S&T Country Report - Albania - WBC-INCO Net

1 Introduction
This thematic report is produced by the “Information Office of the Steering Platform
on Research for Western Balkan Countries” and reviews the situation of Innovation
Infrastructures in Albania.
The report is currently based upon desk research, as our questionnaires sent to
Albanian institutions were not answered.
The objective of this study is to enhance our understanding of the national innovation
system in Albania. An overview of the situation as regards “Innovation
Infrastructures” such as clusters, technology and innovation centres, technological
and science parks, business-start-up centres/ technology incubators and some
further related organizations is given. The general environment is described as well
as important strategic documents and the main programmes and instruments for
support. The report concludes with a list and description of the main infrastructures.
The report was compiled in summer 2007.
1.1 General Environment for Setting Up Innovation Infrastructures
This first section deals with rules and regulations, describes the national framework
and the specific funds available.
Albania has made significant progress in transition reforms in recent years but
significant challenges remain. Business environment suffers from a high level of
corruption, serious shortcomings in the judiciary, and very weak institutional and law
enforcement capacity. Despite sizeable investments in recent years, infrastructure is
far from being adequate for private sector development, including substandard road
network, lack of reliable power supply, and limited regard paid to environmental
consequences of rapidly expanding economic activity. Poverty is also a significant
issue, particularly outside the main Tirana – Durres area.
The main challenges for the new government are (The Government of Albania,
2006):
• substantial strengthening of the public sector, including an effective and
systematic fight against corruption and organised crime;
• increased efficiency and impartiality of the judiciary and public administration,
particularly the customs and the tax system; and resolution of land ownership;
• infrastructure improvements, including upgrades of the road system,
modernisation and expansion of seaports and regional airports, progress in
restructuring and privatisation of utilities to ensure reliable services,
particularly in power and telecom sectors, and greater attention paid to
environmental issues, including waste disposal and wastewater treatment as
well as environmental issues related to expansion of the private sector; and
• improving access to finance, particularly for SMEs and enterprises outside the
Tirana – Durres area, as well as improving the business environment for
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