Digital Valley Albania (DiVA), the first European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) in Albania was officially launched on the 7th of February 2025 during a kick-off event that took place in the premises of the University Metropolitan in Tirana, Albania.
DiVA, an initiative co-funded by the European Union (EU), is a project led by a consortium of distinguished partners who have emerged as key players in the Albanian innovation ecosystem including University Metropolitan Tirana (UMT), ALBICT, DigitSapiens, ABSL Albania, Cyber Morfosis, ConsciESG.
The event was honored by the presence of national and international stakeholders such as the European Commission, Delegation of the European Union in Albania, Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, GIZ & EU4Innovation, Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Startup Albania Agency, National Agency for Tourism, Albanian Tourism Association, tourism and agriculture experts and SMEs operating in the tourism and agriculture industry in Albania.
The kick-off event commenced with the opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Nikolla Civici, Rector at UMT, Mr. Andrea Ferrero from the Delegation of the European Union to Albania, Ms. Irena Malolli from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Ms. Ilva Gjuzi, Vice Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mr. Ervin Hajdaraga, Director of Technology Transfer Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Mr. Michael Oos, Project Manager at EU4Innovation.
During the event, the EU Project Officer Mr. Livio Rubino, was virtually participating and shared some welcoming remarks about the strategic importance of DiVA EDIH. All the guest speakers highlighted the importance of this four-year initiative to developing the Tourism and Agriculture sectors through digitalization.
Later, Mr. Igli Hakrama from UMT, Coordinator at DiVA, made a brief introduction to the objectives of the project, phases, and expected outcomes and invited all SMEs operating in the tourism and agriculture industries to be part of DiVA. The event was concluded with a statement from the consortium representatives such as Mr. Kushtrim Shala, ALBICT, Mr. Fation Losha, DigitSapiens, Ms. Edlira Martiri, Cyber Morfosis, Ms. Elona Poga, ABSL Albania and Ms. Briseida Gjoza from ConsciESG, who jointly stated their commitment towards the sustainability of this project and making the most out of this journey.
Digital Valley Albania (DiVA) is a four-year strategic initiative aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of Albanian SMEs, with a focus on pivotal sectors like tourism and agriculture. By integrating cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, DiVA seeks to boost digital competencies and improve Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards in line with Albania’s national priorities and the EU’s digitization goals. The initiative bridges the digital gap by offering services that include technology testing, advanced digital skills training, investment facilitation, and access to broader innovation ecosystems. DiVA is committed to fostering economic growth and enhancing competitiveness, driving lasting change across Albania’s key industries.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://divalbania.eu/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divalbania.eu/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-valley-albania-diva/posts/?feedView=all
0 comments