The Horizon Europe SMEs workshop took place on July 22nd, at the GIZ Sustainability Hub in Tirana, providing a comprehensive overview of the funding opportunities available to Albanian MSMEs through the Horizon Europe programme. This event was organized by EU4Innovation, #ProSEED, and the AIDA – Albanian Investment Development Agency. In addition, the Business Chamber of Albanian Diaspora [Dhoma e Biznesit të Diasporës Shqiptare (ADBC)], the European Enterprise Network, and the German Association of Industry and Trade in Albania (DIHA Deutsche Industrie- und Handelsvereinigung in Albanien) were present in the workshop through its member companies.
The workshop began with opening remarks by Mr. Michael Oos, Project Manager at the EU4Innovation, and Ms. Laura Plaku, Executive Director of AIDA. They emphasized the importance of the MSMEs to benefit from the Horizon Europe programme, which tackles the challenges and industrial competitiveness the MSMEs face through a variety of solutions to EU policies and sustainable development goals.
Attendees were inspired by success stories from SMEs, particularly the presentation by Mr. Rubin Haxhiymeri of CARDO AI, who shared valuable lessons learned and the benefits gained from applying to the Horizon Europe programme such as Marie Curie Slodokowska Action, European Innovation Council, and others.
The workshop was followed by a technical presentation delivered by Mr. Klodjan Seferaj and Ms. Franceska Korance, both national experts from EU4Innovation. They instructed the participants on the process of application to Horizon Europe, how to find partners to build consortia, and provided examples of the current open calls for SMEs. The experts emphasized the importance of Horizon Europe in supporting innovative solutions to tackle climate change, digital transformation, and sustainable development.
A key segment of the workshop was the discussions on potential project ideas, where participants had the opportunity to brainstorm and engage in a Q&A session to address their specific queries and concerns. Many questions addressed the finance and legal aspects of Horizon Europe, and how to identify partners.
The event concluded with a networking coffee session. The findings and recommendations from this workshop will guide future actions by EU4Innovation, ProSEED, and AIDA to support the Albanian business community in overcoming barriers and maximizing the benefits of the Horizon Europe programme.
