Promotion of innovation networks between startup ecosystems in Berlin, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina - Ecosystem Connectors Berlin, Sarajevo, Tirana

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Albania are candidates for accession to the European Union. In both countries, as in the Western Balkans as a whole, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are hugely important for creating jobs and income. In recent years, however, it has become apparent that the private sector in Albania and BiH is not yet sufficiently capable of successfully adapting to changing process and production conditions through digital and ecological innovations that allow integration into international supply chains. There is a strong political will in both countries to support this transformation, which is also reflected in a growing tech scene with innovative start-ups in various sectors in Sarajevo and Tirana.

Cooperation between the players in the economic ecosystem and innovation ecosystem is still weak in BiH and Albania. For example, there is a lack of partnerships between universities and the private sector to develop new digital or green innovations

The network project in the BLP aims to strengthen the links between the startup ecosystems of Sarajevo, Tirana and Berlin and thus contribute to a sustainable economic strengthening of the Western Balkans region and its rapprochement with the single market of the European Union. Stakeholder mapping is used to identify the partners with the greatest potential to make a positive contribution to the project. Targeted activities focusing on the development of networks, public relations, dialogue and exchange will strengthen Albanian and Bosnian-Herzegovinian start-ups and Innovation Support Organisations (ISO), especially from Sarajevo and Tirana. Networks for the promotion of female entrepreneurship in Tirana and Sarajevo will receive special support. The continuous dialogue between the actors is at the core of the project and is implemented both through study trips to Berlin and to Tirana and Sarajevo, which dock onto startup conferences in the target regions, as well as digitally. The project also aims to increase the level of awareness and visibility of the Sarajevo and Tirana regions in Berlin and thus increase the attractiveness for business connections and investments with the target regions. It also contributes to a regional exchange between the startup ecosystems in Tirana and Sarajevo. By supporting the growing young tech scene, incentives and good examples of local income generation are also created, thus helping to prevent the brain drain.

The project factsheet is available.