WESTERN BALKANS REGIONAL R&D

STRATEGY FOR INNOVATION

COUNTRY PAPER SERIES

ALBANIA

WORLD BANK TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT (P123211)

OCTOBER 2013

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

ACRONYMS

ACES Albanian Centers of Excellence in Science

AIDA Albanian Investment and Development Agency
ANE Albanian Export Agency
ANIH Albanian Investment Agency
AREF Albanian Reconstruction Equity Fund
ARTI Agency for Research, Technology and Innovation
BITS Business Innovation and Technology Strategy
BRIC Business Relay and Innovation Centre
CARDS Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilization
CEEOL Central and Eastern European Online Library
EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ECA Europe and Central Asia
EIB European Investment Bank
EIF European Investment Fund
EPO European Patent Office
ERA European Research Area
EU European Union
FP6 Framework Program 6
FP7 Framework Program 7
FTE Full Time Equivalent
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GERD Gross Expenditure on R&D
HEIs Higher Education Institutions
IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICT Information and Communication Technologies
IFC International Finance Corporation
IP Intellectual Property
IPA Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance
IPRs Intellectual Property Rights
IT Information Technology
KEI Knowledge Economy Index
MDGs Millennium Development Goals
METE Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy
MITIK Ministry of Innovation and ICT
MoES Ministry of Education and Science
NAIS National Agency for Information Society
NGOs Non-governmental Organizations
NSTTI National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation
OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

PAAHE Public Agency for Accreditation of Higher Education

PCT Patent Cooperation Treaty
PROs Public Research Organizations
R&D Research and Development
RDI Research Development and Innovation
RTDI Research, Technology Development and Innovation
S&E Science and Engineering
S&T Science and Technology
SAA Stabilization and Association Agreement
SME Small and Medium-size Enterprises
SMEA Small-Medium Enterprises Agency
UNDP United Nations Development Program
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
WBCs Western Balkan Countries

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

FOREWORD

This Paper was prepared under the Western Balkans Regional R&D Strategy for Innovation -- World
Bank Technical Assistance Project funded by the European Commission (DG ENLARG – TF011064), as
part of the Country Paper Series.
The Country Paper Series aims to provide for each project beneficiary (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia, Kosovo*, 1 FYR Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) a brief profile of the current conditions of
the national research system (rather than an exhaustive assessment of the country’s national innovation
system). Emphasis on selected issues reflected the priorities identified by participants during the
implementation of the Technical Assistance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This Country Series Paper: Albania was prepared by the World Bank team led by Paulo Correa (Lead
Economist, World Bank) and Pluvia Zuniga (Senior Economist, World Bank) and comprised of Donato
De Rosa (Sr. Economist, World Bank), Dusan Vujovic, Qursum Qasim, and Hari Subhash (World Bank
Consultants). The Paper was prepared under the guidance of Ellen Goldstein (Country Director, ECCU4),
Gerardo Corrochano (Sector Director, ECSPF), and Lalit Raina (Sector Manager, ECSF3).
The team would like to acknowledge the valuable inputs and comments provided by Edmond Agolli
(Director of National Programs, Agency for Research, Technology and Innovation), Salvator Bushati
(General Scientific Secretary, Academy of Science), Odeta Kromici (Director of Information Technology
Directorate, Ministry of Finance), Endri Mataj (former Advisor to the Prime Minister, Cabinet of the
Prime Minister), and Dritan Mezini (Project Manager, GIZ & DM Consulting Service).
The note was prepared in January 2012 - June 2013 with data available until December, 2012.
Contact Person: Paulo Correa ([email protected])

DISCLAIMER

The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect the view of the World Bank or the Government of the respective country.

*1This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo
Declaration of Independence.

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 7

INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................. 9

IMPORTANCE OF R&D AND INNOVATION ................................................................................................... 10

1. WHERE THE COUNTRY STANDS ...................................................................................................... 11

Economic Performance and Structure .................................................................................................. 11
R&D and Innovation Trends ................................................................................................................ 12

2. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION SYSTEM, AND ITS CHALLENGES .......................... 19

Need for a Systemic View .................................................................................................................... 20
Need for Good Governance .................................................................................................................. 20
Key Stakeholders .................................................................................................................................. 21
Research Agencies ............................................................................................................................... 22
Policy Formulation and System Governance ....................................................................................... 22
Implementation and Financing Agencies ............................................................................................. 23

3. POLICY DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................................... 24

National Strategy .................................................................................................................................. 24
Monitoring, Policy Evaluation, and Statistics ...................................................................................... 25
Policy Reforms under Implementation ................................................................................................. 25

4. FUNDING AND POLICY INSTRUMENTS ............................................................................................. 27

Research Funding –Public Research Institutions and PROs ................................................................ 27
Private Sector R&D and Innovation Incentives ................................................................................... 28

5. INTEGRATION TO ERA AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION .................................................... 29

6. CONCLUSIONS: POLICY CHALLENGES AND PENDING REFORMS .................................................... 30

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................... 31

ANNEX ........................................................................................................................................................ 34

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

Boxes
Box 1: The state of scientific performance in Albania ............................................................................... 16
Box 2: The Brain Gain Program ................................................................................................................. 26
Box 3: The IPR system in Albania –recent developments.......................................................................... 28
Box A 1: Policy initiatives in the National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation –Selected
Programs ..................................................................................................................................................... 35

Figures
Figure 1: Albania performance on key variables in comparison to Europe and Central Asia .................... 17
Figure 2: Knowledge Economy Index (KEI) pillars – Albania vs. Europe and Central Asia..................... 18

Tables
Table 1: Research Specialization Areas in the WBCs (Activity Index (AI) of the total volume of
publications over the period 2003-2010......................................................................................... 16
Table 2: Number of quality certificates ...................................................................................................... 17
Table 3: Financing of R&D in public research organizations and HEI (by source of funding) ................. 27
Table A 1: Legal Framework for Scientific Research and Technological Development ........................... 34
Table A 2: Statistical Profile ....................................................................................................................... 36
Table A 3: Broad share of available budgets by main categories of research and innovation measures .... 37
Table A 4: Innovation budgets of the main government departments and agencies ................................... 38
Table A 5: FP7 proposals and success rates ............................................................................................... 38
Table A 6: FP7 proposals and success rates ............................................................................................... 39
Table A 7: IPA Programs per component ................................................................................................... 39

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. As part of its efforts to integrate into the research systems. The country does not have a
larger European economy and research area, and critical mass of specialized researchers, nor does
in line with its Stabilization and Association it have sufficient infrastructure and funding for
Agreement (SAA) signed with the European research excellence. It is not adequately
Union (EU) in June 2006, Albania has capitalizing on knowledge from skilled nationals
undertaken a number of strategic reforms and abroad through enhanced innovation linkages,
has adopted policies aimed at developing its much less reversing migration trends by
research, development, and innovation (RDI) providing professionals new and better
system. The country reorganized the Academy employment opportunities. Without an
of Sciences to reflect the model used by many enhanced program of RDI, the country will
other European countries. Higher education remain a source of low technology (and low
autonomy has been enhanced; curricula and value added) exports, which, together with the
education standards have been revised; self-imposed exile of its scientific talent, will
monitoring and quality auditing mechanisms delay if not altogether divert its development
have been adopted; and higher education public path away from more rapid growth based on
institutions have been integrated with research higher technology and valued added goods and
institutes to enhance research capabilities. In services.
2009, the nation prepared its first national
4. Top priorities for national action, in line
strategy for innovation.
with Albania’s National Strategy of Science,
2. The government has implemented Technology, and Innovation, as well as the
reforms in the governance of innovation policy, broader Western Balkans Innovation Strategy
regarding its design and implementation, by re- being developed in collaboration with the World
allocating decision-making authority and Bank and the EU, include the following:
implementation in new operating and
 Strengthen the integration of the R&D and
coordinating bodies. An example of this is the
innovation system through explicit
creation of the Agency for Research,
programs to increase official and citizen
Technology and Innovation (ARTI) in March,
understanding of the linkages between
2010. The government is also taking steps
research, development, and innovation
toward more effective consultation and dialogue
among key stakeholders, and improve
with stakeholders, while also establishing new
system governance;
funding programs to support technology
 Improve the basic research infrastructure to
transfer.
sufficiently support university training at
3. Profound challenges remain, however. three levels (BSc, MSc, and PhD);
Albania lags substantially behind other Western  Create scientific excellence in key research
Balkan and EU countries in terms of research areas;
capabilities and innovation. Among the most  Educate, retrain, retain, and attract
important constraints to the successful qualified people into the Albanian research
implementation of research and innovation system;
policy are the lack of human capital, low levels
of public financing, and weak governance of

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 Strengthen links between science and (data collection according to the

companies to foster innovation as a basis Organisation for Economic Co-operation
for future growth and job creation; and and Development (OECD) indicators).
 Enhance the quality of research and the
measurement and evaluation of research

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

INTRODUCTION

5. There is growing worldwide awareness of the critical role that innovation plays in economic
development. In April, 2009, in Sarajevo, the Western Balkan Countries (WBCs) signed a Ministerial
Joint Statement calling for enhanced regional cooperation to promote innovation. The European Union
(EU) has been at the forefront of this approach, urging member countries to spend more and better on
research and innovation. To support the effort in the Western Balkans, the EU contracted the World Bank
in June, 2011, to assist the region in developing a Regional R&D Strategy for Innovation.
6. A two-pronged strategy is emerging, following extensive and multiple consultations with public
and private sector representatives. This strategy combines: (i) the advocacy of policy reforms at the
national level to improve the impact of research and innovation on economic growth and job creation for
the long term; and, (ii) joint investments in selected regional initiatives that will help alleviate existing
bottlenecks in the short-to-medium term. At the national level, countries will need to substantially
enhance Research and Development (R&D) investment on a sustained basis, and transform national
innovation systems – the research base, public institutions, private sector, market actors, and linkages
across them – into more effective, coherent, and competitive systems. In this process, enabling policy
frameworks and offering adequate incentives to actors are crucial to stimulate new ideas, their transfer to
industry, and private sector investment in risky and long-term projects related to innovation.
7. In the context of the recent economic downturn, many developed countries have increased
investment in R&D and have used innovation policy as a counter-cyclical instrument to secure new
sources of growth. If WBCs do not emulate such efforts and increase investment in knowledge, the gap –
both technological and economic – between WBCs and their future EU partners may increase. To avoid
this, governments will, in short, need to spend more and better in research and innovation.
8. This note describes Albania’s profile in terms of R&D capacity, and discusses the main features
of the national research system, its strengths and weaknesses, recent policy trends, and challenges. The
first section details the importance of R&D for innovation and economic development and growth. The
second section briefly describes national trends in both economic performance, and R&D and innovation.
The third section outlines the governance system for research, the process of policy making, main
agencies, and actors, and briefly discusses recent national strategies for research and innovation. Section
five reports the current policy programs and instruments and other important policy developments. The
note concludes with a discussion of remaining challenges in the area of research and development, and
identifies potential policy areas suitable to policy collaboration among the WBCs.

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IMPORTANCE OF R&D AND INNOVATION

9. The capacities to undertake scientific and applied industrial research, and to transfer, adapt and
assimilate new technologies into economic structures and diffuse them into society, are critical to national
competitiveness and growth, as nearly everyone can perceive from the ferocious pace of technological
change in consumer goods alone.
10. Ample and compelling evidence confirms this perception. Several international studies
demonstrate that increases in R&D spending result in a corresponding increase in productivity, leading to
per capita income growth. R&D and productivity mutually reinforce each other and lead countries to
long-term sustained growth rates. At the country level, R&D explains up to 75 percent of the differences
in total factor productivity growth rates, once externalities are taken into consideration.2 At the firm level,
R&D expenditures of enterprises are often correlated to higher sales and productivity growth, as well as
propensity to export. Furthermore, product innovation, which results from R&D efforts, leads to
employment growth and more qualified and better paid jobs by expanding demand and new business
opportunities.3
11. The potential impact of investments in research and innovation on productivity growth is even
higher for developing countries, given the opportunity for “catching up” associated with larger
investments in innovation.4
12. Results from a study using firm-level data for the Western Balkans show that innovative firms
grow 15 percent faster in sales and 8 percent faster in labor productivity than non-innovative firms.5
Business R&D expenditures significantly contribute to growth in sales by 14 percent and labor
productivity by 7 percent. Furthermore, when firm R&D, training, and infrastructure services are
compared, R&D is shown to have the highest correlation to sales growth.
13. For neighboring countries, similar evidence is reported. Reaching the Lisbon Agenda target
(R&D spending of 3 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)) could generate a permanent increase
between 8 and 13 percent in Bulgaria and Romania’s export levels, for example.6
14. Investing in R&D is necessary not only to enhance firms’ innovation capacity but also to
“absorb” external technology properly by: screening and identifying technology options; adopting and
adapting foreign technology and know-how; and, benefiting from spillover effects from foreign direct
investments and from other sources of knowledge transfer. As is well recognized, informal knowledge
activities and day-to-day learning are also sources of ideas. Formal R&D is important, however, as it
represents a systematic and more effective approach to technological innovation – both radical and
incremental innovation – in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors.
15. Public support of research and innovation is critical particularly in the context of stagnant
economies. Public investments in research and innovation consistently have been a priority in economic

2
Griliches (1979).
3
Harrison et al (2008).
4
See Lederman and Maloney (2003) for estimates of social rates of return for R&D.
5
Seker (2012).
6
World Bank (2009).

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stimulus packages of OECD economies. In this sense, a growing consensus on the importance of counter-
cyclical innovation policies – increasing R&D investment and improving framework conditions – is
emerging. Finland and South Korea are at the forefront of this approach, increasing public spending on
innovation even in the context of tighter fiscal policies.
16. Building an environment conducive to enduring innovation requires a comprehensive policy
agenda and multiple resources, which are often scarce in developing countries. Smart policy design is
needed, which requires devising cost-effective and sustainable strategies that will bring results in both the
short and long run.
17. Market and coordination failures may hinder progress. The lack of linkages among actors in an
innovation system – between public research institutions and the private sector, within and across
industries – can prevent innovation investment and business from reaching their growth potential.
Failures in financial services and other specialized resources discourage private investment in innovation
and new business creation leading to an inefficient allocation of resources. Interventions are therefore
needed at different levels and through different mechanisms, in collaboration with the private sector and
other relevant decision-makers.

WHERE THE COUNTRY STANDS

Economic Performance and Structure

18. Over the past decade, Albania has been one of the fastest-growing countries in Europe, enjoying
average annual real GDP growth rates of 6 percent, accompanied by rapid reductions in poverty. Between
2002 and 2008, poverty fell by half, to about 12.4 percent, while extreme poverty now affects less than 2
percent of the population. Albania is one of a very few countries in Europe that was able to maintain
positive, albeit significantly reduced, growth rates and financial stability in 2009, the year following the
beginning of the global financial and economic crisis. Thus far, the impact of the crisis has been
transmitted mainly through lower remittances and slower trade.7
19. Since the early 1990s, the Albanian Government has undertaken several structural reforms,
involving land reform, financial market liberalization, and privatization. During this time, almost all
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have been privatized, and significant progress has been
made lately in the privatization of strategic sectors such as telecommunications and banking. The banking
sector has gradually increased the amount and quality of loans and financial services to SMEs.
20. In 2006, Albania signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), which is considered
a milestone on its path toward EU membership. Albania has benefited from national and regional
financial assistance under the Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilization
(CARDS) program. Between 2001 and 2006, more than 315 million euros were earmarked for Albania
through CARDS. Under the reformed EU external aid system, this support was continued by the new
Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) in 2007. One part of the assistance focused on
implementing the main priorities of the European partnership, while the other supported cross-border

7
World Bank (2013).

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cooperation activities between Albania and EU member states, as well as with adjacent candidate and
potential candidate countries.
21. With a GDP per capita of US$3,836, Albania is a lower middle-income country. The country has
experienced rapid social change, including internal migration from rural to urban areas, and mass
emigration of economically active citizens who are now a source of substantial remittances (ranging from
11 to 14 percent of GDP annually). In addition, the country has made solid progress towards achieving
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), although social indicators still lag significantly behind
those of the EU countries and Croatia.
22. However, competitiveness is still low and based on low factor (labor) costs rather than high value
added products or services. The economy is heavily skewed towards low-technology activities –
according to World Bank statistics, agriculture accounted for 20.8 percent of GDP in 2009, and
agricultural employment was relatively high (58 percent) in 2006. Exports are still low in both absolute
and relative terms; exports of goods and services accounted for 28.7 percent of GDP in 2009. Sharp
increases in imports, particularly capital goods, have led to large and growing trade deficits.

R&D and Innovation Trends

23. Albania’s growth reflects in part the one-time benefits of restructuring toward a market economy,
relatively easy “catch up” advances using widely known technologies, and remittance flows stemming
from more open borders. Future gains will be increasingly dependent on sound macro and micro-
economic policies, particularly attention to growth drivers in the private sector. This, in turn, requires
increased R&D and innovation to enhance competitiveness and national value added. But Albania is
lagging in many measures of R&D and innovation, and faces the critical challenge of enhancing human
capital and reversing brain drain of highly-skilled workers.

R&D Spending

24. According to United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
estimates based on partial data, gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) in Albania represented only 0.15
percent of GDP in 2008, funded almost exclusively by the public sector and by foreign sources. In 2009,
funding for academic research amounted to 0.075 percent of GDP, while the Ministry of Education and
Science allocated another 0.18 percent of GDP for scientific research.
25. The National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (NSTTI) foresaw tripling GERD
from 0.2 to 0.6 percent of GDP over 2009-2015. Even if this objective is fully achieved, Albania would
still be far below the European 1.9 percent GERD average recorded in 2009. The country faces a huge
challenge in further increasing R&D investment and closing the gap with the EU average.

Human Resources and Brain Drain

26. Albania has only 245 researchers per million of population,8 representing less than 10 percent of
the EU average of 3,166 researchers per million of population, based on UNESCO estimates for 2010.

8
Until recently, R&D and innovation statistics were not collected in Albania following international standards (e.g., OECD,
EUROSTAT, and UNESCO). A first survey of public and academic institutes was launched recently, and a business R&D and

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The same estimates indicate that there were a total of 578 scientists in Albania distributed between the
Academy of Sciences (274) and other public research institutions (304). There are no data on the
employment of researchers in the private sector, which may confirm a broadly held view that researchers
are only employed in the public sector. For 2008 and according to UNESCO, there were 1,721 headcount
and 467 full time equivalent (FTE) researchers employed in Albania.
27. Albania is particularly affected by the brain drain phenomenon. During the last 20 years, about
half of all university professors, researchers, and intellectuals who graduated abroad remain outside the
country. The driving forces behind the brain drain were poor professional and career prospects (due to
poor research infrastructure and limited funding) and deteriorating living conditions. Several studies have
been conducted and provide the following data:
 A survey of 40 research institutions and 10 public universities in Albania revealed that more than
half of all lecturers and researchers emigrated during the 1991–2005 period, causing a significant
loss to the academic community. 9
 Other studies (AIIS, 2005; UNESCO, 2007) indicate that Tirana University lost 40 percent of its
academic staff in the 1990s, 90 percent of them under the age of 40. It is estimated that every year
about 2,000 to 4,000 Albanian students leave the country to study abroad, which poses a critical
problem to renewal and expansion of human capital. Italy seems to be the country of choice,
followed by the United States, Austria, France, Germany, Turkey, and United Kingdom.10
 According to a recent study by OECD, the emigration rate of the highly-educated (i.e., holding at
least a first-stage tertiary degree) has been increasing, from 26.8 percent in 2000 to 35 percent in
2005/2006. For the last period, Albania shows an emigration rate six times larger than the
regional average for non-OECD European and Central Asian economies (5.9 percent in
2005/2006)11.
28. New initiatives launched under the National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation
(NSSTI) 2009-2015 aim to double the number of researchers by 2015 through the “brain gain” program
and the training of young researchers through doctoral study programs and PhD qualification. In 2009,
new doctoral studies were supported for the first time with curricula and standards based on the Bologna
Process. The number of students enrolled in the third cycle study program for the academic year 2011-
2012 was 3,427. The government has approved a quota of 1,400 students for the academic year 2012-
2013.

Public Research Institutions and R&D Infrastructure

29. The overall status of R&D infrastructure in Albania is poor. As of 2008, there were still no local
and regional research centers, or new technology or innovation parks. Despite improvements in recent
years, technology and technical research equipment is still insufficient. Some ASA institutes have no new
or upgraded scientific environments (for instance, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Institute of Biological
Researches, Institute of Hydrometeorology and Institute of Seismology).

innovation survey is currently under way.

9
Center for Economic and Social Studies (2006).
10
According to some Italian sources, Albanian students and researches currently represent about 50 percent of the total number
of foreign students and researchers in Italy. Other sources indicate that 20,000-22,000 Albanian students are presently in Italy.
11
OECD (2012a).

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30. The communication and information infrastructure for research is inadequate; network access for
higher education and research institutes is partial and slow, and the library information systems do not
meet research needs. Apart from the ASA initiatives, which have enabled access to the Central and
Eastern European Online Library (CEEOL) and Science Citation Index databases since 2004, there is
almost no electronic access to international scientific and research journals.
31. The capacities and competence to manage both fundamental and applied research in Albania are
limited and below the standards enabling co-operation and integration into European or international
programs. In sum, the scientific infrastructure overall is outdated and inadequate to support quality
research and teaching. Sustained investment programs would be required to upgrade equipment and
facilities across all scientific fields to meet minimal quality requirements for teaching purposes.

The Business Sector and Industry-science Linkages

32. Private sector investment in Science and Technology (S&T) in Albania is extremely low. There
are only about 750 medium and larger companies in the country, and the sector tilts heavily towards low
technology activities, while exports are low in both absolute and relative terms. Micro-enterprises with
fewer than five employees make up the vast majority of private businesses. Their survival strategy
focuses on labor-intensive, low-cost production.12
33. In terms of private sector human capital, which is fundamental for technology upgrades and
innovation, Albania lags substantially behind the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) average. According to
the World Bank Enterprise Survey (2007), the average large Albanian firm has 22 highly skilled
employees, compared to an average 41 for the ECA region, and only one in five Albanian firms provides
training to its employees, as opposed to 35 percent in the Europe and Central Asia region).
34. Industry-university collaboration in Albania is among the lowest in the world.13 In 2012, Albania
ranked 139 out of 144 countries. This constrains opportunities for growth and represents an untapped
knowledge potential for innovation.

S&T Outputs and Innovation Performance

35. Scientific performance is also weak. Data on scientific publications confirm the low output of the
research system. According to the bibliometrics study commissioned for this project, Albania has
experienced a modest increase in the number of scientific publications per year from 46 to 201 between
2003 and 2010 (data used for analysis are from Scopus-Elsevier, SCIMAGO, 2012). Albania ranks fifth
in the Western Balkan region, falling far behind Croatia and Serbia, and is in the bottom five of Eastern
Europe countries. Publications per thousand inhabitants have grown in the period, from 0 to 121, the
highest in the WBCs in 2010. Nevertheless, this increase has been driven by a modest surge in total
publications and a significant decrease in population.
36. The quality of scientific output is measured by citation impact indicators.14 Over the entire period
of analysis (2003-2010), Albania shows an overall normalized citation index of 0.72, reaching the second

12
World Bank (2009a).
13
World Economic Forum Indicators for 2010.

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position in the WBC right behind Serbia (0.74). The country is far below the EU-27 average (1.30). The
same pattern is observed when analyzing the average of citations per publication. Over the period,
Albania presents an average of 4.03 per document, one of the highest of the region, but still below EU-27
averages.
37. In terms of research specialization, the activity index (also called “Relative Specialization
15
Index” ) per area for the WBC shows that Albania (see table 1) reports the following three areas with the
highest specialization: Earth and Planetary Sciences (3.3), Environmental Science (2.9) and Immunology
and Microbiology (2.3). Other areas where Albania shows a high specialization are: Agricultural and
Biological Sciences (1.99), Arts and Humanities (1.88), Physics (1.47) and Astronomy and Social
Sciences (1.38). Further details about research productivity are reported in Box 1.
38. Progress in technological performance is also slow. According to the data of the Innovation
Union, the number of resident patents granted increased from 55 to 70 between 2005 and 2007.16 In 2007,
the number of patent applications at the European Patent Office (EPO) was 352, with 4 Patent
Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patents. For the first time since 1997, there was an increase in the number of
national patent applications, from 3 in 2006 to 10 in 2007.17
39. The largest number of patent applications was in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, followed by the
chemical industry, biotechnology, and medical engineering. These industries account for over three
quarters of all patents filed. Other important technological fields are civil engineering, architecture and
mining, and service users and equipment. In terms of quality norms, the number of certificates has rapidly
increased over the last decade (as shown in Table 1 below), which indicates strengthened efforts to catch
up with international technology and product standards.18

14
Normalized Impact scores indicate the scientific impact that institutions/countries/regions have on the scientific community.
Normalized Impact values show the ratio between the average scientific impact of an institution/country/region and the world
average impact of publications of the same time frame, document type, and subject area. The values are expressed in decimal
numbers and show the relationship of the institution's average impact to the world average, which is 1 For Example a score of 0.8
means the institution is cited at 20 percent below the world average, and 1.3 means the institution is cited at 30 percent above
world average. Normalized Impact is computed using the methodology established by the Karolinska Intitutet in Sweden, where
it is called the "Item oriented field normalized citation score average."
15
The activity index highlights the relative research efforts of a country to a given field. The concept was suggested by Frame
(1977) to compare any country’s performance with the world’s performance. The activity index (also called the “Relative
Scientific Specialization,” (RSS) is a measure of the degree of specialization of a country in a particular field. It is calculated by
dividing the percent of all papers in a field from Country X by the same proportion calculated at the world level. Thus a RSS
between 0 and 1 indicates that a country is relatively unspecialized in that field, while any RSS above 1 represents a relative
specialization in that field; the higher the RSS above 1, the greater the degree of specialization in that field. SCIMAGO Research
Group (2012).
16
European Union (2011).
17
In 2007, 420 patents were registered. Also in 2007, 528 certificates of deposit were issued, compared to 208 in the previous
year, out of which 298 are pending the expiry of the opposition/objection deadline following their publication in the Intellectual
Property Bulletin No. 17 and No 18. For that same year, 268 notifications for completion of formalities were issued, compared
with 135 in the previous year; 1,228 applications for upholding into force, compared with 460 of the previous year; and there
were 30 applications for change of ownership/address/name.
18
Also see World Bank (2009a).

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Box 1: The state of scientific performance in Albania

 In Albania, the most productive institutions are higher education institutions (60 percent), followed by health
(20 percent) and government (15 percent) institutions, which follow similar patterns to WBCs and EU27.
There are three institutions in the country with more than 100 publications during the period: University of
Tirana, Mother Teresa University Hospital Center, and Polytechnic University of Tirana. The normalized
citation rate for these institutions during the period is below the world average, although the Polytechnic
University of Tirana has the highest value (0.93).
 The percentage of publications with international collaboration in Albania is above 60 percent in the period
2003 to 2010 (67.06 percent), higher than the WBC and EU27 averages (around 50 percent and 45 percent,
respectively). Most collaborations are with countries from the rest of Europe (Italy, Greece, Germany, UK,
France, Switzerland and Spain) and only a small proportion is with institutions in Serbia, Croatia, and
Macedonia. Collaborations outside Europe are also relevant, and mostly are with the United States, and
Japan.
 Inter-sector collaborations are rare in Albania, with only a few cases in 2006 and 2010. Collaborations are
only identified between higher education and private institutions. In the WBC, collaborations are only
present between these two sectors but represent no more than 0.02 percent of collaborations, far below the
EU27 average of 1.38 percent. In addition, collaborations between private and government institutions
represent 0.56 percent of total collaborations in EU27, while this type of collaboration is non-existent in the
WBC.
Source: SCIMAGO Research Group (2013).

Table 1: Research Specialization Areas in the WBCs (Activity Index of the total volume of
publications over the period 2003-2010

Bosnia & FYR of

Albania Croatia Montenegro Serbia
Herzegovina Macedonia
Earth and
Social Chemistry Computer Mathematics
1 Planetary Medicine 2,8
Sciences 2,5 2,2 Science 0,6 3,6
Sciences 3,3
Environmental Social Mathematics Physics and
Most 2 Veterinary 1,8 Chemistry 3,2
Science 2,9 Sciences 2,7 1,4 Astronomy 0,5
Specialized
Immunology
Agricultural Agricultural Physics and Agricultural and
and Decision
3 and Biological and Biological Astronomy Biological
Microbiology Sciences 3,1
Sciences 1,1 Sciences 1,7 1,3 Sciences 0,3
2,3
Pharmacology, Economics,
Arts and
Arts and Neuroscience Toxicology and Econometrics
24 Engineering 0,4 Humanities
Humanities 0,3 0,4 Pharmaceutics and Finance
0,2
0,03 0,6
Least
Specialized Health Neuroscience Decision Arts and
25 Nursing 0,2 Veterinary 0,03
Professions 0,2 0,3 Sciences 0,3 Humanities 0,3
Health
Chemical
26 Nursing 0,04 Nursing 0,1 Professions Nursing 0,03 Nursing 0,2
Engineering 0,2
0,1
Source: SCIMAGO Research Group (2013).

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

Table 2: Number of quality certificates

ISO 9001 ISO 14001

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2008 2009 2010 2011
Albania 23 43 155 52 164 Albania 1 11

BiH 652 811 909 944 1119 BiH 60 87 100 148

Croatia 2073 2302 2567 2102 2117 Croatia 343 469 451 488
FYR Macedonia 255 271 FYR Macedonia 26
Montenegro 136 160 157 85 146 Montenegro 17 18 15 25
Serbia 1987 2091 2733 1790 2868 Serbia 176 298 318 520
Source: The ISO Survey of Certifications (2011).

40. Both the European Innovation Scoreboard and the World Bank Knowledge Assessment
Scorecard demonstrate Albania’s weak position in several innovation indicators. Though some of the
indicators shown below are not fully evaluated due to missing data, they still highlight the most pressing
issues for action. Albania’s poor performance in comparison to Europe and Central Asia for indicators
spanning the knowledge economy is illustrated below in Figure 1, using the most recent data from the
World Bank Knowledge Assessment Methodology. Albania lags behind regional (ECA) averages on all
fronts, including regulatory indicators, innovation indicators, and infrastructure. The largest gaps are in
science (number of science and engineering (S&E) articles per population) and secondary school
enrollment, both fundamental pillars for the knowledge economy. In these areas, Albania is among the
ECA countries with the lowest scores.
Figure 1: Albania performance on key variables in comparison to Europe and Central Asia

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

Figure 2: Knowledge Economy Index (KEI) pillars – Albania vs. Europe and Central Asia

Source: World Bank KAM indicators.

41. As Figure 2 illustrates, Albania lags behind the average in European and Central Asian
economies in all pillars of the knowledge economy tracked by the Knowledge Economy Index (KEI) and
the most recent indicators provided by the World Bank Knowledge Assessment Methodology. Rankings
are below 2.5 in a normalized scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest in ECA countries.19 The highest
gap refers to innovation capacity, measured here by a composite index summarizing the relative level of
innovation inputs and outputs.

ICT Infrastructure and Diffusion

42. In Albania, progress in the diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is
mixed. Albania has been catching up in terms of Internet use and mobile subscriptions, which are about
60-70 percent of European averages. For 2011, there were 49 Internet users per 100 people, close to the

19
The Knowledge Assessment Methodology consists of two indices – Knowledge Economy Index (KEI) and Knowledge Index
(KI) – to allow countries to identify the challenges and opportunities they face in making the transition to the knowledge-based
economy. The indices provide insight into the conditions facilitating effective use of knowledge for economic development (KEI)
and whether the economy has the capacity to generate, adopt, and diffuse knowledge (KI). KEI is based on four foundations: (1)
economic incentives and institutional regime; (2) education; (3) innovation; and (4) ICT. KI is based on education, innovation,
and ICT. The economic incentives and institutional regime comprises tariff and non-tariff barriers, regulatory quality, and rule of
law. Education is gauged by average years of schooling, and gross enrollment ratios at the secondary and tertiary levels.
Innovation in this context spans inputs and outputs of the national innovation system and comprises three key variables: royalty
and license fees payments and receipts; patent applications granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; and the number of
scientific and technical journal articles published. The ICT foundation measures penetration of various technologies, including
the Internet, telephones, and computers.

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

WBC average of 54, and mobile subscriptions were 96 per 100 people, while the EU averages were 72
and 125, respectively.
43. However, Albania’s telecommunications infrastructure continues to be perceived by industry as
an obstacle to doing business. Significant numbers of Albanian firms have reported that inadequate and
costly telecommunications services hamper business.20 In 2007, the government passed a
telecommunications framework law, which is helping to create a competitive market and has already led
to significant improvements such as the entrance of a third mobile service provider into the market.
Further progress is needed in effectively implementing the law.

Intellectual Property Rights

44. Intellectual property systems – laws and institutions managing and enforcing intellectual property
rights (IPRs) – are one of the main instruments to encourage innovation and diffusion of new ideas. By
providing exclusive ownership and commercialization rights to inventors, the IPR system allows
inventors to “appropriate” innovation returns – exclude others from exploitation – and thereby recoup
costs of R&D and creativity.
45. Albania has made progress in the legal protection and enforcement of IPRs. The country has its
own Patent and Trademark Office. The intellectual property (IP) legislation is fully in compliance with
the TRIPs Agreement and also with the EU Directives on IP matters. Reforms include the adoption by the
Parliament of the Law on Accession to the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production in
December 2008. However, the 2005 Law on Copyright is not yet compliant with European standards and
adoption of the draft national strategy on intellectual and industrial property is still pending.

1. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION SYSTEM, AND ITS

CHALLENGES

46. Despite the many initiatives, new legislation, adoption of strategies, etc., it is evident that Albania
has made little tangible progress in the area of R&D capacity, technology transfer, and innovation.
Undoubtedly, limited funding is a serious factor. However, reforms can still proceed in an environment
of resource scarcity if there is a clearer understanding of the systemic nature of R&D and innovation and
a comprehensive program to address key binding constraints.
47. The following section explores the nature of Albania’s R&D and innovation system –
stakeholders, governance, stated strategy, funding and dynamics – with the aim of identifying possible
weaknesses and resultant reform possibilities. It posits, in line with its own national strategy plus the
emerging Western Balkans R&D Strategy for Innovation, that Albania can accelerate its innovation and
resulting economic gains by combining selected R&D governance reforms with prioritized initiatives to
strengthen the research base, enhance effective research commercialization from public funded research
institutions, and encourage large expenditures in research and innovation by the business sector.

20World Bank Enterprise Survey (2005 and 2008).

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

Need for a Systemic View

48. Albania’s R&D and innovation effort should be seen by policy makers and the broader public as a
system of many stakeholders within the public and private sectors spending on R&D and interacting as
parts of a value chain that should move ideas to market. When properly functioning, R&D transforms into
innovation and leads to products and services that strengthen the country’s business investment,
technological sophistication, comparative advantage, and economic performance.
49. Performance of national innovation systems depends on both the capabilities of the actors and
well-articulated and strong linkages among them. Different stakeholders act at different stages in the
innovation process.
50. More simply, in the context of developing countries, a well-functioning innovation system
facilitates incremental private sector technological improvements through various means, including
employment of highly qualified science and technology personnel, collaboration with researchers,
training, extension services (R&D and engineering services; quality certification and standards), and the
ability to access and utilize global technological developments.
51. Improving knowledge capacity (R&D) and innovation is not a simple or quick task, and it
requires the active participation of all stakeholders. Challenges are inherent in the multiplicity of players,
in the difficulty in aligning incentives and establishing modern legal frameworks and government
policies, and in encouraging private sector actions. Overcoming ingrained cultural differences, if not
distrust, between entrepreneurs and researchers, reducing red tape, or stimulating the private sector to take
a more proactive interest in R&D to gain global market share require concerted and well-conceived
initiatives. The weakest element can determine overall success, so ignoring key links can be costly.

Need for Good Governance

52. On the path toward research excellence, it is essential to have research systems that are
competitive and transparent, with competitive recruitment and efficient administrative procedures.
Providing the right enabling conditions to improve scientific research and its quality is the result of
appropriate governance mechanisms and adequate and competitive research funding. In Albania,
increasing funding for research and ensuring its continuity over time remains a great challenge. In
parallel, governance of research institutions needs to improve in line with the aim of research excellence.
53. Good governance in research funding implies meritocracy and transparency in grant funding, as
well as accountability, evaluation and monitoring practices, transparency, and performance evaluation
that can gauge contributions to knowledge, local economic and social needs, and growth.21 Good
governance also entails having a clear rationale behind both institutional funding, which ensures stability,
and project-based funding.
 Merit-driven research funding means competitive granting, subject to a peer-review system and
international criteria in which projects are selected on the basis of the quality of proposals and
expected results. Limited competition amongst research institutions and universities leads to
insufficient specialization, which in turns hinders opportunities for innovation.

21 OECD (2011a) and OECD (2011b).

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

 In research-performing institutions, appropriate governance mechanisms provide performance-

driven career development, clear and transparent recruitment policies, and well-defined rules
regarding ownership and commercialization of intellectual outcomes — revenue participation by
researchers — resulting from research. This also implies that results of publicly funded research
are protected and published in a way that encourages their exploitation.22
54. In order to stimulate economic growth and increase employment, research and innovation
systems must make science careers attractive. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of
Conduct for the Recruitment of researchers provides examples of governance principles to make research
careers more attractive, a key element in improving governance for research excellence, and consistent
with the aim of a better integration to the European Research Area (ERA).
55. Good governance of universities requires enhanced autonomy to organize their activities in the
areas of education and training; research and innovation (“third mission”); open transparent and merit-
driven recruitment methods; institutional accountability; quality assurance systems, and, the ability to
access alternative sources of funding and engage in interactions with industry.23 Competitive education
implies more involvement by the business sector in curricula development and doctoral training so that
skills better match industry needs. Funding based on competition, market mechanisms, participation of
external stakeholders, and publication of performance measures are other means used to pursue
accountability of higher education institutions (HEIs).
56. Some of these policy areas are covered by the Bologna Declaration within the framework of the
European Higher Education Area signed in 2007 by 46 governments. Countries agreed on 10 action lines
aimed at making higher education in Europe more compatible and comparable, and more competitive and
attractive for students and researchers in Europe and worldwide.24
57. Most of the WBCs have entered the Bologna process and are currently implementing reforms in
that direction. Yet implementation of reforms is difficult and is proceeding at different rates across the
countries, particularly reforms that require changes in culture, additional resources, and skills – e.g.,
managerial competences, internationalization — in addition to other requirements related to integration
and governance. In Albania, implementation of “fully integrated” university systems is in process and
several meaningful steps have been undertaken. As in other WBCs, HEIs in Albania are still struggling
with traditional systems of education and some fundamental changes.

Key Stakeholders
58. The research system in Albania includes a wide range of institutions in higher education,
scientific research, development and technology, and the private sector. Businesses, however, have minor
participation in R&D and other knowledge generation activities.

22
Merit-based recruitment implies not only scientific productivity but also a wider range of evaluation criteria, such as teaching,
supervision, teamwork, knowledge transfer, management, and public awareness activities (see Innovation Union and the Code of
Conduct for Recruitment of Researchers, EC).
23 OECD (2011a) and OECD (2011b).
24
This entails comparability in degrees. Countries are setting up national qualifications frameworks that are compatible with the
overarching framework; adoption of quality assurance mechanisms in accordance with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality
Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG); and fair recognition of foreign degrees and other higher education
qualifications in accordance with the Council of Europe/UNESCO Recognition Convention.

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

Research Agencies
59. Research is conducted by a number of institutions.
a) Eleven public and 31 private HEIs have a mandate for tertiary education, scientific research,
development, and transfer of knowledge and technology, although the duration and level of
scientific research among the universities differs. Integrated with public universities in Tirana are
three Public Centers/Agencies for development and technology transfer.
b) National research centers are research-oriented academic institutions whose mission is to carry
out scientific research, educate and deepen university education in the secondary and tertiary
cycle, and develop and transfer knowledge and technology. In this area, the Albanologic Study
Center has been established based on the reorganization of the Albanologic Institutes of the
Academy of Sciences.
c) Several ministries have subordinate research institutes, including the Environment, Forests, and
Water Administration; the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports; the National Agency
of Natural Resources; the Albanian Geological Survey; and the Ministry of Public Works and
Transport. The extent of pure or applied scientific research differs among these organizations,
however.
d) Private institutes or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) conduct some research in
Information Technology (IT), but little is done in other fields relevant for science and technology.

Policy Formulation and System Governance

60. The main policy-making and advisory bodies formally include: the Albanian Parliament, the
Council of Ministers; the Council for Scientific Policy and Technological development; the Ministry of
Education and Science; Ministry of Innovation and ICT; Council of Higher Education and Science;
Academy of Science of Albania; Rectors’ Conference; Agency for Research, Technology and Innovation;
and other ministries. Several of these agencies or councils do not significantly impact R&D policy. The
policy formulation is mostly confined to the Ministry of Education and Science supported by the Agency
for Research, Technology and Innovation, and advised by interested line agencies and universities, with
overall strategic decisions ultimately validated at senior government levels and overall funding levels
apparently negotiated with national finance agencies as part of normal Ministry of Education and Science
and agency budget processes.
61. Core agencies include:
 Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) is the main government body responsible for R&D
policy design. It transferred the administration of national S&T programs to the Agency for
Research, Technology and Innovation (ARTI) in March 2010.
 Ministry of Innovation and ICT (MITIK) was established in 2009, with the key role of
overseeing the new National Agency on Information Society (NAIS).
 The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy (METE) department on Competitiveness Policy
and on Business Promotion plays an important role in designing policies to promote investment,
exports, and SME development, focusing in particular on encouraging business innovation to
raise competitiveness in regional and global markets. METE developed the Business Innovation

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

and Technology Strategy (BITS) (2011 – 2016). In addition, it oversees activities of the Albanian
Investment and Development Agency (AIDA) and the Business Relay and Innovation Centre
(BRIC) and periodically monitors their work.
 Other ministries: As indicated above, a number of line ministries with research institutions
attached to them are stakeholders in the Albanian national innovation system.
 The Rectors' Conference represents Albanian higher education institutions and has an advisory
role regarding research undertaken in their universities and programs involving cooperation with
the private sector.

Implementation and Financing Agencies

62. Key agencies engaged in policy coordination and implementation of innovation programs
include:
 The Agency for Research, Technology and Innovation (ARTI), which was launched in March
2010 as a public, legal institution under the auspices of the Council of Ministers, and charged to
build a modern system of science and to strengthen the role of S&T. It operates as a coordinating
and funding body for national, bilateral, and international programs and projects, and cooperates
with different institutions in the field of R&D and innovation. Its mission is to evaluate, finance,
monitor, and manage programs and projects in the fields of science, technology and innovation.
ARTI has taken over some of the coordinating functions in technology transfer and R&D support
from MoES. ARTI also serves as a coordinating and guiding structure for sustainable
technological and innovation development of the country. Among other activities, the Agency
funds projects supporting the development of SMEs and the renewal of technological equipment
used by SMEs.
 The Business Relay and Innovation Centre (BRIC), created in 2011, was designed to be an
entirely independent institution delivering a wide range of services for the technological support
of private enterprises based on knowledge. This agency is responsible for the implementation of
the Action Plan of the Business Innovation and Technology Strategy 2011-2016,25 and therefore
must engage in systematic coordination and periodic monitoring of the business innovation and
technology policy.
 National Agency for Information Society (NAIS) coordinates government activities in the field
of information and communication. It interfaces with other ministries and government institutions
as well as the private sector ICT companies.

25
ERAWATCH (2012).

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

2. POLICY DEVELOPMENT

National Strategy
63. Governance capability is crucial for the success of any public policy. Good governance for
research and innovation policy means having an integrated and coherent policy-making process in place,
with stable institutions and deploying policy agencies performing according to policy objectives and well-
defined implementing procedures. Elements of good governance are: formulation mechanisms
(consultation and priority identification); target setting and programming (medium and long run);
monitoring and accountability; and, information dissemination mechanisms.26
64. Definition of policy priority and targets, action lines, and corresponding resource planning are
made possible through national strategies for research and innovation. National strategies articulate
countries’ vision regarding the contribution of research and innovation to national economic
development, and are therefore helpful to organize efforts and policy reforms into a specific direction. In
some cases, national strategies outline the specific policy instruments to be used to meet a set of goals or
objectives.27
65. The first national innovation strategy was prepared in 2009 by the MoES Department of Strategy
and Donor Coordination, and included stakeholder input from academics, researchers, specialists, and
government officials. The National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation (NSSTI) 2009-2015
introduced major changes to improve the effectiveness of the national innovation system. The NSSTTI
aimed to achieve the level of research needed to support quality university education and respond to the
needs of the productive sector (i.e., systematic support in innovation activities and technology transfer).
Priority sectors were chosen from a broader list of priorities identified in the national development
strategy (energy, tourism, agriculture, agro-processing, IT, geosciences, etc.)
66. The strategy can be summarized as follows:
 Increase public spending on research to 0.6 percent of GDP by 2015.
 Increase the share of gross expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, notably from the EU and
international donors, to cover 40 percent of all research spending in the period 2010–2015.
 Create four or five Albanian Centers of Excellence in Science (ACES), including dedicated
laboratory equipment or workspaces that could be used for new technology-based firms (pre-
incubation, testing, certification, etc.).
 Double the number of researchers, through “brain gain” incentives and training of new
researchers (establish graduate schools; train 500 PhDs). This assumes the creation of up to three
new “graduate schools” or doctoral programs in Albanian universities, which is consistent with
the Higher Education Strategy action plan. The new graduate schools should be in the priority

26
The European Commission’s White Paper on Governance (2001) has set out five principles that underpin good governance.
They are: openness, participation, accountability, effectiveness, and coherence. These are required for the sound management of
public resources and essential in creating environment conducive to business, as well as a productive partnership between public
and private sectors.
27
OECD (2012b).

24
 Country Paper Series: Albania

areas identified by the government in consultation with the national RDI council and/or be linked
to the selected centers of excellence.
 Increase innovation activity in 100 companies through investment in R&D laboratories; via
consortia with the academic RIs; or in partnership with foreign partners. This figure may be
revised once the results from the first business Research, Technology Development, and
Innovation (RTDI) survey are published.
67. Despite notable efforts to increase research cooperation with the EU and other stakeholders,
implementation of the NSSTI strategy has been slow due to lagging research capacity at the national
level. This has been mainly due to insufficient policy effort to strengthen RTI, capacity constraints (lack
of human resources), low public financing, and lack of critical inputs to achieve research excellence (e.g.,
the absence critical mass of researchers in relevant fields, inadequate research infrastructure, wrong
incentive systems, etc.).

Monitoring, Policy Evaluation, and Statistics

68. True levels of investment in R&D and innovation in Albania are difficult to assess. Currently,
statistics are either not available or collected on a consistent basis and in line with international (OECD,
Eurostat or UNESCO) standards. There are no data or studies available that would allow an estimate of
the extent of innovation activity (innovation expenditure, etc.) or relevant types of output in the enterprise
sector (e.g., sales from new products or services, etc.).28 This hinders both policy design and Monitoring
and Evaluation of R&D activities.
69. Without a consistent S&T monitoring and impact evaluation system in place, the government
relies on a range of different implementing bodies to evaluate project implementation and confirm that
funds are allocated in line with pre-determined criteria and guiding principles. As a consequence, there is
a lack of reliable statistics and other necessary information that would enable both the assessment of
policy results in this area, and the measurement of progress achieved under various innovation programs
(not to speak of proper impact evaluation).
70. ARTI, which has a mandate to support, monitor, and evaluate programs and projects in the fields
of science, technology, and innovation in the entire country, seeks to accomplish this objective through
preliminary evaluation, monitoring of implementation, and final assessment of RDI programs based on
the existing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system. The Public Agency for Accreditation of Higher
Education (PAAHE) and HEIs are working together in drafting the main principles and criteria for
strengthening the Internal Quality Assurance Systems in the HEIs, though it may take a while before
Albania has a broader and more reliable information system relevant for monitoring of R&D activities.

Policy Reforms under Implementation

71. In addition to the creation of a national strategy and ARTI, Albania has undertaken other reforms
that should positively impact R&D and innovation, and demonstrate its commitment to improved
performance in this sector. Notable advances include:

28
A first questionnaire survey to public and academic institutes was launched in the first semester of 2009, and a business RDI
survey was planned to be launched by summer 2009, both with the support of UNESCO. Results are not yet public.

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

a) The Academy of Sciences was re-organized along the model adopted by many EU countries.
b) Higher-education autonomy has been enhanced; curricula and education standards have been
revised following the Bologna process; monitoring and quality auditing mechanisms have been
adopted; and higher education institutions have been integrated to research institutes to enhance
research. The reforms undertaken in the area of higher education and basic research, first and
foremost, aimed at integrating once entirely separate fields of research and entrepreneurship for
better results in RDI and economic growth.
c) Improvements in human resources in science and technology are being pursued by: (i) raising
interest in and awareness of science among youth; (ii) revising academic curricula to make
science and technology more attractive to students (e.g., by expanding interdisciplinary training
in science education); (iii) improving teaching in mathematics and science, including through
the use of ICT in teaching content and delivery; (iv) reducing gender and ethnic minority gaps
in science and technology education; (v) enhancing financing opportunities for PhD studies and
post-doctorate training (such as through fellowships, funded research opportunities, etc.); and,
(vi) improving the quality of university research laboratories and infrastructure. For the first
time, the Albanian government implemented in 2007 a program for PhD studies. This program,
“The Excellence Fund,” supports the best PhD candidates to partially or fully complete PhD
studies abroad. A total of 45 PhD students were supported by this fund during year 2007.
d) A brain gain program has been crated to address the diaspora (see Box 2 below). Through the
medium-term plan (2008–2009) of the Brain Gain Program (co-financed by the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP)), the Albanian government has, for the first time mobilized
funds from the state budget and opened 550 vacancies in higher education and scientific
research institutions.

Box 2: The Brain Gain Program

 The Brain Gain program, collaboration between the government of Albania and the UNDP, began
operating in April 2006. The objective of the project is to support the creation of the incentives and national policy
mechanisms necessary to effectively engage the Albanian diaspora in the scientific, administrative, and economic
development of the country.
 This program has supported the preparation of a policy framework and has put in place an electronic
database to link the demands of academic institutions, public administration, and the private sector with expertise
provided from abroad. Between 2008 and 2011, the program supported the financial packages of reintegration for
137 individuals who returned to Albania permanently or contributed as visiting professors at various academic
institutions in the country.
 The program is being managed using the implementing modalities recommended by UNDP, which require
a high commitment of the national partner, in this case represented by the Council of Ministers. The Minister of the
Education is the national leader of this project. The project is also managed daily though a dedicated unit in the
prime ministry office.

e) Improve the country’s intellectual property rights regime (see Box 3 below).
f) To increase technology transfer from research institutions and enhance industry-science
collaboration in the field of innovation, the Albanian government has taken steps to build a

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

legal and policy framework for the creation and commercialization of intellectual property
rights at research institutions and universities.
 Twelve technology transfer centers and agencies have been created, focusing on
agriculture, rural development, environment, energy, transport and telecom, economy,
commerce, and other fields.
 Policy reforms have been undertaken in: (i) providing a legal framework governing
ownership and commercialization of publicly-funded research results (allowing research
institutions and HEI to own and commercialize technology derived from publicly-funded
research); (ii) creating rules for intellectual property creation and licensing of technologies
derived from publicly-funded research; (iii) defining rules concerning the creation of
spinoff companies and provision of incentives to researchers to participate in technology
transfer activities; and, (iv) generating public support for the creation of technology transfer
units.

3. FUNDING AND POLICY INSTRUMENTS

Research Funding –Public Research Institutions and PROs

72. Public financing of scientific institutions is implemented in line ministries and public institutions
through three mechanisms: direct financing of research institutions in line ministries, university R&D
financing, and competitive research project funding. In addition, substantial EU funds support Albanian
membership in EU framework programs.
Table 3: Financing of R&D in public research organizations and HEI (by source of funding)

Funding (million Euro) 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2009-
2015
Primary financing for Research Institutes at
6.1 6.7 8.1 8.0 8.5 10.0 12.7 60.1
HEI
Financing of research projects (MoES) 7.1 6.9 7.7 8.3 9.5 11.2 13.5 64.2
Financing from World Bank regarding research
2.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.7
infrastructure
Funds for Research Infrastructure
0.1 3.9 4.7 4.5 7.5 8.4 9.3 38.3
(MoES+MEFWA+private HEI)
Centers of Excellence in Science 0.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 7.4
Grant Program of Albans for Research 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.2
National Program(s) for Technology (MoETE) 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 6.6
Agency of Research, Technology and
0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 2.6
Innovation (ARTI)
TOTAL 16.4 19.2 22.3 24.3 28.9 33.0 39.0 183.1

73. The MoES allocates research funds based upon national programs for R&D and bilateral
agreements under four criteria: (i) financing needed for overall functioning of public education and
research institutions; (ii) financing of programs and projects in scientific research; (iii) financing of IT-
related projects; and, (iv) participation in national and international scientific conferences. The state
budget supports scientific research by funding R&D institutions and financing national R&D programs.

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

The institutional financing goes directly to central research organizations, which in turn support the R&D
activities of their dependent institutions. Competitive financing of projects in priority areas is done
through ARTI, following established international standard procedures, for national and international
(bilateral and multilateral) cooperation.29

Box 3: The IPR system in Albania –recent developments

 There has been progress in the legal protection and enforcement of IPRs. In 2005 and 2007, respectively,
Albania joined the European Patent Convention and the International Patent Treaty. In 2010, the
government created a strategy to help enforce IPRs within a 5-year time frame: the National Strategy for
IPR Enforcement 2010-2015. Legislative reforms include: the amendment of the current Copyright Law;
amendments to the Albanian Penal Code to recognize counterfeiting as a criminal offense; authorization of
the Internal Market Inspectorate related to IP protection; and, accession to the European Convention on
Cinematographic Co-production. However, the 2005 Law on Copyright is not yet compliant with European
standards, and adoption of the draft national strategy on intellectual and industrial property is still pending.
 To enhance enforcement, the Strategy has delegated strengthening co-operation and coordination to a
number of competing authorities, including the General Directorate of Patents and Trademarks; Albanian
Copyright Office; General Directorate of State Police; General Directorate of Customs; Ministry of Justice;
and, Market Inspectorate.
 Structural problems remain, such as the lack of enforcement, which is almost non-existent. Other
challenges include hiring qualified personnel, and improving IPR management and technical support at the
national level.30

Private Sector R&D and Innovation Incentives

74. The Albanian government has provided policy incentives and support to both SMEs and new
technology-based firms for expenditures on R&D and innovation. The support includes periodic provision
of funds, management training, and information services. There is still no specialized funding agency that
could provide seed capital for innovation-based firms, nor is there an integrated facility that could provide
non-financial support to new and small firms. Initiatives that promote collaboration and networking
among private firms include joint R&D programs and consortia (private, public-private), funding support
for international co-operation (attracting research labs of foreign firms), and supporting access of
domestic firms to foreign funding programs.
75. The Business Relay and Innovation Centre (BRIC), created in 2011, was designed as an entirely
independent institution aimed at delivering a wide range of services for the technological support of
private enterprises based on knowledge. Through the Innovation Fund, BRIC will provide funding for
SME projects and the renewal of SME technological equipment. The total planned budget for the
implementation of the Business Innovation and Technology Strategy is about €10.3 million for a period

29
Around 5.71 million Euros from the budget allocated to higher education are spent for research, which consisted of 0.054
percent of the GDP for 2009.
30
Inside Views (2012).

28
 Country Paper Series: Albania

of 6 years (2011– 2016). About 60 percent of the budget will be allocated to the Innovation Fund and the
respective Innovation Services, with the remaining 40 percent for the Cluster and Incubation Programs.31
76. The government has merged the Albanian Investment Agency (ANIH), the Small and Medium
Enterprises Agency (SMEA), and the Albanian Export Agency (ANE) to create Albinvest, a new
structure that provided services for innovation and technology transfer to enterprises. This organization
also complied with government policy to reduce the operational cost of public administration. Albinvest’s
capacity to provide effective one-stop shop assistance to foreign investors was tested by a growing
number of trade and investment missions visiting Albania. Albinvest reported directly to the Minister of
Economy, Trade and Energy. However, with the new strategy for the SMEs Albinvest was replaced by
the Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA).
77. Multilateral financial organizations provide substantial support to private sector innovation
activities. The Albanian Reconstruction Equity Fund (AREF), created by the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), is a venture capital fund that provides support to private
investments in the productive and service sector. MIGA provides guarantees for innovation investments,
while the EIB (European Investment Bank), EBRD, World Bank (IBRD, IFC), and European Investment
Fund (EIF) provide regular loans and soft loans (credits) in support of private sector innovation projects
in Albania.
78. To increase the competitiveness and capacity growth of Albanian enterprises, a Strategic Program
for Innovation and Technology Development of SMEs for the period 2011-2016 has been prepared with
the assistance of IPA funds.32 The main objectives of national strategic program are to:
 Develop innovation in key sectors;
 Initiate, import, modify, and diffuse new technologies in enterprises;
 Increase the capacity of business supporting organizations to assist innovation activities in
enterprises;
 Assist directly with technical information;
 Assist enterprises in gaining external funding for innovation activities; and,
 Enable the creation and survival of new innovative firms.

4. INTEGRATION TO ERA AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

79. Better integrating Albania’s science and technology with the European Research Area is a goal of
the National Strategy of Science, Technology, and Innovation 2010-2015. Full participation in the EU’s
7th Research Framework Programs for R&D (since 2008) is an important first step, which opens
prospects for additional funding in the medium term. Albania will be better positioned to participate in
future EU FP7 programs based on ARTI’s increased capacity and past advocacy work, which helped raise

31
The BRIC budget is to be financed by both international donor programs (EU through IPA -€2.87m and IFIs- €5m) through
grants and soft loans, and Albanian state budget contributions. The total national contribution will be around €2.4m, or 23 percent
of the total budget. This contribution covers staff and operational costs of BRIC as a department within AIDA.
32
Project IPA (2007).

29
 Country Paper Series: Albania

awareness and shared information on participation in research programs with the EU and other
international partners. ARTI has organized training sessions, workshops, and FP7 information days.
Electronic communication channels have also been used for dissemination purposes.
80. Albania also has ample experience in international cooperation in the broader fields of socio-
economic development and higher education, through EU CARDS, Tempus Higher Education, Education
Excellence, EU FP5, FP6, FP7, and Equity Projects financed by the World Bank, the European
Investment Bank, and the Council of Europe Development Bank. The country has also engaged in
multilateral cooperation with multiple agencies of the United Nations.
81. During 2005 - 2007, several agreements were signed. Of particular note is the project SEE
ERA.NET, which has contributed to the enlargement of bilateral research cooperation. Albania has active
bilateral agreements with Italy, Greece, Slovenia, and FYRO Macedonia, and is making intensive efforts
to finalize such agreements with Austria, France, Croatia, Turkey, Montenegro, and Poland, although the
scope of cooperation is still narrow and the implementation progress quite slow.

5. CONCLUSIONS: POLICY CHALLENGES AND PENDING REFORMS

82. Further sustained efforts are required at the national level to strengthen the research and
innovation capacity and increase Albania’s competitiveness. The level of investment in research remains
very low and there is an ongoing need to strengthen the building of human capital. Efforts should be made
to improve the integration of the R&D and innovation system through explicit programs to increase
official and citizen understanding of the linkages between research, development, and innovation across
key stakeholders. Moreover, based on the National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation, the
Albanian government should continue and increase its efforts to:
 Improve the basic research infrastructure able to support sufficiently university training at three
levels (BSc, MSc, PhD levels);
 Create scientific excellence in key research areas;
 Educate, retrain, retain, and attract qualified people into the Albanian research system;
 Strengthen links between science research organizations and the private sector to foster
innovation as a basis for future growth and job creation; and,
 Improve public perception and understanding of science in order to generate improved awareness
of the role of innovation and new technologies for society and the economy.

30
 Country Paper Series: Albania

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European Commission. 2009. Albania 2009 Progress Report. Accompanying the Communication from
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European Union. 2006. Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) for the EU. Council Regulation
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Government of Albania Council of Ministers. 2008 Cross-cutting Strategy on Information Society.
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ISO Survey of Certifications. 2011. Available at: http://www.iso.org/iso/home/standards/certification/iso-

survey.htm
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funding programs for research in the European Commission. Technopolis Group report to UNESCO-
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Seker, M. 2012. An Evaluation of Innovation Activities in West Balkans. Background Paper for Western
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indicators
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World Bank. 2009a. Building Competitiveness in Albania.

World Bank. 2010. Albania: The New Growth Agenda - A Country Economic Memorandum.
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(KAM). Available at: http://www.worldbank.org/kam
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http://www.wipo.int/portal/index.html.en

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

ANNEX
Table A 1: Legal Framework for Scientific Research and Technological Development

Sets out the objectives of S&T policy, including incentives for global
integration of national R&D and measures to encourage privatization.
Law on Science and
Technological Development Defines the main functions of the Committee for Science and Technology,
(1994), amended in 1998 currently performed by the Ministry of Education and Science, with a very
limited number of staff assigned to design S&T policy and develop national
R&D programs needed to implement the policy.
Regulates the activities of universities and faculties, the establishment and
Law on Higher Education work of managing bodies, appointments and promotions of teaching staff, etc.
(amended in 2007) The role of university, its scope of work and basic work conditions and
objectives are regulated by laws, while the overall organization and activities
are more closely elaborated by their statute.
Law and Statute of the
Regulates the activity of Academy of Sciences of Albania and its scientific
Academy of Sciences,
institutes and research centers.
Nr.9182, 2nd May 2004
Law No. 7819 on Industrial Regulates industrial property, trademarks, and industrial designs. These fields
Property (1994), amended by are also partly regulated by the Penal Code, Civil Code, Penal Procedure Code,
Law No. 8477 (1999) Civil Procedure Code and Customs Code Law No. 8449 (1999).
Law on Copyright No. 7564
Regulate copyright and related rights. Those fields are also partially regulated
(1992), amended by Law No.
by the Council of Ministers’ decision Act No. 309 (2000) on “User’s Tariffs,”
7923 (1995), Law No. 8594
as well as in parts of the Penal Code, Civil Code, Penal Procedure Code and
(April 2000) and Law No.
Civil Procedure Code.
8630 (July 2000).
Law No.9741, 21st May
For the Higher Education in Republic of Albania
2007
Law No. 7819 27th April
On Industrial Property
1994
Law on No. 8488 13th May
Protection of Topographies of Integrated Circuits
1999
Council of Ministers
Decision Act, No.313, 13th Functioning of Albanian Patent and Trademark Office
June 2000
Council of Ministers
Decision Act, No. 568, 23rd Fees of Albanian Patent Office for Industrial Property Objects
October 1995
Law No. 9648, 27th On the accession of the Republic of Albania to Hague Act of the Hague
November 2006 Agreement concerning the international registrations of industrial designs

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

Box A 1: Policy initiatives in the National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation –Selected
Programs
According to the National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation as of 2009:
The budget for scientific research and higher education was 2.2 times higher than that for 2005. For the first
time, the higher education budget reached USD 100 million in 2009, of which USD 6 million are for
“institutional funding” of scientific research (compared to USD 800,000 in 2005).
The only research-funding program is a small scale competitive funding program (currently 56 projects for a
total budget of USD 5.4 million, implemented over 2–3 years, 2008-2019), run by MoES.
The World Bank has funded the equipping of teaching laboratories, which were funded under the Education
Excellence and Equity Project financed by the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the Council
of Europe Development Bank.
Through the medium-term plan (2008–2009) of the Brain Gain Program (co-financed by UNDP), the
Albanian Government has for the first time mobilized funds from the State Budget and opened 550
vacancies in higher education and scientific research institutions.
For the first time, the Albanian government implemented in 2007 a program for PhD studies “‘The
Excellence Fund,” which supports the best PhD candidates to partially or fully complete PhD studies
abroad. A total of 45 PhD students were supported by this fund during 2007.
As indicated in the Strategy, the government funding of research may also be carried out through a number
of other line ministries and public organizations, directly or indirectly involved in research and innovation
policies or activities, or both. These, in particular, include the following:
The Ministry of Agriculture funds activities in the field of applied research and technology transfer. The
activities are carried out by six Centers for Transferring Agricultural Technologies (QTTB) dependent on
the ministry. The ministry has a consolidated extension program implemented through cooperation with the
QTTB and other research structures.
The Ministry of Defense envisages the intensification of R&D activities for security and defense as part of a
long-term plan for the Development of Military Forces 2020.
The Ministry of Health has its own research agenda related to the improvement of health services.
The Ministry of Economy is planning to establish a Center for Innovation that would provide services to
enterprises related to innovation and technology transfer.

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

Table A 2: Statistical Profile

ALBANIA WBC EU-27

ECONOMY & BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
GDP (2010) €8,872 M €15,523 M €12,279,401 M
GDP per Capita (2011) €3,080 €4,454 €23,400
Population (2011) 2,831,741 22,832,917 502,404,702
Exports to GDP ratio (2010) 12.0 19.2%33 -
Imports to GDP ratio (2010) 36.5 40.3%34 -
Trade to GDP ratio (2010) 48.5 60.5%35 -
Net Foreign Direct Investment, % GDP (2011) 10.25 (inflows) 4.92 (inflows) 2.86 (outflows)
HUMAN CAPITAL AND RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (R&D)
Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D, % GDP (2009) 0.15 0.3336 2.03
37
Researchers per Million Population (2010) 245 78738 3,16639
University-Industry Collaboration Rank 2012 (of 144 countries) 40
139 8841 4042
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER & INFRASTRUCTURE
Percentage of Enterprises with Internationally Recognized Quality
24.6 19.343 -
Certification (2009, Enterprise Survey)
Percentage of Firms Using Technology Licensed from Foreign
38.6 25.7 -
Companies (2009, Enterprise Survey)
Royalties & License Fees Payments, % GDP (2011) 0.10 0.2344 0.58
Royalties & License Fees Receipts, % GDP (2011) 0.10 0.0945 0.42
Internet Users per 100 People (2011) 49 5446 72
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions per 100 People (2011) 96 106 125
Intellectual Property Protection Ranking 2012 (of 144 countries)47 94 9548 4049
S&T OUTPUTS AND INNOVATION PERFORMANCE
Utility Patents Filed in the US per Million Population (2009) 0.31 2.850 117
S&T Journal Articles per Million Population (2009) 2.7 12551 496
High-technology Exports, % Manufactured Exports (2010) 0.89 4.252 15.3
Global Innovation Index Rank 2012 (of 125 countries) 53
90 6054 2455
Trademark Applications per Million Population (2010, WIPO) 911 1,83256 13057

Note: If not indicated otherwise, indicators are from World Development Indicators (see footnotes). “-“: Not available.
33
Excluding Kosovo. (This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of
Independence.)
34
Ibid.
35
Ibid.
36
Average of UNESCO’s available data for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and FYR Macedonia for 2008-08.
37
Full-time equivalents – one person-year for example 30% time spent on R&D would count as 0.3 FTE.
38
Average of UNESCO’s data on Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Serbia.
39
Average of World Development Indicators data on EU 27 countries
40
Global Competitiveness Report 2012.
41
Average of Global Competitiveness Report ranks for Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.
42
Average of Global Competitiveness Report data on EU 27 countries
43
Average of Enterprise Survey data on Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.
44
Average of World Development Indicators data on Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia.
45
Average of World Development Indicators data on Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia.
46
Average of World Development Indicators data on internet users per 100 people in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and
Serbia.
47
Global Competitiveness Report 2012.
48
Average of Global Competitiveness Report ranks for Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.
49
Average of ranks of the EU 27.
50
Average of USPTO data on Albania, Croatia, Macedonia, and Serbia.
51
Average of World Development Indicators data on Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
52
Average of World Development Indicators’ available data for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia for 2010.
53
GII 2012 (INSEAD and WIPO).
54
Average of ranks of 6 Western Balkan countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
55
Average of ranks of the EU 27.
56
Average of World Development Indicators data on Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
57
Total trademark applications per million population in the EU 27 from World Development Indicators.

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

Table A 3: Broad share of available budgets by main categories of research and innovation
measures
Broad category of Approximate total annual budget Commentary
research and innovation for 2010 (in euro)
policy measure
Governance & horizontal RDI strategy: TOTAL € 14.45m for Total planned budget of RDI strategy for 2009- 2015 is
research and innovation 2010 €151.95m
policies 2010 breakdown:
 Baseline funding for HEI research institutes €8.25m
 Fund for research infrastructure €4m
 Fund for centers of excellence in research €1.5m
 Fund for new researchers/Research Eagles grants €0.2m
 Fund for transfer of technology and innovation €0.15m
 Agency for Research, Technology and Innovation €0.5m
Research and ARTI: TOTAL €1m for 2010 ARTI began operating in 2010
Technologies “National Programs of National Programs for Research and Development Budget
Research and Development” and 2010 – 2012 (planned)
“Bilateral Programs” totaling  Social Sciences and Albanology (€366,959.3 or
140,000,000 ALL 51,000.000 ALL)
(€1,015,965.16, of which  Information Systems and Technologies (ICT)
Bilateral cooperation with (€575,622.4 or 80,000.000 ALL)
Slovenia is valued at €36,284.47  Biodiversity and the Environment (€352,568.7 or
in 2010) 49,000.000 ALL)
 Agriculture (veterinary, zoo-technical), Food and
Biotechnology (€568,427.1 or 79,000.000 ALL)
 Health (€330,982.9 or 46,000.000 ALL)
 Water and Energy (€338,178.1 / 47,000.000 ALL)
 Materials (€230,249 or 32,000.000 ALL)
Human Resources Total €279,131 for 2010 Brain Gain program for 2010. Actual expenditures
(education and skills)  Project Total: $1,000,000, of which UNDP
 Contribution $300,000 & Donor Funding
 Sought $700,000) April 2006-Dec. 2011, to continue in
2012-2013.
 Also note above under NSSTI: Basic funding for HEI
research institutions €8.25m for 2010
 Fund for new researchers/Research Eagles grants €0.2m
Promote and sustain the Business Innovation and €10m over a 6-year period. Budget only for 2011:
creation and growth of Technology Strategy (BITS):  Awareness Raising €28,650
Innovative enterprises supposed to start in June 2011  Business Innovation Services €182,650
 Innovation Fund €355,200
 Clusters Program 2012 start-up €141,650
 Incubation Program 2012 start-up €82,500
TOTAL for 2011: €566,500
Markets and No specific initiatives can be See above—awareness raising –BITS as
innovation culture determined promoted by the BRIC is supposed to
promote an innovation culture among SMEs
Source: Pro Inno Europe/ Inno Policy Trendchart (2011)

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

Table A 4: Innovation budgets of the main government departments and agencies

Name of the Organization Number of staff Innovation budget Estimated share of budget earmarked for
Responsible for Managed (2011) specific policy measures
innovation measures
(% of total)
Minister of 12 of 12 (100%) --- -----
Innovation, Technology, of • Digital Albania
Information and
Communication (MITIC)
The Albanian Investment 20 of 20 (100%) € 29,061,870 AIDA € 29,061,870
and Development Agency (201028) • From this:
(AIDA) • Support for SMEs €26,475 (Loan)
• Institutional Support for BITS €2,587,050
(Loan)
Business Relay and BRIC is under • €566,500 • Awareness Raising €28,650
Innovation Centre (BRIC) AIDA • Business Innovation Services €182,650
5 of 20 (25%)  Innovation Fund €355,200
ARTI 3 of 15 (20%) €431,65429 • National Research and Development
(2010 – 2012) Program: Information Technology €431,654
NAIS 40 of 40 (100%) €5,065,514.28 • Computer equipment for ministries and
government agencies €142,800
• VAT payment for computer equipment for
ministries and government agencies
€142,800
• Purchase of office equipment €14,200
• Agreement with Microsoft €750,000
• Total 2009: €1,050,000
Source: Pro Inno Europe/ Inno Policy Trendchart (2011) Available information regarding MITIC is partial.

Table A 5: FP7 proposals and success rates

Number of eligible proposals with at least one Number of proposals retained for Success rates
applicant in country funding (Main listed) in calls with closure
in reference year

All 2007 2008 2009 2010 All 2007 2008 2009 201 All 2007 2008 2009 2010
FP7 FP7 0 FP7
AL - Albania 148 77 29 32 10 24 6 5 9 4 16% 8% 17% 28% 40%

BA – BiH 155 78 24 41 12 23 8 4 6 5 15% 10% 17% 15% 42%

HR - Croatia 878 331 233 252 61 138 50 34 35 19 16% 15% 15% 14% 31%

MK - FYR 271 113 66 68 23 47 19 14 7 6 17% 17% 21% 10% 26%

Macedonia
ME - Montenegro 111 51 27 26 7 24 8 9 3 4 22% 16% 33% 12% 57%

RS - Serbia 836 323 198 263 49 114 40 27 33 14 14% 12% 14% 13% 29%

Sum SEE countries 19,416 8,006 4,965 5,374 1,035 3,238 1,190 742 1,012 290 17% 15% 15% 19% 28%

Sum Baltic countries 2,466 1,094 606 615 144 552 212 141 156 42 22% 19% 23% 25% 29%

All EU27 countries 45,544 14,632 14,680 14,377 1,855 9,470 2,931 2,581 3,407 551 21% 20% 18% 24% 30%

Source: Rivera Leon & Reid (2010)

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 Country Paper Series: Albania

Table A 6: FP7 proposals and success rates

Participant EC Contribution (only in Applicant Requested EC Financial Share of signed contracts in
signed contracts of calls closed in Contribution requested contributions
reference year) (cumulative, not only of signed
agreements)
All FP7 2007 2008 2009 All FP7
AL - Albania 765,652 369,800 167,244 228,608 1,505,469 51%
BA - BiH 1,217,869 668,482 158,073 391,314 1,409,863 86%
HR - Croatia 18,206,608 8,783,021 7,483,541 1,940,046 28,012,392 65%
MK - FYR 5,414,426 2,175,478 2,779,948 459,000 7,511,762 72%
Macedonia
ME - Montenegro 858,821 368,436 458,385 32,000 2,413,771 36%
RS - Serbia 16,447,410 10,062,498 4,124,798 2,260,114 27,406,094 60%
Sum SEE countries 525,881,138 273,144,167 154,255,017 98,481,954 815,630,228 64%
Sum Baltic countries 59,993,584 30,375,922 20,279,471 9,338,191 90,965,830 66%
All EU27 countries 15,941,623,108 6,248,486,973 4,118,181,974 4,609,196,801
Source: Rivera Leon & Reid (2010)

Table A 7: IPA Programs per component

Component 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Transition Assistance and Institution Building 54,3 62,1 70,9 82,7 84,3 85,9
Cross-border Co-operation 6,6 8,5 10,2 10,4 10,6 10,9

TOTAL 61,0 70,7 81,2 93,2 95,0 96,9

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/potential-candidates/albania/financial_en.htm

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