Diaspora4Innovation was built on the idea that the knowledge, professional experience, and networks of the Albanian diaspora can produce concrete results when they connect through a structured process with universities, students, entrepreneurs, and innovation actors in Albania.

Implemented by GERMIN and powered by EU4Innovation, the project brought together diaspora professionals and scholars, higher education institutions, resident academics, start-ups, and ecosystem organisations. Its work was organised through three connected pillars: Diaspora4Education, Diaspora4Entrepreneurship, and Diaspora4Promotion.

Through these pillars, the project moved beyond networking. It supported academic partnerships, course co-design, co-teaching, mentoring, scientific research, and applications for international funding.

Diaspora4Innovation in Numbers

During its implementation, the project:

• reached 554 student beneficiaries;
• engaged 11 partner universities;
• involved 11 diaspora scholars and 15 resident scholars;
• supported the co-design of 9 courses and the co-teaching of 14 courses;
• created 14 active research collaborations;
• engaged 22 diaspora mentors;
• supported 71 Albanian start-ups, including 44 women-founded start-ups;
• reached 420,043 users through its digital communication activities.

Student feedback also points to clear results. According to the publication, 96.4 percent of surveyed students reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their course, while 95.5 percent said the courses introduced innovative concepts.

A Model That Extends Beyond Individual Lectures

The Diaspora4Innovation model began with university partnerships and the connection of diaspora scholars with resident academics in Albania. These relationships developed through syllabus co-design, co-teaching, practical learning activities, and joint research.

The process followed a clear path:

University partnerships → academic collaboration → syllabus co-design → co-teaching → joint research → lasting institutional impact.

Rather than limiting diaspora engagement to one-time lectures or visits, the project aimed to build relationships that could continue through publications, international projects, academic exchanges, and cooperation between institutions.

Academic Collaborations in Practice

Applied Economics and Data Analysis

Dr. Adelajda Matuka from the University of Bologna worked with Dr. Edmira Cakrani and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Filloreta Madani to co-design and deliver the course “Applied Economics with R Studio.”

Students worked with real datasets, programming, modelling, and data visualisation while connecting their findings to economic and public policy questions. The collaboration also continued through joint research and an international conference presentation.

Planning Education and Practice-Based Learning

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dorina Pojani from the University of Queensland and Dr. Irina Branko from the Polytechnic University of Tirana worked together to update a landscape planning course.

The course combined guest lectures from professionals across several sectors with workplace visits. Students gave the course an average rating of 4.75 out of 5 and highlighted the value of practical exposure, interdisciplinary learning, and insights into professional opportunities.

Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Idea Validation

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elona Marku from the University of Cagliari and Asst. Prof. Dr. Vehap Kola from the University of New York Tirana connected entrepreneurship education with student mentoring, academic research, and European cooperation.

Students worked with business models, digital transformation, lean start-up principles, and the Proof of Concept Canvas. The collaboration also resulted in a research presentation at the European Group for Organizational Studies Colloquium and a COST Action proposal.

Digital Entrepreneurship and Artificial Intelligence

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Endrit Kromidha from the University of Birmingham collaborated with Dr. Blendi Shima and Dr. Gentjan Ulaj to update entrepreneurship and small business management courses.

The revised content covered digital entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence for small and medium-sized enterprises, prototyping, investor pitching, and business model innovation. The collaboration also contributed to a joint research paper prepared for the British Academy of Management Conference 2026.

Environmental Economics and European Policy

Asst. Prof. Dr. Ernil Sabaj from the University of Warwick and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ledjon Shahini from the University of Tirana co-designed and co-taught the Environmental Economics course.

Students studied carbon pricing, emissions trading systems, and circular economy models, using data from European and international institutions. The collaboration also included a study visit to the University of Warwick and work toward a Jean Monnet application.

Cybersecurity and Joint Research

Dr. Fatbardh Veseli and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Edlira Martiri from the University of Tirana worked on improving a master’s-level cybersecurity course.

They refined the syllabus, connected innovation theory with cybersecurity practice, and developed joint research in privacy and data security. Their scientific paper was submitted to the Annual Privacy Forum 2026.

Architecture, Design, and Urban Solutions

Dr. Klodian Gradeci from SINTEF and Oslo Metropolitan University collaborated with Dr. Ledian Bregasi from POLIS University on the “New European Bauhaus Innovation Studio” course.

Students used user research, design sprints, teamwork, and project pitching to develop solutions to real challenges. Two participants later won first prize at the CliMobility City Lab Demo Day and secured a €50,000 award for their project, “Urban Oasis.”

From Diaspora Collaboration to Horizon Europe

One of the project’s strongest outcomes came from the collaboration between Dr. Kristian Sevdari and Dr. Astrit Bardhi from the Polytechnic University of Tirana.

Their cooperation contributed to the successful Horizon Europe application for SOLAR-MOVE – Solar Photovoltaic to MOVE for Systems Integration. The project has a total value of €8.25 million, including nearly €7 million in European Union funding.

Through SOLAR-MOVE, the Polytechnic University of Tirana joined a European research consortium focused on photovoltaic solutions, electric mobility, and energy systems integration.

Computational Physics, Artificial Intelligence, and MLOps

Dr. Lisana Berberi from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology worked with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Entelë Gavoçi and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nihat Adar at the Canadian Institute of Technology.

Python-based simulations were introduced into Physics I, while the artificial intelligence and machine learning courses incorporated MLOps, reproducible workflows, GitHub collaboration, and production-ready practices.

The partnership also produced a joint paper on machine learning models for taxi trip duration prediction, later published by Springer Nature.

Open Innovation in Finance Education

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Valentina Ndou from the University of Salento and Prof. Dr. Blerta Dragusha from the University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi” updated the Corporate Finance course.

Students worked with business modelling, design thinking, artificial intelligence, and open innovation challenges. In cooperation with banks and industry professionals, they developed solutions related to financial inclusion, digital services, and operational efficiency. The partnership also contributed to an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education proposal.

Biomedical Sciences and Laboratory Research

Dr. Gladiola Goranci-Buzhala from CECAD at the University of Cologne collaborated with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Albana Halili from Western Balkans University.

They updated the Tissue Engineering course and organised practical workshops on scientific writing, data analysis, and microscopy image processing using Fiji/ImageJ.

The partnership created further opportunities, including an academic visit to the University of Cologne and laboratory work for a Western Balkans University student completing a master’s thesis.

Support for Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups

Through Diaspora4Entrepreneurship, diaspora mentors contributed to labs, pre-accelerators, university workshops, and business development activities.

The project engaged 22 mentors, worked through 6 labs and pre-accelerators, and supported 71 Albanian start-ups, including 44 women-founded businesses.

Mentors supported participants in business model development, communication, technology, urban sustainability, mobility, women-led entrepreneurship, and access to European funding opportunities.

Connecting People, Institutions, and Opportunities

Diaspora4Innovation showed that diaspora engagement creates stronger results when institutions build it around clear structures, shared objectives, and sustained cooperation.

The project’s results go beyond the number of lectures or events delivered. They can be seen in updated courses, new teaching methods, joint research, scientific publications, European funding applications, supported businesses, and institutional relationships that can continue after the project closes.

The Diaspora4Innovation publication presents this work as a journey of collaboration and impact, as well as an invitation to carry the connections forward.

From knowledge held across different countries to results created together in Albania, Diaspora4Innovation demonstrated how diaspora engagement can contribute to the country’s academic, economic, and institutional development.