Disapora4Innovation, study visit to technology transfer centers, in Venice
2025-09-25 16:57:04
TiranaPost
As part of the "Diaspora4Innovation" project, a group of Albanian academics, both resident and from the diaspora, are conducting a study visit to Future Farming, one of Europe's most innovative technological infrastructures, which connects universities and the private sector.
This study visit, proposed and conceived by diaspora academic Prof. Assoc. Valentina Ndou, is a sharing of experiences for Diaspora4Innovation academics, to get acquainted with the innovative and technological projects of Future Farming and H-FARM. Academics will share their experiences, practices and gain first-hand knowledge on contemporary methods and perspectives on how research centers, industry and universities are interconnected.
During this visit, the academics will also visit H-FARM, an institute for university education on technological entrepreneurship and startup creation.
The Diaspora4Innovation project, which was officially launched in May 2024, is conceived on three main pillars: Academic Diaspora; Professional Diaspora; Diaspora as a bridge promoting and facilitating international connections.
Diaspora4Innovation is supported by the EU4Innovation project, implemented by GIZ in Albania, in collaboration with GERMIN. Diaspora academics collaborate with professors at 8 Universities in Albania, to improve the syllabi of subjects in various study programs. The academics will also collaborate on publications and scientific research, for programs funded by the European Union, such as Horizon Europe.
Participants in this study visit are the academics: Dr. Irina Branko - Lecturer and scientific researcher at the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Polytechnic University of Tirana; Dr. Blendi Shima - Lecturer, Faculty of Economics, Canadian Institute of Technology; Gentjan Ulaj - Lecturer, Faculty of Economics and Business, New York University in Tirana; Prof. As. Dr. Entelë Gavoçi - Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, at the Canadian Institute of Technology; Prof. As. Dr. Nihat Adar - Vice-Rector, Academic Affairs, at the Canadian Institute of Technology; Prof. Dr. Blerta Dragusha, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research, University of Shkodra "Luigj Gurakuqi"; Dr. Vehap Kola, Lecturer of Management at the University of New York in Tirana; Dr. Edmira Cakrani - Head of the Department of Economic Sciences and Finance, Western Balkans University; Prof. Assoc. Valentina Ndou – University of Salento (Italy); Endrit Kromidha, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom); Dr. Adelajda Matuka - Lecturer/Researcher, Department of Economics, University of Bologna (Italy) and Dr. Lisana Berberi – Researcher, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany).
The "Diaspora4Innovation" project aims to activate the intellectual capital of the Albanian diaspora - academics and professionals - to influence economic development and the creation of an interconnected and sustainable ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship in Albania.
