Albania, a center of innovation and development - The Smart Specialization Strategy comes into force. What are the priority areas?
Albania is on the path to transforming into a hub of innovation and development. The Smart Specialization Strategy 2024-2030 (S3) has just entered into force, which aims to identify promising areas, referred to as priority areas, with the aim of fostering innovation and sustainable development through public and private interventions.
These priority areas are identified based on the country's economic, innovative and scientific strengths, expert knowledge and dialogue with stakeholders from the private sector, academia and civil society. It is precisely this non-determination of priority areas by policymakers alone that is one of the main features of the strategic process.
Three of the priority areas of this strategy are renewable energy and natural resources, tourism, and a healthy and sustainable food chain.
The first area aims to consolidate Albania as a leader in renewable energy and sustainable resource management. This includes increasing investments in renewable energy, including liberalizing the energy market, improving procedures for granting permits and licenses for companies operating in this sector, investing in the development of smart grids and energy storage systems, increasing energy infrastructure, including the construction of technology centers and charging stations to support electric transport and others. The objective is also to expand existing mineral deposits and explore new deposits.
The tourism priority aims to attract a global audience while preserving the ecological and historical integrity of the country. The strategy supports infrastructure improvements, marketing processes, and community-based projects that enhance visitor experiences and foster local economic development.
Meanwhile, the third priority emphasizes the transition to organic agriculture and sustainable food production. It supports the adoption of practices that guarantee and improve food security, as well as reduce the environmental impact of agriculture.
In order to achieve the objectives of these priority sectors, several measures will be taken, including human capital development, support for research and innovation, support for the business environment and innovation, digitalization towards artificial intelligence and connectivity.
This strategy has been drafted in line with the European Union's enlargement strategy.
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