosystem Lifecycle Analysis: Identification of start-up ecosystems’ lifecycle phase;
ii. Regional (or Global) Benchmarking: Assessment of the relative positioning of our ecosystem based on detailed benchmarking against regional ecosystems;
iii. Sub-Sector Assessment: Identification of key areas of strength within the start-up ecosystem and traditional industries to capitalize on.
b. Prioritization and Alignment (June 2020)
i. Ecosystem Report: Detailed report on start-up ecosystem across relevant indicators;
ii. Prioritization of Gaps: Recommendations of what ecosystem gaps and focus areas for action should be prioritized;
iii. Review of Results: Delivery of assessment and in-depth discussion and interpretation of results;
c. Global/Regional Network (2020-2021)
i. Global Connectedness and Networking: In-person meeting and peer learning with other Members and world-leading experts
ii. Best-Practice Sharing: Exchange of best practices among Members and experts, typically at three levels:
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Government policy and program design,
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Ecosystem and community practices,
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Start-up Support Organizations and Programs;
iii. Global Partnerships and Promotion: Global Connectedness and partnerships with Members from all over the world; participating at different events to raise awareness and promote Albania.
- Albania
- Cross-thematic/Interdisciplinary
Entry created by Admin WBC-RTI.info on April 27, 2020
Modified on April 27, 2020
