EU for Innovation jointly with Polis University had the pleasure to host Deputy Director General DG R&I and Open Innovation, and Chef Negotiator for Horizon Europe, Ms. Signe Ratso, at the premises of Polis & Innovation Factory. This was a side-event organized in the context of the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Platforms on Culture, on Research and Innovation, on Education and Training, which took place on June 27th-28th, in Tirana.
The purpose of this visit was to meet and exchange with representatives and key players from the Albanian research and innovation ecosystem, as well as active participants of H2020. After the keynote speech of Deputy Director General DG R&I Ms. Signe Ratso, quite some interesting questions were posed by the attendees, focusing mainly on the perspective of how small countries like Albania could look at examples such as Estonia, take actions and stand out in regard to improving capacities and the ecosystem for research and innovation.
Finally, the guests paid a visit to the Innovation Factory, which showcases a successful example of a multi-donor action where synergies between implementers: GIZ (technical assistance) & Sida (financial support) are matched with the commitment & financial input of the beneficiary – the University in this case. These are fully utilized to bring into life a modern Fabrication Laboratory or Makerspace. The Innovation Factory serves not only university students and graduates, but also the entrepreneurial community in Albania, be it start-ups or aspiring entrepreneurs, who have the possibility to test and materialize their ideas, by the means of digital fabrication, prototyping and 3D printing.
