EU for Innovation programme in Albania is funded by the European Union with additional support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as well as the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) the project aims to strengthen the eco-system for innovation and start-up promotion in Albania. The project has a budget of up to 7.539.238 EUR (EU contribution: 6.600.000 EUR, German contribution: 719.238 EUR; Swedish contribution: 220.000 EUR). The programme will be implemented by GIZ Albanian and the Swedish Embassy Tirana.

While some problems can be addressed by the Action, others – like the small size of the Albanian market and the brain drain – are considered to be part of the framework conditions under which the Action operates. This Action will focus on improving the innovation ecosystem through enhancing the innovation capacity among start-ups, innovation service providers and policy-makers; strengthening industry-science linkages and innovation networks, and providing grant funding for innovative start-ups and innovation service providers.

The potential that the Action builds on is in the political will and the reform agenda of the Albanian government. Innovation and competitiveness are high on the agenda in the key strategic documents. A number of new government initiatives for incubators and innovation hubs have been launched at the national and municipal government levels and the topic is also high on the regional agenda for the Western Balkans.

Based on this the programme is designed to create different incentives to improve the innovation ecosystem and to boost start up creation in Albania. The programme will be implemented through three different areas focusing on: Capacity for innovation among innovation ecosystem actors, Building linkages within the Albanian innovation ecosystem and internationally and Funding innovative start-ups and innovation support providers.

Download the project factsheet HERE

Project website: http://euforinnovation.al/