About Us

The Action supports the Government of Albania in achieving key objectives in the field of economic development, namely, to accelerate the transformation into a more innovation-driven and knowledge-based economy, unlocking its human capital, entrepreneurial as well as research potential and thereby increasing its competitiveness.

The specific objective of the Action is to increase maturity and exposure of the Albanian start-up and innovation ecosystem, and its stakeholders. This objective is pursued through activities in four main outputs

Project Details

EU4Innovation is funded by the European Union, with additional support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The project has a budget up to 11,750,000 EUR (EU contribution: 10 Mio. EUR; German contribution: 1.2 Mio. EUR; Swedish contribution: 550,000 EUR). The programme is implemented by GIZ Albania and Swedish Embassy Tirana.

The Albanian start-up and innovation ecosystem is nascent and ranks among the lowest entrepreneurial ecosystems in Europe. In the 2019 Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI), Albania was placed 87 out of 137 analysed economies. The business dynamics, not only considering start-ups but also micro and small enterprises are below the regional and EU average. Albania lost 4 positions in the 2019 Global Competitiveness Index ranking compared to the previous year (scoring 83 out of 137 countries). Thus, seemingly continued pre-COVID Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth did not lead to increased country competitiveness.

Inception study 1: The start-up and innovation ecosystem in Albania and its potential to connect to Europe

Inception study 2: An overview of the Research & Development and Innovation of Higher Education Institutions in Albania – Drivers and Enablers

EU4Innovation strategizes its actions along the start-up life cycle.

EU4I activates

4000 potential entrepreneurs
reached

PRE-IDEATION

EU4I as promoter

The pre-ideation program
is systematically intertwined
with all EU4I communication
activities.

EU4I engages

300 potential start-ups / entrepreneurs supported

IDEATION

EU4I as co-creator

We provide access to networks,
promote participation and drive
demand

EU4I incubates

100 start-ups have one MVP
/ prototype /
product / service

VALIDATION

EU4I as capacity builder

We develop internal
capacities of local ISO-s.
We take on a new role in
the field of Horizon Europe as
capacity builder and facilitator.

EU4I accelerates

30 start-ups are in business

GROWTH

EU4I as accelerator

Capacity building for ISOs to carry out
due diligence for start-ups, investor
relationship-building and sustainable
ISO business models.

EU4I scales & invests

5 tech scale-ups receive financial support

SCALE & INVEST

EU4I produces a pipeline of investment ready start-ups

We offer policy support to GoA, financial support for selected tech scale-ups and match a selection of the best tech start-ups with international investors.

Waste prevention and gas reduction, Tirana Municipality and GIZ Albania start the implementation of the Circular City Labs project

The Municipality of Tirana and GIZ Albania officially signed the Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate in efforts to support Albania’s green/digital transition, developing green and digital solutions for sustainable urban challenges, with a focus on the capital city, Tirana.