The first edition of Plug and Play Tirana Expo kicked off yesterday at the Pyramid of Tirana, bringing together high-level institutional representatives, investors, startups, and international technology and innovation experts.
In his opening remarks, Mitchell Granoff, Chairman of AADF, emphasized the importance of this milestone for Albania’s innovation ecosystem:
“Plug and Play Tirana is a concrete step toward integrating Albania into the global network of entrepreneurship and technology,” he stated. Granoff noted that while Albania was once among the poorest countries in the region, today it is investing in its future through innovation. He highlighted AADF’s long-standing role as a supportive partner — from foundational national projects in infrastructure and education to today’s transformation of the Pyramid into a regional innovation hub.
Seema Amidi, Plug and Play’s Regional Manager for EMEA, underlined that Tirana is becoming a new technological development center in the Balkans.
“We believe that Albanian talent and the energy of this market will produce success stories with international impact,” he said.
The opening ceremony also featured remarks by Acting Mayor of Tirana, Anuela Ristani, who drew an analogy between Albania’s communist past — when October 16 was celebrated as the birthday of former leader Enver Hoxha — and the present day, where from the offices of Plug and Play one can feel the pulse of Albania’s vibrant and innovative future.
The ceremony continued with remarks by Uranik Begu, who thanked the attendees and invited to the stage the 22 winning startups from the first cohort that completed the 8-month program.
The event proceeded with a panel on industrial transformation and regional innovation, featuring experts from ExxonMobil, BNP Paribas, and startups from across the Balkans. The panel “How Albania Can Become a Regional Innovation Hub” brought forward concrete ideas for developing Tirana into a regional tech center.
In the afternoon, Arvind Gupta, founder of Digital India, delivered a keynote on the impact of technology in the age of artificial intelligence, while the panel “Breaking Barriers & Making Big Moves” focused on the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the innovation sector.
The evening concluded with a lecture by Ben Zevenbergen from Google on ethics and human values in AI development, followed by a cultural performance celebrating Albanian heritage and networking sessions between investors and startups.
The second day of Plug and Play Tirana Expo continued with panels dedicated to startups, green technologies, and social innovation. Experts and entrepreneurs shared practical insights on investment strategies, team building, and ways Albania can position itself as a regional innovation hub.
The evening concluded with a speech by Ben Zevenbergen from Google on ethics and human values in the development of AI, followed by an Albanian cultural performance and networking sessions between investors and startups.
The second day of the Plug and Play Tirana Expo continued with discussions on green technologies and social innovation. Experts shared insights on team building, attracting investment, and how Albania can transform into a regional hub for innovation.
The program wrapped up with an interactive session where startups pitched their ideas to investors, showcasing the global potential of the Albanian market.
On the same day, the grand finale of the acceleration program “Plug and Play Tirana Expo 2025” took place—an event marking a major milestone in the development of the country’s startup ecosystem. Ten Albanian startups will travel to Silicon Valley to present their innovative ideas and build partnerships with international collaborators.
The Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, emphasized the importance of creating a sustainable model to support new ventures, highlighting international cooperation and confidence in the potential of young Albanians.
“Albania is building an innovation ecosystem that supports new ideas and connects them with global markets,” stated the Minister.
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