P A C I N N O Platform for trans-Academic Cooperation in Innovation

PACINNO
Platform for trans-Academic Cooperation in Innovation
NEWSLETTER October 2014
The first Albanian newsletter of the PACINNO project (November 2013 – October 2014)
summarizes useful information on the project and outlines past project activities.
The goal of PACINNO is to establish a platform for cooperation in research
and innovation covering the whole Adriatic region. Targeting both research
institutions, policy makers and business entities, the project will help
develop new bridges between the research and scientific activities, carried
out at academic institutions, and the economic system, with specific
reference to the technological needs of SMEs.
3rd Management Board Meeting
University of Tirana held the 3rd
Management Board Meeting on
29th September 2014 in Tirana
International Hotel.
The Management Board Meeting
was attended by all staff of
Pacinno project partners.
Management Board Meeting was divided into two
sessions:
 Morning Session in which was discussed on all
the activities and concerns of each WP.
 Expert Group Meeting / Parallel Sessions,
where discussions were held in three parallel
groups:
Expert Group Meeting for WP1 and WP 2;
Expert Group Meeting for WP4, WP5 and WP6;
Expert Group Meeting for WP7, WP8 and WP9.
In these parallel sessions the various working
packages were analyzed and the partnership
decided action plans to be implemented for the
future timeframe.
Public Policy Conference "Innovation in Albania /
Challenges & Opportunities"
On 30 September 2014, 09:30 am, at the Tirana International Hotel, The
University of Tirana, under the PACINNO project organized The Public Policy
Conference "Innovation in Albania / Challenges & Opportunities".
The conference was attended by
Prof.Dr. Dhori Kule, Rector of the
University of Tirana, Mrs. Lindita
Nikolla, Minister of Education and
Sports, Mr. Erion Veliaj, Minister of
Social Welfare and Youth,
Mr. Nikolin Jaka, President of the
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, Prof.Dr. Andrea Tracogna,
Pacinno Project Coordinator,
University of Trieste, Directors of
Faculties of the University of Tirana,
Agency for Research, Technology
and Innovation (ARTI), Albania's
Agency for Investment Development
(AIDA), Protik Innovation Center,
representatives from Ministry of
Culture, representatives from the
Ministry
of Innovation, representatives of
companies in the field of innovation,
youth and students involved in
entrepreneurships start-ups and
innovation. This Conference was
attended by over 100 Participants.
Since it was the first Public Policy
Conference held in Albania, there
were
presented the goals, aims,
objectives and outcomes intended
to be achieved through the project,
in the framework of increasing
cooperation between countries of
the Adriatic in support of
innovation,technology transfer and
promoting SME and innovative
Startup-s in the Adriatic region.
The purpose of the
conference was to give an
overview on the state of
innovation in Albania,
technology use by businesses,
the possibility of using the
potentials as well as support
that the University of Tirana
and Pacinno project could
and will provide. The
conference highlighted the
issues and challenges facing
our country in the field of
innovation and the concrete
steps being taken by the
respective institutions.
The Public Policy Conference
"Innovation in Albania:
Challenges and
Opportunities" was held in
the function of the main
purpose project: creating a
platform for cooperation in
research and innovation that
covers all Adriatic region,
creating a new ecosystem of
technology transfer and
innovation in general. The
conference had a wide media
coverage.
The conference was divided into three parts:
In the first part of the conference was held the
opening ceremony, during which were presented
the project goals and challenges of the Pacinno
project, the role of the University of Tirana and the
role of government institutions in the field of
innovation
and
entrepreneurship
support.
In this part of the conference held the welcome
speech Prof.Dr. Dhori Kule, Rector of the University
of Tirana, Mrs. Lindita Nikolla, Minister of
Education and Sports, Mr. Erion Veliaj, Minister of
Social Welfare and Youth, Mr. Nikolin Jaka,
President of the Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, Prof.Dr. Andrea Tracogna, Pacinno Project
Coordinator, University of Trieste.
Initiatives” and Mr. Dritan Mezini – The Executive
Director of DM Consulting Services who presented:
“Present and Future challenges for Start- Ups”.
In the third part of the conference was held a
round table with stakeholders in the field of
innovation in the country (representatives of
government agencies, businesses and academia), to
discuss the Albania´s challenges and
opportunities in using and adapting best technology,
particularly in the area of service businesses and
manufacturing.
These are various issues discuss from the round
table:
In the second part of the
conference were held
presentations on the
government's innovation
strategy, the macroeconomic
situation and future
challenges, and the role of
academia and business in
creating an effective
ecosystem in the filed of
innovation.
In this part of the Conference
made their presentations Mr.
Claudio Cozza who talked
about “Mapping the
Innovation Systems of
Pacinno Countries.
Methodology and the case of
Albania”; Mrs. Edlira Kasaj –
The Executive Director of
Protik Innovation Center who
held a presentation on “ The
Albanian Innovation
Ecosystem: The role of
private business”; The
representative from the
University of Tirana and also
one of the researchers of the
Pacinno project, Mr. Genc
Alimehmeti who held the
topic on “The Role of Higher
Education System in
Enhancing Innovation and
Supporting Start-Up
• Development of cooperation between academic
institutions and businesses;
• Strengthen relationships between academic
institutions and businesses;
• Sustainability of the project on time, even after its
completion;
• Sharing Information between academic
institutions and businesses;
• The value of the results that Pacinno project gains
from the research work;
• Exchange of experiences between academic institutions and businesses;
• Pre-Evaluation of the level of innovation companies in the micro and macro
level;
• Involvement of governmental institutions in this conference, as well as the
contribution that these institutions can provide during the project, as its
target group;
• Encourage and promote innovation in Albania;
• Evaluation of policies undertaken in the framework of innovation and
measuring their impact;
• Promote innovative enterprises through cooperation between different
actors and interest groups at the national and international level;
• Establish a basis for regional innovation ecosystem that can be supportive
to innovative ventures in the country;
• Transfer of best practices related to innovation;
• To present the Policy Recommendations, to promote the links between
academia and local institutions and to disseminate scientific findings;
• The fisrt input in providing a complete map of the national innovation
system and applied policies;
• Generating new policy available to public and private interested parties and
policy makers in the region;
• Promote the creation of high-tech companies within regional scientific
institutions with the aim of promoting and consolidating their market and
realize their growth potential;
• Strengthen human resources through management training and
mentoring;
• The cooperation of public and private institutions, their resources to
encourage new results;
• Generating innovation in academic institutions and the business system;
• Provide suggestions for policy makers at local and international level;
• Increase the research level;
• Improve business models;
• Increase the competitiveness of businesses in the local and regional level;
• Promote the creation of a new ecosystem at national and regional level.
Participation of the Pacinno project Coordinator, Mr. Andrea
Tracogna and Albania Team Leader, Mrs. Bruna Niçka in the
morning program "Wake Up" on TOP ChANNEL TV
Within Public Policy Conference "Innovation in Albania / Challenges &
Opportunities" the Pacinno Project Coordinator, Mr. Andrea Tracogna and
Albania Team Leader, Mrs. Bruna Niçka participated in the morning
program “Wake Up” on Top Channel TV, where they presented Pacinno
project scope, goals, objectives, activities that are being and to be
undertaken under the project and the results that are expected from this
project. Also they talked about the vision of the Pacinno project on
innovation and economic development and its influence in the Adriatic
region.
Mr. Tracogna and Mrs. Niçka also spoke on the topic of innovation, in which
they mentioned the problems that our country and the Adriatic region faces,
as well as the challenges that the Pacinno project should take within the
development of innovation.
“Mapo”,“Koha Jone” and “Gazeta SOT” newsletters wrote in
the framework of the Conference "Innovation in Albania /
Challenges and Opportunities" which was held in 30th
September 2014
On 1st October 2014 "Koha Jone"
newsletter, covered the participation of the
Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, Mr.
Veliaj and Mrs. Lindita Nikolla Minister of
Education and Sport, as an important
support of the government to such projetcs
and connected the Pacinno project aims
with the education for a common purpose
on the development of new bridges of
cooperation between academic institutions
and businesses in the context of innovation,
which will help mostly businesses, but will
be in function especially of the youth.
On 1st October 2014 "Mapo" newsletter
covered the participation of the Minister of
Social Welfare and Youth, Mr. Veliaj,
regarding the Government that has turned
the Innovation into one of the three main
priorities together with Security and
Progress. And this for a reason already
known: Technology and Innovation have a
huge impact on economic development and
the opportunity for new jobs.
On 1st October 2014 “Gazeta SOT” newsletter covered the participation of the Minister of
Education and Sport, Mrs. Lindita Nikolla, in the framework of Public Policy Conference
“Innovation in Albania: Challenges and Opportunities” regarding challenges of our country in the
field of technology by businesses as well as concrete steps to be taken by the relevant
institutions as an important element that can be done in the field of innovation.
Mr. Veliaj mentioned that innovation may be the safest way of development
for a country like Albania. The projects such as PACINNO are welcomed as
they provide the possibility of transfer of knowledge and technologies in an
inter-regional frame and also enable the integration in cross-regional joint.
Establishment of the TTOffice in the Rectorate of the
University of Tirana
TTOffice is now functional inside the Rectorate of the University of Tirana.
Also the University of Tirana has selected the TTO manager, who has started
working immediately with the activities that he must develop regarding the
events for start-ups, in the form of demo days, workshops, consultation
events etc.
TTO Manager participated in the
“7 pa 5” morning program on the
Vizion Plus TV
TTO manager participated on the “RTSH”
radio
Our TTO manager have spoken on the “RTSH”
National radio regarding the development of StartUps, development of Demo Day and the
establishment of the TTO in the Rectorate of the
University of Tirana.
Mr. Dyrmishi talked about the benefits that will
have the students, and also the development of
business ideas and skills from these activities
undertaken under the Pacinno project. He
explained the activities that will be undertaken on
the basis of Start-Ups and Demo Day from the
project, as well as explained the value they have on
development of innovation.
Mr. Dyrmishi presented the Pacinno project scope
and functions, as well as the importance of the
project in view of innovation.
Our TTO manager, Indri
Dyrmishi, participated on the
“Vizion Plus” National TV in the
morning program “7 pa 5”, to
talk about the development of
Start-Ups and Demo Day under
the Pacinno project. Also he
presented Pacinno project and
its purpose in this program, as
well as the function of Start-Ups
and Demo Day in order to
increase innovation in Albania,
business and knowledge
development.
Mr. Dyrmishi explained in
details how these activities will
be established and how they will
be developed under the Pacinno
project, as well as the benefits
that students will have from this
experience.
Also he spoke on the
establishment of the TTO in the
Rectorate of the University of
Tirana. He explained the
importance and value of this
office and its function in support
of innovation within the
framework of the Pacinno
project.
TTO will serve as a bridge and
will promote innovative
entrepreneurship through
cooperation between different
actors and interest groups at
national and international level.
TTO will focus on connecting
local/national academic
institutions and SMEs on a
common platform
He also spoke on the organization of Public Policy Conference "Innovation in
Albania / Challenges and Opportunities" by the University of Tirana. He introduced
the purpose of the conference, as well as its function within the Pacinno project.
Development of workshops
in the framework of startups / CO-INVEST
University of Tirana, after having
selected the project teams, who will
participate in the development of
workshops within the start-ups of
CO-INVEST program, has enabled
the attendance of these workshops,
which are held by responsible
partner, Slovenia, under the COINVEST program.
In total there are four groups of
students attending the workshops, a
total of ten people. Groups have
followed four workshops until now
and at the end of each workshop
have made their presentations.
Groups will attend lectures to obtain
knowledge and experience, which
will serve them in their objectives in the future.
UT representatives participated in the “Training for Trainers”
workshop in Ljubljana, Slovenia
UT representatives participated in the
“Training for Trainers” workshop
organized in Ljubljana, Slovenia on 911 July 2014.
During this workshop was given
knowledge on how to execute training
for projects and endorse common
methodology of startup training in
Slovenia.
Also, during the training was presented the methodology of organizing demo
days and the virtual platform, which will be used by local startup trainers in
the training process to assure uniform quality of educational activities.
Trainers were able to follow five sessions:
1. Segmentation,
2. Customer profiling,
3. Product building and rapid prototyping,
4. Metrics and analysis and
5. Pitching and investment process.
This program has made possible
knowledge to UT trainers, to develop it
effectively to wp8 activities in Albania.
UT representatives participated in the 2nd Management Board
Meeting in Rijeka
UT Pacinno team representatives, Mrs. Bruna Niçka, Mrs. Erjona Kalia, Mrs.
Blerina Beshku, Mrs. Marisa Dhoska, Mrs. Sidita Dibra and the members of the
Advisory Board, Mrs. Silvana Xhaferaj and Mrs. Erika Grabocka participated in the
2nd Management Board Meeting held in Rijeka, Croatia organized by the University
of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine. UT representative discussed for the all the issues
raised within the 2nd Management Board Meeting.