On 24^th April 2024, an international stakeholder event of the EU Twinning Light project “Strengthening the science and research ecosystem in Albania” was held in Tirana, Albania.

The event provided us the unique opportunity to get insights into the main results of the project and to reflect with other stakeholders of the Albanian research and innovation ecosystem upon possible next steps. The networking and matchmaking event gave possibility for discussions and partner search for inter-sectoral collaboration.

The EU-funded Twinning Light project assisted Albania in strengthening the science and research ecosystem in Albania. The 10-month project, with a budget of € 250 000. The project brought Austrian, German and Latvian experts together with Albanian colleagues to enhance the institutional capacities of National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation on implementing its mandate in line with requirements of the acquis on science and research.

Over 100 representatives of the EU, Government, State and Private Universities, enterprises, international donor organisations and civil society participated in the closing ceremony of international stakeholder event: Recommendations and matchmaking “Together for Albania’s development”

At the project closing ceremony, Ms Mirela Muca, the Director General of NASRI, emphasised the significant achievements of the Twinning project and important steps undertaken to facilitate R&I ecosystem development in Albania. Ms. Muca believes that project activities had an impact on NASRI’s development.

Mr Wolfgang Polt, the Project Leader from Joanneum Research, Austria, mentioned that “it is very important to have a joint task force between different authorities in development R&I ecosystem and taking into account the experiences and examples of other countries, the collaboration and establishment of a clear division of tasks and responsibilities facilitates the innovation and science ecosystem development”.

Meanwhile, Ms Inese Gavarane, task leader and short-term expert, underlined that this event is the start of the new phase of the development of Albanian R&I ecosystem. Albania can become one of the innovation leaders by facilitating tight collaboration between scientists and businesses.

The EU Twinning Light project was implemented by National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation of Albania with the support of  Joanneum Research, Austria in partnership with Austrian Science Fund, Austrian Research Promotion Agency, DLR Project Management Agency, Germany and Daugavpils University, Latvia.

Contact information:

Ms Inese Gavarane, task leader and short-term expert, of the Twinning Light project, inese.gavarane@du.lv