Digital Transformation Challenge in U2SID

(online meeting)

8^th October 2024

On October 8, 2024, an online meeting was held between the University of Shkoder, as the lead institution for the U2SID project, and the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation (NASRI) to discuss progress and upcoming tasks within the project framework. This event was organized by NASRI and focused on advancing Work Package 3 (WP3) objectives aimed at fostering university-to-society collaborations for inclusive digital transformation in the Western Balkans.

Meeting Highlights:

Opening Remarks: Dr. Marsela Robo , NASRI’s Director of National Programs, opened the meeting by providing an overview of accomplishments in WP2 and outlined the steps for WP3.
Stakeholder Engagement and Recommendations: Dr. Brikene Dionizi, U2SID Project Manager from the University of Shkoder, presented key recommendations for enhancing stakeholder engagement. This included strategies to improve project impact and the development of the "Digital Transformation Challenge Manual," which is expected to serve as a critical resource for ongoing and future collaborations. Dr. Dionizi emphasized the value of collaborative engagements between universities, businesses, civil society, and policymakers to support sustainable digital development in the region.
Strategic Initiatives: Dr. Robo proposed the creation of a digital database for university-business best practices and discussed the possibility of establishing a Center of Excellence. This center would operate near the university to further support inclusive digital transformation initiatives.
Q&A Session: The meeting concluded with a Q&A session, where NASRI team members posed questions on project calls and funding opportunities.

The discussions underscored the commitment to enhancing digital competencies and building inclusive digital ecosystems in Albania and the wider Western Balkan region, aligning with the EU Digital Agenda and Albania’s Digital Agenda 2022-2026