Albania: Emerging potential as an innovation powerhouse

In part thanks to its partnership with Eureka’s programmes, Albania is accelerating the pace of supporting its knowledge-based economy and encouraging thriving international projects. The country’s innovation sector has long confronted challenges in access to international funding and low rates of cross-border initiatives. Joining Eureka in 2021 marked a strategic leap forward in the country’s efforts to strengthen its innovation ecosystem and international standing. Top-of mind priorities included expanding opportunities for researchers and enterprises, improving collaboration between academia and industry, and connecting with global value chains to enhance competitiveness and generate scalable growth.

Eureka membership has opened new horizons for Albania’s innovators. By connecting our researchers and enterprises with international partners, it strengthens competitiveness, drives knowledge exchange, and supports sustainable growth. We are proud to be part of this network and see it as vital for our future.

Robert Dumi – Director of International Programmes, NASRI

For many years, Albania faced a range of obstacles to growth in the innovation sector, such as poor access to international funding for applied research, low levels of collaboration between academia and industry and uninspiring participation in cross-border innovation projects. These thorns in the country’s side slowed the rate of technological development and stunted business opportunities.

The Eureka projects didn’t leap out of the gate. The country’s first Network Project launched in 2025, four years after it joined Eureka, but Albania never saw that gap as concerning. Instead, being “late but enthusiastic” became a point of pride for the country, as researchers were eager to highlight the Albania’s forward-thinking ideas and projects to the entire world.

The decision to join Eureka reflected a national commitment to advancing research, technology, and innovation as key drivers of economic development. The Ministry of Education and Sports, in cooperation with the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation (NASRI), served as important sectors in the accession process, engaging universities, research institutions, and SMEs as key stakeholders.

Eureka empowers Albanian organisations to connect with leading innovators and business leaders across Europe and beyond. The first Albanian relationship to a Eureka Network project marked an integral milestone by laying the groundwork for future partnerships. The more the country can foster knowledge exchange and develop capacity-building for researchers and industry stakeholders, the more breakthroughs and novel initiatives will come to Albanian shores.

The long-term outcomes of the Eureka partnership will likely include stronger cross-border co-creation, the emergence of consequential products and services, and enhanced job creation in knowledge-intensive sectors. Joining Eureka has electrified Albania’s technology and economic industry in ways that reverberate across the region.

In the coming years, Albania seeks to increase its participation in Eureka calls by actively mobilising universities, research centres, SMEs, and industry stakeholders. Future projects will play a seminal role in addressing national challenges, such as advancing digitalisation across sectors, promoting green technologies, and fostering innovation in traditionally analogue industries.

Over time, Albania expects to level up from its newcomer status to becoming an active contributor to the Eureka community, sharing its experiences and forging long-term partnerships with future-forward organisations. The relationship with Eureka is one of mutual growth, where Albania benefits from access and collaboration, while also adding value through its emerging potential as an innovation powerhouse.