Digital transformation is reshaping how SMEs compete, but requires more than access to technology. This cluster examines whether the right conditions are in place for SMEs to navigate this transition successfully. It looks at how policies are designed and implemented to support SME digitalisation and productivity, how they build the digital safety environment that underpins trust and resilience, and how they support SMEs in moving beyond basic digital tools toward more advanced and sustainable technologies; assessing in each case whether policy ambition is matched by effective delivery and measurable outcomes at firm level.
SME Policy Index for Western Balkans and Türkiye 2026 – Economy Profile for Albania
Abstract
Digital transformation is increasingly recognised as a key lever for enhancing small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) productivity, innovation and competitiveness, yet its impact depends critically on the broader ecosystem in which firms operate. While digital tools can help SMEs optimise processes, reach new customers and adopt more data-driven business practices (OECD, 2021[1]), these gains are only realised when enabling conditions are in place. These include adequate digital and managerial skills, organisational capacity, interoperable digital systems, and access to relevant support services (OECD, 2025[2]; 2019[3]). Public policy, therefore, plays a decisive role in determining whether SME digitalisation remains limited to basic tool adoption or evolves into deeper, productivity-enhancing transformation (OECD, 2024[4]).
Digitalisation has gained prominence in Albania across several strategic frameworks, reflecting growing awareness of its importance for SME competitiveness and economic convergence. However, policy efforts to date have focused primarily on digital governance, connectivity and access to e-services, with more limited attention to strengthening firm-level capabilities and organisational change. This section assesses whether the foundational conditions for SME digital upgrading are in place by examining Albania’s policy and institutional frameworks, the structure and scale of financial support for digitalisation, and the availability of digital skills development opportunities for SMEs.
4.1.1. Strengthening policy and financial support for SME digital transformation
SME digital transformation depends on the combined development of skills, infrastructure, innovation capacity and access to finance, making the quality of the policy framework and its implementation a decisive factor. Smaller firms typically face higher relative adoption costs, limited in-house expertise and greater difficulty in planning digital investments, which increases their dependence on coherent public support compared to larger enterprises (OECD, 2021[1]). Digital transformation is thus best understood as a policy-driven process, where outcomes depend not only on the availability of individual instruments, but on how effectively governance arrangements align incentives, reduce fragmentation and provide SMEs with clear pathways from basic digital uptake toward more advanced, productivity-enhancing use (OECD, 2019[3]).
Through some of its policy and strategic frameworks, Albania partially recognises the growing importance of digital transformation for SMEs. The Strategy for the Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship 2024‑2030 creates a clear link between SME development and digitalisation and innovations with a focus on technology transfer, digital finance and mentoring for innovative firms (Table 4.1). Its budget allocation of ALL 600 million (≈ EUR 5.1 million) for 2025-2030, of which ALL 100 million (≈ EUR 1 million) is from the state budget – signals intent but limits the scale of SME-specific interventions in the absence of explicit targets and performance indicators. Complementing this, the Digital Agenda 2022-2026 frames the economy-wide transition in digital governance, infrastructure and skills. Under the objective for business digitalisation, it includes two business-relevant goals: 1) increasing the number of technology start-ups through dedicated programmes by 2024; and 2) creating facilities to make Albania one of the region’s most attractive destinations for digital nomads by 2025. However, the Digital Agenda’s Action Plan, although available, does not outline clear measurable actions, thus constraining a clear view of implementation pathways, resourcing and SME-level benefits.
Notes: The table considers all policy frameworks that are relevant for SME digitalisation or digital transformation.
1. A strategy sets the overall vision, strategic objectives and long-term priorities for a given policy area whereas an action plan operationalises these priorities by defining concrete measures, responsible institutions, timelines and (where available) indicative budgets. In other words, the strategy explains what the government intends to achieve while the action plan details how it will be implemented. Action plans thus serve as the main reference point for assessing the extent to which strategic commitments translate into measurable, on-the-ground interventions.
2. An indirect SME targeting approach refers to strategies that do not contain SME-specific measures, instruments or implementation mechanisms but instead pursue economy-wide objectives from which SMEs may benefit. While such strategies may support areas relevant to SMEs (e.g. innovation, digital infrastructure or skills), they do not explicitly account for SME-specific constraints, capacities or policy needs.
Source: Information provided by the government of Albania during the assessment period (2025).
Beyond these strategies, other frameworks such as the National Strategy for Scientific Research, Technology and Innovation 2023-2030; the Smart Specialisation Strategy 2025-2030, which identifies agriculture, tourism and renewable energy as priority sectors where innovation and digitalisation are expected to support SME competitiveness; and the Employment and Skills Strategy 2023-2030, also reference digitalisation as a supporting element for economic competitiveness and human capital development. However, these documents tend to treat digitalisation as a cross-cutting or sectoral driver, offering limited clarity on how SMEs are expected to leverage these initiatives to generate tangible firm‑level benefits. As a result, while digitalisation is increasingly reflected across Albania’s policy frameworks, the overall approach only partially focuses on SME-level transformation. Existing strategies improve the general enabling environment, but most lack clear SME-specific targets, measurable outcomes and dedicated funding for digital upgrading. This limits their capacity to translate strategic ambition into concrete productivity gains at the enterprise level.
Moreover, implementation related to digitalisation and digital transformation activities is dependent on co‑ordination among several institutions. The Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation oversees SME policy through the Business and Investment Development Strategy; the National Agency for Information Society leads implementation of the Digital Agenda 2022-2026; the Ministry of Education and Sports and the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation manage the STI agenda; and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy is responsible for broadband and digital infrastructure. To ensure coherence across these domains, the government has established the Consultative Council for Enterprises, an advisory and transparency body which, under Article 19 of Law No. 43/2024, is the main formal co‑ordination mechanism at the level of SME-related policies (Albanian Government, 2025[5]). The Consultative Council for Enterprises is legally defined as an advisory body composed of representatives from ministries, business organisations, higher education institutions and other state bodies. It is chaired by the minister responsible for the economy. Its mandate includes discussing issues related to business support and development, promoting co-operation between business support organisations and state bodies and advising on the design of business support schemes in line with the Business and Investment Development Strategy. The legal framework does not assign the council a monitoring or evaluation role regarding the governing of SME policies.
While Albania’s current co-ordination mechanisms provide a solid foundation for institutional co-ordination and stakeholder engagement, challenges remain in translating these arrangements into effective implementation. So far, the Consultative Council for Enterprises has only convened once, for the purpose of approving its rules of procedure, and no public reporting on its activities is available (Albanian Government, 2025[5]). Although a second meeting is reportedly planned, no timeline has yet been defined. Therefore, obstacles may persist in translating high-level guidance into fully integrated implementation, particularly in aligning digital transformation efforts with SME digital innovation, digital skills development and SME-targeted support measures.
Alongside these co-ordination efforts, several programmes have been introduced to support SME digital transformation, although their impact is yet to be evaluated. Albania has joined the EU Digital Europe Programme (2021-2027), which was designed to accelerate digital transformation across businesses, citizens and public administrations. It has a budget of ALL 26.8 million (≈ EUR 250 000) (European Commission, 2023[6]). More recently, the government has sought to complement these efforts through the Digital Innovation Unit project, which aims to support SMEs’ digital transformation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and advanced digital skills development. It has a budget of EUR 1.8 million (UET, 2025[7]).
Looking at financial support, Albania is expanding financial instruments for SME digitalisation and digital transformation (Table 4.1). The government mainly provides direct financial support through the Albanian Investment Development Agency’s (AIDA) annual SME grant schemes, which totalled approximately ALL 2.5 million (≈ EUR 25 000) in 2025 for digitalisation-related measures such as digital marketing, e‑commerce development, website creation and related ICT adoption. In 2024, total public funding allocated to SME support through AIDA amounted to approximately ALL 151.8 million, rising to ALL 131.8 million in 2025, supporting SMEs across manufacturing, tourism, agribusiness and ICT-related services (Albanian Government, 2025[5]). Within this envelope, digitalisation-related measures specifically accounted for approximately ALL 2.5 million (≈ EUR 25 000) in 2025 (Muça, 2025[8]), with over 100 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises awarded support through similar grant programmes in 2024 (Albanian Daily News, 2024[9]). Notably, AIDA grants represent the main government-funded financial incentive specifically accessible to SMEs, with most other available instruments co‑financed or implemented through donor partnerships. However, systematic monitoring of their long-term impact, in terms of productivity gains, export growth or digital adoption, remains limited, with evaluation based mainly on beneficiary reporting and administrative programme data rather than structured outcome assessment.
Donor and partner supported programmes appear to provide a broader scope of financial support for SME digitalisation than government-funded schemes. In particular, incentives such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s Go Digital project in Albania, the SME Competitiveness Support Facility, and the Youth in Business Programme (EBRD, 2023[10]; WBIF, 2025[11]) provide SMEs with access to finance through local partner banks, combining loans, technical assistance and grant incentives to facilitate technology adoption. These instruments play a central role in supporting digital investments, but remain largely externally financed.
Notes: EBRD: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The table includes an overview of government and donor financial support for SME digital transformation.
Sources: EBRD (2023[10]); WBIF (2025[11]); Muça (2025[8]); Albanian Daily News (2024[9]); OECD compilation based on publicly available information.
Despite this range of instruments, the overall scale of financial support remains modest relative to the size of Albania's SME population, and its design limits its reach. Digitalisation is often a secondary eligibility criterion across available schemes, meaning that funding tends to reach more innovation-oriented firms rather than the broader SME base. This uneven reach is compounded by weak co-ordination between financing, advisory services and skills development: Albania lacks a centralised mechanism to link digital maturity assessments with tailored advisory support and follow-up finance, resulting in a fragmented support architecture that reduces the overall effectiveness of public interventions and risks slowing the pace of SME digital transformation.
4.1.2. Assessing the digital maturity of SMEs in Albania
Evaluating SME digital readiness requires looking beyond simple technology uptake indicators to assess how effectively digital tools are embedded in SMEs’ core activities. In many smaller enterprises, digitalisation remains gradual and limited in scope, with widespread use of basic applications that rarely translate into meaningful changes in productivity or business models. This highlights the importance of targeted public interventions to support more advanced and integrated forms of digital upgrading (OECD, 2023[12]). Evidence shows that when policy support is delivered in a co-ordinated manner, linking skills development, advisory services and accessible financing, SMEs are more likely to adopt higher value digital solutions and engage more actively in digital markets (OECD, 2021[1]; 2023[12]).
Looking at the demand side, uptake of digital tools among SMEs in Albania appears to be growing, but is mostly concentrated around basic, entry-level technologies. About 94% of SMEs that took part in the OECD survey for the Western Balkans and Türkiye (WBT) (see Annex B for more information) report using at least one digital tool, marking a noticeable shift from pre-pandemic practices (OECD, forthcoming[13]). The most commonly used tools appear to be electronic invoicing systems, used by 78% of surveyed SMEs, followed by company websites (60%), and social media platforms (51%) (Figure 4.1). This pattern points to a growing baseline of digital engagement, yet it also highlights a persistent gap in the adoption of more advanced digital solutions that drive productivity and innovation. Moreover, about 21% of surveyed SMEs reported using either customer relationship management (CRM) or supplier-customer management, while the uptake of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems (8%) and big data analytics (4%) remains marginal (OECD, forthcoming[13]). While tools such as e-invoicing and online presence enhance administrative efficiency and online visibility, they rarely reshape core business processes, suggesting that most SMEs remain engaged in incremental digitalisation rather than comprehensive digital transformation.
Source: OECD (forthcoming[13]).
These findings reflect a broader pattern observed across OECD countries, where SME digital adoption tends to remain operational rather than strategic, and the gap with larger firms is more pronounced in the uptake of more sophisticated digital technologies rather than basic e-commerce tools (OECD, 2021[14]). Evidence for Albania further suggests that firm size matters, but in non-linear ways: while microenterprises and self-entrepreneurs may experiment with specific advanced tools such as big data applications, medium-sized firms generally exhibit higher adoption rates across a wider range of digital technologies (OECD, forthcoming[13]). This heterogeneity indicates that internal firm characteristics, such as workforce capacity and managerial bandwidth, play a critical role in shaping SMEs’ ability to integrate digital solutions.
In addition to firm capabilities, adoption outcomes are also shaped by SMEs’ underlying motivations for using digital tools. In Albania, the main motivators appear to be rather operational: 61% of surveyed SMEs report using digital tools to broaden their customer base, 46% to automate internal processes and about 36% to improve monitoring of business activities (Figure 4.2) (OECD, forthcoming[13]). These drivers resemble broader trends in the WBT region, and the OECD, where SMEs tend to adopt digital tools to increase efficiency or meet immediate business needs (OECD, forthcoming[13]; 2024[15]). Nevertheless, strategic drivers for digital tools uptake, such as SME expansion into new markets or development of innovative products, seem to be less common among SMEs in Albania: 21% of surveyed SMEs report using digital tools to explore new revenue sources and 22% to enhance the products that they offer.
Notes: The chart excludes respondents who cited “Do not use digital tools” in the previous question. See Figure 4.1.
Source: OECD (forthcoming[13]).
Similarly, survey findings reveal that SMEs in Albania rarely leverage digital tools to modernise their internal work culture or improve talent management. About 14% of surveyed SMEs report using digital tools to enable teleworking or flexible work arrangements and 13% use them to strengthen employer branding or workforce development strategies (OECD, forthcoming[13]). This suggests that most surveyed SMEs still perceive digital tools as solutions for client communication or administrative functions rather than as enablers of broader organisational transformation. This limits the potential of digitalisation to foster resilience, improve employee retention and address the growing demand for digital skills. This can be a result of low awareness levels among surveyed SMEs regarding government support: nearly 84% of surveyed SMEs in Albania are unaware of government-led support programmes related to digitalisation, which is higher than the WBT average of 17% and the OECD sample average of 21% (OECD, forthcoming[13]; 2025[2]).
Aside from low awareness of government support, Albania’s SME digital maturity is shaped by structural and capacity-related barriers. Almost 40% of surveyed SMEs identify the costs of acquiring and repairing digital equipment as a major barrier to adoption, while 38% of SMEs find the cost of maintenance of software to be the major bottleneck (Figure 4.3). Following this, the cost of training for the use of digital tools seems to be a common financial concern, with 32% of surveyed SMEs reporting this challenge. Additionally, 26% of surveyed SMEs cite the lack of time for training as a barrier, while 16% report insufficient digital skills within their teams as a key obstacle to their digital transformation (OECD, forthcoming[13]).
Note: “None” refers to respondents who reported no challenges related to digital tool use (i.e. they did not cite any of the listed challenges), regardless of whether they use digital tools.
Source: OECD (forthcoming[13]).
Overall, these patterns suggest that digital adoption among SMEs in Albania is progressing but remains largely confined to basic and operational uses, with limited integration into core business strategies. Without more co-ordinated policies that combine financing, skills development and targeted advisory support, SMEs in Albania risk remaining stuck in low-productivity, low-digital maturity business models.
4.1.3. Enhancing digital skills and capacities
Across OECD countries, the pace and quality of digital transformation increasingly depend not only on access to technologies, but also on firms’ capacity to deploy digital, managerial and problem-solving skills; redesign workflows; use data; and integrate new technologies into everyday operations (OECD, 2024[4]). Skills have, therefore, become a foundational condition for effective digital adoption rather than a secondary or supporting factor. In Albania, the demand for digital skills has evolved significantly in recent years, moving beyond basic IT literacy toward a wider range of cross-functional competencies that encompass programming expertise, adaptability and business-oriented digital capacities (ITU, 2021[16]). This shift raises the threshold for effective digital transformation, as SMEs must now master a broader and more complex set of skills that change rapidly over time. Without targeted support, SMEs may struggle to keep pace with these evolving requirements, increasing the risk that they fall behind in adopting more advanced technologies and business models (OECD, 2021[1]).
Survey findings reveal that SMEs in Albania struggle with skills development: 25% of surveyed SMEs indicate that they do not provide regular training for employees to improve digital skills due to limited time or organisational capacity (OECD, forthcoming[13]). Additionally, hiring digitally skilled employees is a growing challenge: over 28% of surveyed SMEs in Albania report difficulties finding employees with adequate digital competencies, a share higher than in several other WBT economies and underscoring human capital as a comparatively visible bottleneck in Albania. In addition, 17% cite insufficient talent and lack of digital skills within the company as a key barrier to further digitalisation (Figure 4.4) (OECD, forthcoming[13]). Reliance on external consultants for digital skills support is also relatively limited, with the OECD sample average standing at 27%, while SMEs across OECD countries complement this with a wider range of structured and semi-structured learning channels, including online research (35%), e-commerce platform training (30%) and internal knowledge sharing (23%) (OECD, 2025[2]). This suggests that SMEs in Albania may have fewer accessible pathways to build digital capabilities compared to their OECD peers. This suggest that skills-related barriers to SME digitalisation in Albania are linked not only to awareness, but also to limited firm-level absorptive capacity, particularly among smaller enterprises with constrained time and human resources.
Survey findings reveal that SMEs in Albania struggle with skills development: 25% of SMEs indicate that they do not provide regular training for employees to improve digital skills due to limited time or organisational capacity. In addition, hiring digitally skilled employees is a growing challenge: over 28% of surveyed SMEs in Albania report difficulties finding employees with adequate digital competencies, a share higher than in several other WBT economies and underscoring human capital as a comparatively visible bottleneck in Albania. On top of this, 17% cite insufficient talent and lack of digital skills within the company as a key barrier to further digitalisation. These findings suggest that skills-related barriers to SME digitalisation in Albania are not only linked to awareness, but also to limited firm-level absorptive capacity, particularly among smaller enterprises with constrained time and human resources.
Source: OECD (forthcoming[13]).
The government has introduced reforms including digital skills programmes delivered by the National Agency for Employment and Skills and coding training initiatives, the expansion of ICT profiles in vocational schools and universities, strengthening coding and digital literacy in secondary education, and launching pilot programmes for digital job profiles (Albanian Government, 2024[17]). However, alignment between skills provision and labour market needs, particularly those of SMEs, remains limited. Basic digital skills among the population are low: about 23% of adults in Albania possess at least a basic level of digital skills, less than half of the EU average of 56% (Eurostat, 2023[18]). Participation in lifelong learning is also minimal, with fewer than 1% of adults engaged in formal or non-formal training, far below the EU average of 13.5% and the EU Digital Compass target of 80% adult digital skills coverage by 2030 (ETF, 2023[19]; European Commission, 2021[20]). These structural weaknesses in the skills pipeline can create persistent constraints for SMEs, many of which rely on a small or ageing workforce.
In response, the government adopted several strategic frameworks to strengthen the digital skills ecosystem. The Strategy for Employment and Skills 2023-2030 provides the main framework for developing digital competences through education, vocational training and public-private partnerships. It includes measures to support vocational education and training (VET) providers and teachers in developing and using digital content (ALL 23 million or ≈ EUR 239 000) and to enhance technical and digital skills training for the workforce (ALL 24.1 million or ≈ EUR 250 600). The strategy also aims to adapt training offers for unemployed individuals to help them acquire soft and digital skills, although this measure lacks a dedicated budget. Complementing this, the Digital Agenda 2022-2026 focuses on strengthening digital infrastructure and early skills formation, with measurable targets such as establishing smart laboratories in all pre‑university institutions, creating 10 youth technology centres and certifying 10 000 coders by 2025 (Albania Ministry of Finance, 2023[21]). However, most of the mentioned reforms focus on public or institutional infrastructure, administrative systems, or teacher training rather than tailored SME support. Moreover, gaps persist in terms of implementation capacity: challenges related to institutional co‑ordination, sustained financing and pilot programmes initiation have been identified and underlined in some government evaluation reports (Albania Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation, 2024[22]).
In parallel, some donor initiatives have emerged to support SME digital skill capacity building (see Cluster 4). Projects such as Protik’s the Bim4WB project, the Digital Skills Competencies programme and RisiAlbania’s youth trainings for the ICT sector, have been offering workshops, digital bootcamps and advisory services for SMEs (Box 4.1) (Protik Center, 2025[23]; RisiAlbania, 2025[24]). Support for SME digital upskilling thus remains largely project-based and uneven in coverage, limiting its ability to reach the wider SME base or to provide sustained, enterprise-oriented skills development pathways.
Albania’s construction industry faces significant challenges in adopting modern digital practices, particularly Building Information Modeling (BIM). Recognising the need to bridge this skills gap, the BIM4WB project was initiated to integrate BIM methodologies into vocational education and training (VET) systems, aiming to modernise the sector and improve compliance with international standards.
Funded by the European Commission, BIM4WB focuses on:
developing a BIM-focused curriculum and training materials tailored for VET institutions
establishing a sustainable online platform for BIM education and training
conducting workshops and training sessions for VET providers and construction professionals
fostering cross-border co-operation in the construction sector.
Through these activities, the project aims to equip students and professionals with the necessary digital skills to enhance project management and construction quality.
As of the latest project updates, BIM4WB has so far achieved the following outcomes:
developed and implemented a BIM curriculum now integrated into VET institutions in Albania
established the BIM4WB digital platform, facilitating continuous learning and knowledge sharing among industry stakeholders
conducted over 20 workshops and training sessions, reaching more than 500 students and professionals.
Sources: UET (2024[25]); BIM4WB (2025[26]).
The way forward
Expand dedicated digital transformation financial support to increase SME digital upgrading. Most SMEs in Albania rely on digital tools mainly for administrative tasks, marketing or compliance, with limited use of more complex, productivity-enhancing digital technologies (OECD, forthcoming[13]). To address this, the government should expand the scope of AIDA’s existing grant programmes by creating dedicated windows that co-finance end-to-end digital transformation projects, such as process automation, data-driven management systems or sector-specific digital solutions. These windows should combine investment support with short advisory packages to help firms design and implement digitalisation plans, rather than focusing solely on the purchase of equipment or basic tools. Targeting sectors with strong growth and export potential would also help maximise productivity gains while keeping the instrument operationally simple and scalable.
Embed SME-oriented digital skills modules within continuing VET and adult learning programmes. In Albania, SMEs face growing skills shortages while most existing reforms focus on education infrastructure, teacher training or donor-led initiatives with limited reach to enterprises. To address this, the government should integrate practical, SME-relevant digital skills modules into existing vocational education, adult learning and active labour market programmes under the Employment and Skills Strategy. These modules should combine basic digital literacy with sector-specific and management-level competencies, helping SMEs link technology adoption with process improvements and business strategy (Box 4.2). Delivery could be co-ordinated through VET providers, universities, innovation hubs and chambers of commerce, while targeted training vouchers or co‑financing schemes would incentivise SME participation and ensure broader outreach beyond major urban centres.
France has developed a structured and scalable approach to small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) upskilling through Bpifrance, the public investment bank, notably via its “SME Accelerator” programme. Rather than focusing solely on basic digital literacy, the programme targets growth-oriented SMEs and combines management training, digital transformation and strategic leadership development.
The SME Accelerator programme offers participating firms a 12-18 month support pathway, combining:
collective and individual training modules on digital technologies, data use and organisational transformation
strategic coaching for SME managers focused on growth planning, innovation and digital transition
peer learning and networking among SMEs facing similar scale-up challenges.
Training is delivered in partnership with business schools, universities and sector experts, ensuring strong links between applied knowledge and business needs. Public co-financing reduces costs for participating SMEs, making advanced training accessible beyond large firms.
By embedding digital skills within broader management and leadership development, the programme helps SMEs move from basic technology adoption to strategic digital transformation, supporting productivity growth and long-term competitiveness.
Sources: OECD (2025[27]); BPI France (2023[28]).
Once the basic enablers of digital adoption are established, the key issue shifts to whether digitalisation actually improves productivity at the firm level. For SMEs, productivity outcomes depend less on simply having digital tools and more on how effectively these tools are used to support sales, innovation, internal reorganisation and market engagement (OECD, 2023[12]; 2021[1]). Evidence from the OECD and European Union shows that SMEs combining e-commerce with digital innovation are more likely to reach new markets, diversify income streams and improve operational efficiency while those that adopt digital tools only minimally face growing risks of competitive disadvantage (OECD, 2023[29]; European Commission, 2024[30]). Importantly, productivity gains do not emerge from online presence alone, but when digital sales channels, innovation activities and organisational change reinforce one another, enabling firms to scale, adapt business models and compete beyond local markets (OECD, 2023[12]; 2021[1]).
Albania’s policy framework increasingly recognises the role of digitalisation and innovation in improving SME productivity, but government support measures rarely move beyond donor-funded or start-up oriented programmes. Some public initiatives have begun promoting e-commerce uptake, digital innovation and collaboration with research actors; yet their scale, co-ordination and outreach across the broader business base require further development. Innovation financing and structured collaboration mechanisms are still developing, constraining the translation of strategic ambitions into widespread productivity gains. This section will shed light on how e-commerce adoption and innovation activities can contribute to SME productivity in Albania, a key condition for enabling firms to expand markets, strengthen competitiveness and sustain growth in an increasingly digital economy.
4.2.1. Leveraging the use of online platforms to drive SME growth
E-commerce and digital platforms are a key pathway through which digitalisation can translate into higher productivity for SMEs. When online sales are embedded into core business operations rather than treated as supplementary tools, they allow firms to lower transaction costs, reach a wider customer base, and make more systematic use of data for commercial and strategic decisions (OECD, 2025[31]). SMEs that adopt hybrid business models, which combine physical and digital sales channels, tend to achieve stronger efficiency gains by improving market access and supporting more data-driven management practices (OECD, 2023[29]). These dynamics reflect wider shifts in trade, as digital platforms increasingly shape market participation and value chain integration, opening new opportunities for smaller firms (OECD, 2025[32]). In Albania, where SMEs face a relatively small domestic market and strong external competition, the effective use of e-commerce and online platforms is becoming increasingly important for expanding sales internationally and reducing reliance on local demand.
OECD survey results indicate that while adoption of online platforms is increasing, its sophistication is limited: about 45% of surveyed SMEs in Albania report using their own website for online sales, nearly 41% rely on social media platforms and only about 10% use third-party marketplaces to sell online (Figure 4.5) (OECD, forthcoming[13]). This distribution of e-commerce channels is consistent with trends in OECD countries, where in 2019, a higher share of firms sold online through their own websites than via online marketplaces (OECD, 2021[1]). Moreover, 31% of surveyed SMEs in Albania operate without any form of online presence: this is notably higher than in more digitally advanced economies, underscoring that basic online engagement remains an unfinished agenda for a large share of Albanian SMEs. In parallel, reflecting these adoption patterns, digital revenue generation remains limited, with 60% of SMEs in Albania reporting that online sales account for less than 10% of their total income and only about 14% generating more than half of their revenues through online platforms (OECD, forthcoming[13]).
Source: OECD (forthcoming[13]).
These findings suggest that e-commerce use among SMEs in Albania is largely complementary rather than central to core business operations. The dominance of website and social media use may suggest that SMEs tend to rely on digital channels to gain visibility or customer engagement rather than to increase online sales. As a result, the productivity and export potential of e-commerce risk remaining underexploited.
At the policy level, the government has taken steps to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for e-commerce in Albania, particularly through gradual alignment with EU regulations. The adoption of the Action Plan on E-Commerce 2024-2027 marks the first dedicated policy framework for e-commerce, aiming to enhance SME readiness through digital skills development, improved logistics and payment systems, and better access to online marketplaces. In paralell, amendments to the Law on E-Commerce also aimed to approximate the EU e-Commerce Directive, while the Regulation on Cross-Border Parcel Delivery has already been fully transposed into national legislation. The Law on Payment Services, transposing the EU Revised Payment Services Directive, further strengthens the legal basis for digital payments. In parallel, the Law on Electronic Documents, Electronic Identification and Trust Services in Electronic Business is fully aligned with the EU eIDAS Regulation, ensuring secure electronic identification, authentication and trust services for online transactions. However, Albania has yet to align with the EU Regulation on Promoting Fairness and Transparency for Business Users of Online Intermediation Services, with authorities planning to complete alignment as part of Albania’s EU accession process.
These frameworks address key areas such as electronic authentication, contract formation and intermediary liability. Moreover, the adoption of qualified e-signatures and the gradual rollout of e-invoicing have laid the groundwork for more secure and traceable digital transactions, in principle enabling SMEs to conduct business electronically with public authorities and private customers. However, as in other WBT economies, recent legislative reforms have yet to translate into higher e-commerce engagement among SMEs. For firms with limited digital literacy or less formalised operations, compliance requirements may be perceived as administratively complex, underscoring the need for more tailored government support to enable SME participation in e-commerce.
In response to these challenges, several programmes have emerged in recent years to support SMEs in building their online presence and engaging in e-commerce. A multi-donor programme co-funded by the European Union, Germany (BMZ) and Sweden (Sida), worth approximately ALL 1.1 billion (EUR 11.7 million), supports digital capacity building for start-ups and tech-oriented SMEs (EU4Innovation, 2024[33]). The World Bank’s Digital Trade Initiative and the Albanian E-Commerce Association’s training programmes (Box 4.3) have provided practical guidance and advisory support to SMEs across different sectors (Ungerer, Portugal and Haddad, 2022[34]). These initiatives draw in part on an e-commerce diagnostic survey that identified key barriers related to consumer trust, digital payments and logistics (Muça, 2024[35]; Ungerer, Portugal and Haddad, 2022[34]). In parallel, a dedicated working group led by AIDA, in collaboration with the World Bank, developed and disseminated practical tools in 2022, including the guide How to Start an E-commerce Business, a self-assessment questionnaire and a series of targeted training sessions focused specifically on e-commerce development (Albania Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation, 2021[36]).
Additional support has been channelled through EU- and donor-funded initiatives. The EU co-funded Digital Valley Albania (DiVA) programme aims to accelerate the digital and sustainable transformation of SMEs in Albania by providing access to innovation services, advanced technologies and capacity-building activities, with its first SME training cycle launched in late 2025 (European Digital Innovation Hub, 2025[37]). Furthermore, the EBRD and the European Union, in partnership with Union Bank and other donors, have introduced a EUR 5 million financing package combining loans and incentives to support SME digitalisation, green investments and youth entrepreneurship (Delegation of the European Union to Albania, 2025[38]). Partnerships with regional platforms such as the Central European Free Trade Agreement’s E-commerce for All, as well as collaborations with domestic payment and marketplace providers, including EasyPay and Aladini, have also sought to facilitate SME onboarding and expand digital sales opportunities (Ecommerce4All, 2025[39]).
Launched in 2023 by the Albanian E-Commerce Association, the Digitally Fit for E-Commerce programme was introduced to strengthen the digital and e-commerce capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Albania, particularly those operating in agriculture, light manufacturing and tourism, by equipping them with practical digital skills and facilitating access to online sales channels.
The programme targeted 60 SMEs and individual producers. The initiative provided tailored training modules on digital skills, online marketing and e-commerce management. Following the training, participants were directly supported to establish online stores on local e-commerce platforms such as Aladini and Gjejevete, thereby expanding their customer base and digital market presence. The programme combined capacity building with hands-on support to ensure that SMEs not only acquired knowledge, but also implemented practical solutions to sell their products online.
Some of the results of the include:
more than 30 new e-shops were established on Albania’s platforms
participating SMEs improved their digital competencies, enabling them to leverage e-commerce for business growth
the local e-commerce ecosystem was strengthened by integrating SMEs into existing platforms rather than leaving them to navigate the digital marketplace alone.
Source: Muça (2024[35]).
Despite the growing number of initiatives, most support is project-based or donor-driven, with modest outreach and short implementation cycles. Support for SME e-commerce uptake in Albania, therefore, requires a more developed mechanism, one that would help SMEs move from low-value segments of the market to sales channels expansion, customer diversification and effective competition (OECD, 2019[40]).
4.2.2. Fostering innovation and collaboration for SME productivity
Digitalisation not only enhances SME productivity through improved market access, but also through its interaction with innovation and the diffusion of knowledge. SMEs that introduce digital and data-driven innovations tend to have higher productivity, greater resilience and stronger growth prospects, as innovation enables improvements in products, production processes and organisational efficiency (Hall, Lotti and Mairesse, 2012[41]; Mohnen, Polder and Van Leeuwen, 2018[42]). However, empirical evidence suggests that these gains are often concentrated among firms that are already relatively productive, as they are better equipped with the skills, organisational structures and intangible assets needed to fully exploit digital technologies (Brynjolfsson and McAfee, 2011[43]). This dynamic raises the risk that digital transformation reinforces existing performance gaps rather than narrowing them. Similar challenges are observed across the European Union, where SMEs continue to face structural constraints such as limited access to finance, weaker technology transfer mechanisms and lower absorptive capacity (European Commission, 2024[30]). In Albania, examining how policy frameworks and institutional support influence SME engagement in digital innovation is thus important for determining whether digitalisation can drive broader productivity gains.
The government has taken initial steps to foster innovation and collaboration as drivers of SME productivity through targeted institutional initiatives. The start-up ecosystem has expanded, with around 12 incubators and 11 accelerators currently supporting early-stage innovative ventures (Albanian Government, 2025[5]). The Albanian European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) – Digital Innovation Unit, established under the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation with support from the European Commission, provides the institutional backbone for SME digital innovation. With an overall budget of EUR 1.8 million over 4 years (UET, 2025[7]), it aims to strengthen SME and public sector digital capabilities by supporting the digitalisation of at least 1 000 firms and conducting detailed digital maturity assessments for 200. In addition, around 1 500 staff members (2-3 per company) are expected to receive specialised training in advanced digital technologies, including AI, cybersecurity and other key digital competencies, to build the skills base needed for sustained digital transformation (UET, 2025[7]; European Commission, 2025[44]).
Complementing this, the DiVA programme (see above) is an additional effort to offer SMEs access to AI expertise; cloud computing; and advisory services on digital strategies, skills development and investment-readiness (Box 4.4) (European Commission, 2025[45]). By connecting them with research actors and EU innovation networks and offering test-before-invest facilities, DiVA promotes collaboration and reduces the risks of technology adoption. If effectively implemented, both the Digital Innovation Unit and DiVA could substantially boost SME productivity and competitiveness, facilitating Albania’s deeper integration into the EU Digital Single Market. The coming years will determine whether these initiatives – positioning Albania as one of the only two economies in the WBT region to benefit from the European Union’s EDIH programme – can evolve into a coherent innovation support system.
Albanian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face structural and capacity constraints in embracing digital innovation, particularly in sectors such as tourism, agri-food and textiles. The establishment of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) provides a mechanism to bridge this gap and connect SMEs in Albania to EU-level innovation resources.
Launched in February 2025, Digital Valley Albania (DiVA) is Albania’s first EDIH under the EU Digital Europe Programme. The hub offers SMEs and public institutions access to expertise on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, advanced digital tools and technology advisory services. It provides guidance on digitalisation strategies, skills development and investment-readiness for innovation projects. DiVA also facilitates networking with EU innovation ecosystems and supports test-before-invest initiatives to reduce adoption risks for SMEs.
Although still in its early stage, the hub is expected to accelerate SME digital adoption in priority sectors and enhance competitiveness. It provides a centralised, co-ordinated platform for digital transformation, addressing previous fragmentation in service provision. By linking SMEs to advanced technologies and advisory support, DiVA has the potential to increase productivity, foster innovation and expand SMEs’ access to international markets, positioning Albania to better integrate into the EU Digital Single Market.
Source: European Commission (2025[45]).
Simultaneously, the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation (NASRI) continues to support technology and innovation projects through collaboration between universities and the business and industry sector under its Programme for Technology and Innovation (WBIH, 2026[46]). Over the last three calls for proposals between 2023 and 2025, NASRI approved a total of 42 joint university-business projects, including 10 projects in 2023, 18 in 2024 and 14 in 2025. In 2025, NASRI allocated a budget of ALL 80 million (≈ EUR 800 000) to fund the selected initiatives (NASRI, 2023[47]; 2024[48]; 2025[49]). Across the 2023-2025 period, 13 approved projects focused explicitly on innovation methods applied in different private sector activities while 9 addressed climate and environmental challenges, indicating a gradual broadening of thematic priorities. Nevertheless, despite its growing scale and relevance, the programme is not designed exclusively around SME digital or technological upgrading needs and lacks tailored instruments targeting SME-specific constraints, such as limited absorptive capacity, scale-up financing or applied digital transformation support. As a result, its impact on the wider SME base could be uneven. Looking at the demand level, uptake of digital innovation among SMEs in Albania is increasing: 39% of surveyed SMEs report moderate use of digital innovation, 13% report extensive use and 13% report no use; however, 35% of surveyed SMEs indicate future plans to adopt digital innovation to improve products, services or internal processes (Figure 4.6) (OECD, forthcoming[13]). Additionally, SMEs established after 2015 appear to be more innovative, with 61% of respondents incorporating digital innovation, compared to 42% of older firms, suggesting generational differences between digital innovation efforts (OECD, forthcoming[13]).
Source: OECD (forthcoming[13]).
Despite these efforts, co-operation with external knowledge and research actors appears to be constrained. More precisely, collaboration with external innovation actors such as universities, research and development (R&D) institutions, or innovation centres, has stagnated over recent years. The share of innovative SMEs collaborating with other enterprises in Albania is 69.1% of the 2025 EU average, but has declined by almost a third since 2017 (European Commission, 2025[50]). This also implies a weaker interface between academia and industry, and a lack of formal mechanisms to broker partnerships or support technology transfer between academia and SMEs.
In parallel, innovation financing remains one of the most pressing bottlenecks in Albania. In 2022, public sector R&D expenditure in Albania reached only 8.3% of the EU average, while business sector investment stood at just 4.7%, highlighting a gap in both public and private innovation financing (Eurostat, 2023[51]; OECD, 2025[52]). Compared to other WBT economies, Albania’s R&D expenditure is well below the regional average (Figure 4.7).
Notes: Research and development expenditure as a percentage of GDP encompasses spending by governments, higher education institutions, business enterprises and private non-profit organisations.
The 2014-2016 and 2020-2023 figures represent three-year unweighted averages of research and development expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product.
Source: Eurostat (2024[53]).
Against this backdrop of limited innovation financing, public support has expanded primarily through start‑up oriented instruments rather than broader SME innovation schemes. While Albania introduced the Law on Startup Support and Development in 2022, providing tax relief and public funding for innovation-driven entrepreneurship, its scope remains primarily focused on start-ups rather than SMEs more broadly. Implemented in line with the priority sectors of the Smart Specialisation Strategy, the associated grant schemes have expanded significantly: from 23 beneficiaries under the first public call in 2022 to 94 start‑ups selected from 539 applications under the Grant 2024 scheme, supporting innovation in information technologies, AI, e-commerce and health tech, with a further 83 start-ups selected from 422 applications under the Grant 2025 scheme, backed by a total budget of ALL 300 million (≈ EUR 3 million) (Albania Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate, 2022[54]; 2024[55]; 2025[56]).
Despite this progress, these instruments largely target start-ups rather than established SMEs, leaving many firms without access to co-financing mechanisms suitable for longer term R&D, digital transformation, or scale-up investments. As a result, SMEs can lack the financial resilience needed to undertake higher risk and longer horizon innovation projects, reinforcing reliance on their own resources and external donor programmes.
The way forward
Develop a co-ordinated SME e-commerce support scheme combining legal alignment, onboarding incentives and practical advisory services. While Albania has made progress in aligning its legal framework with EU e-commerce and digital trust standards, SME uptake remains limited and largely confined to basic websites and social media sales. The government should move beyond regulatory alignment and establish a dedicated SME e-commerce support scheme, co‑ordinated by the National Agency for Information Society; AIDA; and relevant payment, postal and customs authorities. This scheme could combine small co-financing instruments, such as e-commerce vouchers, subsidised platform subscriptions or onboarding grants, with practical advisory services to help SMEs integrate digital payments, logistics, invoicing and cross-border procedures (Box 4.5). In parallel, targeted partnerships with regional and international marketplaces and payment providers could help simplify access to external markets, particularly for firms in export-oriented sectors. By linking regulatory reforms with hands-on support and financial incentives, Albania could help SMEs progress from a basic online presence to scalable and cross-border e-commerce models, unlocking stronger productivity and export gains.
As part of its COVID-19 response, France introduced an E-commerce Recovery Plan led by the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Recovery, aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) overcome practical barriers to online sales. The initiative focused on enabling conditions for e‑commerce adoption rather than awareness-raising alone. Key elements of the approach included:
A centralised, practical e-commerce guide for SMEs, providing step-by-step instructions on setting up or improving websites, using online marketplaces, managing digital payments, organising logistics and delivery, and communicating with customers online.
Integration with the national digital portal France Num, which hosts thematic guidance, links to specialised tools and SME case studies illustrating effective e-commerce adoption.
A co-ordinated call to private sector platform and service providers to offer free or preferential access to e-commerce services for SMEs, including website development, marketplace access, payment solutions, communication tools and logistics services.
A public inventory of interoperable solutions, allowing SMEs to identify suitable digital payment, invoicing and delivery tools in a transparent and comparable way.
A focus on reliable order fulfilment, with particular attention to payments, logistics and last‑mile delivery, which were recognised as critical bottlenecks for SME participation in online markets.
France’s experience shows how governments can strengthen the enabling environment for SME e‑commerce by co-ordinating platforms, infrastructure and guidance rather than relying solely on training or promotional campaigns.
Sources: France Directorate-General for Enterprise (2020[57]); Gouv.fr (2020[58]); France Num (2025[59]).
Strengthen SME collaboration with research and innovation actors through structured, applied innovation partnerships. In Albania, co-operation between SMEs and universities or research centres remains limited, while most public innovation funding is directed toward start-ups rather than the broader SME base. To address this gap, the government could develop a set of simple, demand‑driven collaboration instruments that enable SMEs to access applied research, technical expertise and digital innovation services from universities, innovation hubs and certified providers. This could include small innovation vouchers for first-time co-operation, co-financed joint projects focused on practical business challenges, and applied testbeds or pilot environments where SMEs can experiment with digital technologies before scaling up (Box 4.6). Implementation could be co-ordinated through NASRI, in partnership with AIDA and the EDIH network, combining financial incentives with structured matchmaking and advisory support. By lowering entry barriers and promoting practical, business-led collaboration, such an approach would help SMEs access external knowledge, accelerate technology adoption and build a more dynamic, practice-oriented innovation ecosystem.
Box 4.6. Good practice example: Strengthening SME digital innovation through structured collaboration with research and industry in Finland
Finland promotes small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) engagement in collaborative digital innovation through a set of applied, partnership-oriented programmes implemented by Business Finland and regional innovation ecosystems. These programmes and grants are designed to link SMEs with universities, research institutes and larger firms, with a strong focus on technology adoption and commercial application, rather than stand-alone research. Key features of Finland’s approach include:
Co-financed collaborative projects, where SMEs jointly develop and pilot digital solutions with research organisations and industry partners. Projects are typically short- to medium-term and must demonstrate clear relevance for business processes, products or services.
Applied testbeds and pilots, enabling SMEs to experiment with digital technologies such as data analytics, automation and platform solutions in real-world settings before scaling up.
Sector-focused collaboration, with programmes targeting areas such as tourism services, agri-food systems, smart manufacturing and sustainable production, where digital innovation can generate productivity and competitiveness gains.
Structured matchmaking and ecosystem support, reducing co-ordination costs for SMEs by actively connecting them with relevant knowledge providers and technology partners.
The approach emphasises lowering entry barriers for SME participation. Public funding, standardised project formats and strong intermediary support allow SMEs with limited internal research and development capacity to engage in external collaboration and accelerate digital uptake.
Source: Business Finland (2025[60]).
Due to enterprises’ increased reliance on cloud computing, e-payments and online platforms, the productivity benefits of digitalisation are also accompanied by greater exposure to data protection and cybersecurity risks. These challenges are particularly acute for SMEs, which tend to operate with tighter financial and human resources, less structured data management systems, and limited capacity to continuously monitor and mitigate digital threats (OECD, 2021[1]; 2025[2]). In parallel, gradual alignment with the European Union’s digital trust and security framework is raising compliance expectations, making data protection and cyber resilience more salient for SMEs that participate in online markets and cross‑border digital activities (European Commission, 2024[61]).
Albania has solid foundations in place for data protection and cybersecurity, which help increase the economy’s alignment with key EU legislation. At the SME level, awareness and adoption of data protection and cybersecurity practices vary widely, reflecting gaps in guidance, skills and access to affordable protection tools. This section examines how regulatory frameworks, institutional arrangements and enterprise-level practices shape SME data protection and cybersecurity readiness in Albania, with a focus on whether current policies effectively support firms in managing digital risks and building trust in online and cross-border activities.
4.3.1. Adapting data protection to evolving digital threats
Effective data protection regimes play a central role in building trust in digital services and can enhance business competitiveness by clearly defining rights and responsibilities in increasingly data-driven markets (EDPB, 2025[62]). For Albania, alignment with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the EU acquis is a core element of the broader EU accession and digital integration process. Understanding how SMEs in Albania manage data protection and integrate governance practices is thus critical for assessing the resilience and trustworthiness of their digital activities.
In this context, the government has sought to strengthen its data protection framework through a combination of strategic orientation and legislative reform. In response to growing data protection risks, Albania adopted the institutional Strategy 2022-2025 of the Commissioner for the Right to Information and Protection of Personal Data, which outlines the main objectives for safeguarding personal data and promoting transparency. While the strategy provides an important guiding framework for strengthening the overall data protection environment, it does not explicitly address SME-specific compliance challenges or support measures, limiting its practical relevance for smaller firms.
This strategic direction has since been reinforced by a significantly strengthened legal framework. In December 2024, the Assembly of the Republic of Albania adopted Law No. 124/2024 “On Personal Data Protection”, which fully approximates the EU GDPR and the Police Directive on data processing by law enforcement authorities. The new law repealed the 2008 data protection legislation and modernised key provisions on consent, lawful processing and data subject rights, including the introduction of the “right to be forgotten” and clearer rules on automated decision making.
For businesses, including SMEs, the law introduces substantially expanded obligations for controllers and processors, dedicating an entire chapter to accountability, risk management and data security measures. This shift reinforces the principles of responsibility and accountability, requiring firms to demonstrate compliance rather than merely declare it. Sanctions for data breaches have also increased significantly, reaching up to ALL 2 billion (≈ EUR 17.1 million) for private entities or up to 4% of annual turnover, aligning Albania more closely with the GDPR’s enforcement framework (Albania Ministry of Justice, 2025[63]; Foley, 2025[64]). While these provisions raise the overall level of data protection, they also increase compliance burdens for SMEs, particularly in the absence of tailored guidance, advisory services or proportional implementation tools.
Institutionally, the Information and Data Protection Commissioner serves as the independent supervisory authority responsible for overseeing implementation and compliance. Although the new law strengthens its formal mandate, the commissioner’s operational capacity remains constrained by limited staff and budgetary resources, hindering consistent enforcement and the provision of guidance for smaller enterprises (Zeneli, 2025[65]). Following the adoption of Law No. 124/2024, several sub-legal acts were introduced in 2025, covering issues such as adequacy decisions for international data transfers, security measures in specific sectors, video-surveillance systems, direct marketing and methodologies for calculating administrative sanctions. While these instruments clarify certain procedural and sector-specific aspects of compliance, they are not designed as accessible, cross-cutting tools for SMEs.
Within this regulatory context, data protection practices among surveyed SMEs appear uneven and often limited to formal compliance. About 74% of SMEs in Albania report having a privacy policy in place, yet many of them struggle with practical implementation (OECD, forthcoming[13]). Moreover, when asked about barriers to data protection, 47% of surveyed SMEs consider data protection requirements challenging, compared to only 5% who identify data security as a significant concern. This gap may be a cause of limited understanding of regulatory obligations rather than actual ease of compliance. Additionally, this challenge varies depending on SME size: larger enterprises report facing more complex data management needs while smaller ones report being unaware of the legal and operational implications of data governance (OECD, forthcoming[13]). Data storage practices further highlight these capacity constraints. About 38% of surveyed SMEs use a mix of cloud and on-site storage, a further 13% rely on on-site data centres, and 22% primarily use cloud-based storage; notably, 27% report being uncertain about how their data are stored (Figure 4.8) (OECD, forthcoming[13]). This dispersion suggests that data management might often be shaped by legacy or ad hoc arrangements rather than coherent governance strategies, complicating compliance with evolving data protection requirements.
Source: OECD (forthcoming[13]).
As a result, a gap persists between Albania’s increasingly advanced regulatory alignment and its effective implementation at the SME level. Although the Information and Data Protection Commissioner is preparing dedicated guidelines on data protection for SMEs, practical support remains limited, and many smaller firms lack affordable compliance tools, audits or training. This imbalance between strengthened legal obligations and still-developing institutional support continues to expose SMEs to compliance risks and constrains their ability to leverage digital tools with confidence.
4.3.2. Strengthening SME cybersecurity resilience
Cyber incidents tend to affect smaller firms more acutely than they do larger ones (OECD, 2021[1]), yet insufficient cybersecurity also carries broader economic consequences. SMEs that lack adequate digital security measures may face barriers to participation in public procurement, cross-border value chains and partnerships with larger firms that increasingly require compliance with higher cybersecurity standards (OECD, 2023[12]). Enhancing cybersecurity capacities among SMEs in Albania is, therefore, not only a matter of reducing operational risk, but also of preserving competitiveness and access to increasingly regulated and interconnected digital markets.
In recent years, cybersecurity has emerged as a growing policy concern in Albania, as firms are increasingly exposed to a wide range of cyber threats. Since 2022, several large-scale attacks, targeting government systems, the statistics institute, parliament and the telecom operator, have demonstrated the scale of systemic exposure and the potential spillover risks for SMEs that depend on public digital infrastructure (CISA, 2022[66]; AKSK, 2023[67]; 2024[68]; 2023[69]). Moreover, the economy experiences 600‑700 cyber incidents annually, affecting the public and the private sectors, including SMEs (PWC, ISAC, 2022[70]). In 2023 alone, 49 cyberattacks targeted critical infrastructure, of which 12 were classified as high impact (Politiko, 2024[71]). In June 2025, a large-scale cyberattack underscored the economy’s ongoing vulnerability to cyber threats; its impact is yet to be assessed.
Awareness of cyber risks remains limited across Albania, both at the level of citizens and firms. Among the general public, only 16% of citizens identify hybrid threats as a source of insecurity, below the Western Balkans average of 25% (RCC, 2023[72]). At the SME level, about 17% of surveyed SMEs report having experienced a cyberattack – considerably below the OECD sample average of 32% – while 20% are unsure whether such incidents have occurred at all (OECD, forthcoming[13]; 2025[2]). This lower reported rate likely reflects weak detection and monitoring capacity rather than stronger resilience, as firms with limited digital intensity are less likely to identify or report incidents. Moreover, this pattern of low perceived risk stands in contrast to evidence of rising cyber incidents targeting Albanian businesses and its public institutions, pointing to a significant awareness gap. When firms and citizens underestimate their exposure, demand for cybersecurity investment and policy support remains weak, creating a self-reinforcing cycle that slows the development of a more proactive cybersecurity culture and leaves SMEs structurally unprepared for growing digital threats.
Survey evidence from SMEs in Albania confirms this pattern, revealing that limited awareness translates directly into weak cybersecurity practices at the firm level. Findings show that the main barriers include low awareness, inadequate infrastructure and a lack of tailored government support (OECD, forthcoming[13]). Moreover, the findings suggest that most surveyed SMEs rely on basic cyber and data protection measures: 67% of them use strong and safe passwords, 36% apply two-factor authentication, and about 33% employ anti-virus and anti-malware software (Figure 4.9) (OECD, forthcoming[13]). However, it appears that SMEs in Albania rarely adopt more advanced cyber and data practices, such as the use of firewall and VPN systems (22%). Additionally, almost 23% of surveyed SMEs do not have any cyber measures in place, which is higher than the OECD sample average of 9% (OECD, 2025[2]). If not addressed properly at the policy and implementation level, these barriers could widen the gap and increase cyber vulnerabilities among SMEs in Albania.
Note: VPN: virtual private network.
Source: OECD (forthcoming[13]).
Among these barriers, limited internal capacity stands out as a particularly structural constraint: about 28% of surveyed SMEs look to employ dedicated IT staff for digital expertise, while 42% of them depend on informal or reactive support from external providers, since employing dedicated IT staff seems to be more costly (OECD, forthcoming[13]).
Recognising these vulnerabilities, the adoption of the Cyber Security Strategy 2025-2030 and its accompanying Action Plan in October 2025 mark an important milestone. The strategy aims to enhance incident response, capacity building and regulatory alignment with EU standards and, for the first time, includes a specific objective dedicated to establishing appropriate mechanisms for protecting citizens and SMEs in the online environment (through a policy objective on online protection of citizens and SMEs and promotion of cyber culture). This represents a meaningful shift compared to earlier frameworks, which were largely focused on public institutions and critical infrastructure. Under the new strategy, the National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK) began strengthening co-operation with private sector actors, including collaboration with the Startup Agency through joint awareness-raising activities planned during Global Entrepreneurship Week, as well as engagement with the Albanian Council for Technology and Innovation to deepen outreach to businesses and support the development of cybersecurity-related initiatives for SMEs.
These strategic priorities are further reinforced by the Digital Albania Strategy 2022-2026, which identifies cybersecurity as a core pillar of digital trust, alongside e-governance, digital skills and infrastructure. The strategy sets objectives to improve the security of digital services, strengthen incident response capacities and raise cyber-risk awareness among public institutions and private actors.
However, despite the strengthened strategic environment, concrete and SME-tailored cyber support is yet to be fully developed. Most measures are still framed at a high level and SMEs have limited access to structured, hands-on assistance such as cyber trainings, affordable protection tools and advisory services. As a result, SMEs’ capacity to prevent, detect and respond to cyber threats is constrained, highlighting the need to translate the new strategic commitments into scalable and accessible support mechanisms for the whole business environment.
On the legislative side, Albania has also taken steps to strengthen its legal framework in line with the evolving EU requirements. The new Law on Cybersecurity 2024 strenghtens Albania’s legal and institutional framework and moves towards alignment with key EU principles on network and information security under the Revised Network and Information Security Directive (AKSK, 2024[73]; European Commission, 2024[74]). While the law primarily targets critical infrastructure and public institutions, it also extends to private sector operators across the energy, transport, banking, health and market infrastructure sectors, thereby creating indirect compliance expectations for SMEs integrated into supply chains.
While the legislative framework is advancing, implementation remains largely driven by EU- and donor-supported initiatives that complement Albania’s strategic cybersecurity agenda, though most focus primarily on institutional capacity and awareness rather than direct SME support. The EU-supported CyberFort project, implemented in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Türkiye, contributes by developing cybersecurity training materials tailored to VET systems and SME personnel, with the aim of strengthening practical skills and awareness (IUS, 2025[75]). In parallel, Albania has benefited from broader regional programmes such as the EU Cybersecurity Capacity Building in the Western Balkans Project (2023-2026) and the CyberSEE initiative (2024-2025), which focus on strengthening legal frameworks, institutional co-ordination and public awareness of cyber threats, as well as initiatives such as the Critical Infrastructure Digitalisation and Resilience programme.
Taken together, these developments have strengthened Albania’s cybersecurity policy and legal environment. However, the direct impact on SMEs remains limited, as most initiatives are time-bound, sector-specific or oriented toward public institutions and critical infrastructure. There is thus still a gap between Albania’s advancing regulatory alignment and the availability of scalable, accessible support mechanisms that would enable SMEs to translate cybersecurity requirements into practical and affordable compliance solutions.
The way forward
Introduce practical, SME-oriented data protection guidance and a proportionate compliance pathway. To complement the strengthened legal framework, Albania should develop practical instruments that help SMEs meet data protection obligations in a manageable and cost-effective way. This could include a standardised SME Data Protection Toolkit with ready-to-use templates for privacy notices, consent forms, processing registers and breach-response procedures, accessible through a central online portal managed by the Commissioner for the Right to Information and Protection of Personal Data. To reflect the risk-based logic of the GDPR, the commissioner could also introduce a simplified compliance track for micro and small enterprises engaged in low-risk data processing, reducing administrative requirements while preserving essential safeguards. These measures should be complemented by targeted awareness campaigns, sector-specific guidance, and subsidised compliance or cybersecurity audits delivered in co-operation with chambers of commerce and business-support organisations, helping SMEs translate legal obligations into practical, affordable solutions.
Establish a SME cybersecurity support programme anchored in a basic cyber-hygiene framework. To translate recent strategic and legal progress into practical benefits for businesses, Albania should create a dedicated programme for SME cybersecurity, co-ordinated by AKCESK, the National Agency for Information Society and relevant business-support institutions. At its core, the initiative could introduce a simple cyber-hygiene framework defining a limited set of essential practices, such as strong authentication, regular updates, data backups and secure cloud use, designed specifically for SMEs. This could be complemented by a voluntary “Cyber-Ready SME” label and a central online portal offering practical tools, templates, step-by-step guidance and incident-response instructions (Box 4.7). Implementation could be supported through training sessions and advisory clinics delivered via chambers of commerce, digital innovation hubs and VET providers, while existing donor-funded initiatives, such as CyberFort, could be integrated into a permanent, nationally co‑ordinated structure for SME cybersecurity support.
Like most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Belgian businesses face growing exposure to cyber threats, yet many have limited knowledge and resources to implement effective cybersecurity measures. To bridge this gap, the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium, in collaboration with the Cyber Security Coalition, developed the Cyber Security Guide for SMEs, which provides accessible, risk‑based guidance tailored to the capacities of SMEs.
Published in November 2022, the guide distils public and private sector best practices into a clear, actionable checklist. It provides SMEs with a structured set of security controls, ranging from basic actions (e.g. password hygiene, software updates) to more advanced measures, aligned with each firm’s own risk assessment. The guide is available in multiple languages and designed to be easily integrated into SME workflows.
Accompanied by related resources like the CyberFundamentals Framework, a voluntary baseline standard for SME cybersecurity, the guide contributes to raising cyber resilience, fostering improved cyber risk awareness and promoting safer integration of SMEs into global digital marketplaces.
Sources: Centre for Cyber Security Belgium and Cyber Security Coalition (2022[76]); Centre for Cyber Security Belgium (2023[77]).
The question is whether SMEs in Albania are equipped to adopt more advanced technologies in a way that is economically viable and environmentally sustainable while avoiding the widening of existing structural gaps. Advanced digital technologies are increasingly influencing how firms innovate, compete and improve productivity, yet their diffusion remains highly uneven. Across OECD countries, the use of AI remains far lower among SMEs than among large firms, with adoption rates of around 11.9% for small enterprises compared to over 40% for large ones (OECD, 2025[78]). That said, SME adoption of AI saw unprecedented growth between 2022 and 2024: small businesses (10-49 employees) nearly doubled their adoption rate, from 6.6% to 11.9%, while medium-sized businesses’ (50-249 employees) adoption of AI grew from 12.2% to 20.4% (OECD, 2024[15]). This rapid uptake was largely driven by the advent of generative AI tools, whose low entry costs, ease of use through natural language interfaces and integration into existing digital solutions have significantly lowered barriers to adoption for smaller firms (OECD, 2024[15]). Despite this progress, persistent constraints remain, including limited financial resources, shortages of specialised skills and weaker organisational capacity to manage complex technological change (OECD, 2025[31]). Supportive policy frameworks, therefore, remain crucial for broad-based productivity gains and inclusive digital transformation.
Progress on promoting the use of advanced technologies remains at an early stage in Albania, with strategic recognition of AI and emerging technologies only recently gaining traction and most concrete instruments still under development or concentrated on start-ups and innovation hubs. While draft strategies and new digital innovation centres signal growing policy attention, a comprehensive framework combining skills development, advisory services and accessible financing for SMEs is yet to be developed. This section examines how SMEs in Albania are adopting AI and other emerging technologies and assesses whether existing policy instruments and support mechanisms are enabling a sustainable, inclusive and environmentally conscious diffusion of advanced digital solutions, highlighting both recent progress and remaining structural bottlenecks.
4.4.1. Encouraging SME adoption of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies
AI and other data-driven technologies are increasingly influencing how firms produce goods, deliver services, and take operational and strategic decisions, opening new pathways for efficiency gains and innovation across sectors (OECD, 2022[79]). However, SMEs tend to benefit far less from these technologies than larger enterprises, as they often lack the underlying data infrastructure, management capacity and strategic orientation required to embed AI into core business processes (OECD, 2021[1]). This picture is evolving with the advent of generative AI, whose lower entry costs and ease of use have significantly reduced barriers to initial adoption for smaller firms, yet even where adoption is growing, use tends to remain confined to basic, general-purpose applications rather than deeper integration into core business processes (OECD, 2025[78]). The organisational restructuring and process redesign needed to unlock sustained productivity improvements typically do not occur in the absence of targeted policy support. Effective policy frameworks should, therefore, be differentiated, reflecting firms’ varying levels of digital maturity and AI readiness, and designed to accompany SMEs progressively from initial experimentation toward more substantive integration of AI into their business activities (OECD, 2025[78]).
Albania’s progress toward the integration of AI and emerging technologies into its legal and policy frameworks appears to be limited. The outdated Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) 2017-2022 and current Digital Agenda 2022-2026 both recognise emerging technologies and innovation as central to economic transformation; however, they do not include concrete, SME-oriented measures or targets that would support the adoption of any form of these technologies. The Digital Agenda broadly mentions strategic goals related to emerging technologies and financial or technical instruments specifically tailored to help SMEs leverage frontier technologies remain underdeveloped (Table 4.3).
Source: Information provided by the government of Albania during the assessment period (2025).
A more focused policy effort is expected through the forthcoming Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2025‑2030, for which the National Agency for Information Society opened a public consultation process in 2025 (KonsultimiPublik, 2025[80]). The consultation, which closed in September 2025, covered the draft strategy and its accompanying action plan, but the strategy has not yet been formally adopted. The draft aims to align Albania’s AI ecosystem with EU norms and principles, but early versions suggest that implementation capacity, monitoring mechanisms and SME-specific pathways remain underdeveloped.
In the absence of a dedicated AI policy framework, the current support for emerging technologies is delivered mainly through a combination of start-up grants, innovation hubs and donor-backed initiatives. Some grant schemes under the EU4Innovation programme and AIDA’s annual Grant Scheme have financed early-stage ventures experimenting with advanced digital technologies (Practitioners’ Network for European Development Cooperation, 2024[81]; Dua Partner Invest, 2024[82]). In parallel, several innovation centres, including TechSpace Incubator Tirana, OFICINA Hub, Protik Innovation Center, Triple City, Innovation Hubitat, and the Plug and Play Tirana accelerator, provide training, mentoring, co-working spaces and networking opportunities (TechSpace Incubator, 2025[83]; OFICINA Hub, 2025[84]; Hubitat, 2025[85]; AADF, 2025[86]; Protik Center, 2025[87]). The forthcoming AI4DigiT Hub, Albania’s first AI-focused EDIH, is expected to further strengthen this ecosystem by offering SMEs access to AI expertise, test-before-invest facilities and tailored advisory services (European Commission, 2025[88]).
However, the current support architecture is largely concentrated on start-ups, innovation hubs and digitally mature firms, with limited outreach to established SMEs. Most initiatives are donor-driven, urban-centred and fragmented, and there is a lack of dedicated government programmes that would systematically combine awareness-raising, skills development, financial incentives and mentoring for SME AI adoption. As a result, SMEs with low digital maturity have fewer entry points into the support system, increasing the risk that emerging technology adoption remains concentrated among a small group of digitally advanced firms.
Firm-level evidence confirms this uneven adoption. Overall, 61% of surveyed SMEs report no use of AI at all. Among those that do adopt it, generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Bard and Copilot have gained some traction, with 24% of surveyed SMEs using them for tasks such as content creation, translation or customer communication (Figure 4.10) (OECD, forthcoming[13]). More advanced or customised applications remain rare: about 10% of surveyed SMEs use tools with machine-learning functions and 11% rely on custom AI systems. Moreover, adoption is higher among newer and more export-oriented SMEs: about 46% of firms established after 2015 report using AI compared with 31% of older enterprises, while 65% of export-intensive SMEs use some form of AI versus 35% among less export-oriented firms (OECD, forthcoming[13]). These patterns indicate that, in the absence of targeted policy support, AI adoption is likely to remain concentrated among a small group of digitally advanced SMEs.
Note: AI: artificial intelligence.
Source: OECD (forthcoming[13]).
Beyond adoption rates, how SMEs perceive generative AI is equally telling, revealing strong optimism about its potential, tempered by significant reservations about its reliability and risks. Three-quarters of surveyed SMEs consider that generative AI can support innovation, 72% report efficiency gains in day-to-day tasks and 67% believe it helps find new sources of revenue (OECD, forthcoming[13]). These expectations are notably higher than in the broader OECD sample, where 43% of AI users cite efficiency gains and only 6% report transformational change, suggesting that Albanian SMEs may hold particularly high hopes for the technology (OECD, 2025[2]). However, this optimism is tempered by concerns: over 71% agree that generative AI provides inaccurate information, and data privacy and legal risks are prominent worries for the majority of respondents, concerns broadly shared across OECD countries (OECD, 2025[2]). Interestingly, SMEs appear less troubled by the risk of harmful outputs, with only 34% believing that generative AI distributes harmful content. Together, these findings reflect a broader lack of trust, skills and experimentation space that constrains SMEs from exploring new technologies more boldly.
Yet the growing interest in AI among Albanian SMEs also raises an often-overlooked concern: the significant environmental footprint of AI tools and cloud-based services. The training and operation of AI models and cloud-based services are highly resource-intensive, with energy and water demands that far exceed those of traditional digital tools. For instance, a single ChatGPT inquiry consumes about five times more electricity than a web search and training one large language model can require as much power as hundreds of households use in a year (Zewe, 2025[89]; Bartczak and Block, 2025[90]). Moreover, AI models rely heavily on water for data centre cooling: each set of responses can represent the equivalent of a bottle of drinking water, with aggregate withdrawals projected to reach 6.6 billion cubic metres globally by 2027 (Gordon, 2024[91]). These resource costs are rarely factored into SME policy debates, yet they are increasingly relevant for Albania, where hydropower dominates electricity generation (Wuennenberg and Rugova, 2020[92]), and water availability is already sensitive to seasonal drought, making the environmental footprint of AI adoption a concern that extends beyond global trends into domestic competitiveness and sustainability.
4.4.2. Promoting a sustainable digital transformation
Digitalisation is increasingly linked to environmental performance, influencing how SMEs manage energy consumption, resource efficiency, and compliance with environmental and sustainability requirements. While digital solutions can support improvements in energy monitoring, efficiency and reporting, they may also lead to higher operational costs and emissions if adopted without adequate attention to sustainability considerations (OECD, 2024[4]; 2023[12]). For SMEs in Albania, operating in a context of relatively high energy intensity and gradual alignment with EU climate and environmental, social and governance standards, the capacity to pursue digital upgrading alongside environmental objectives is becoming an important factor for long-term competitiveness. As digital adoption accelerates, this underscores the importance of coherent, SME-tailored policies that integrate digital transformation with green transition goals.
At the policy level, Albania’s strategic frameworks provide an initial basis for coupling sustainability and digitalisation, though links to SME-level implementation remain limited. The Climate Change Strategy 2020-2030 and Albania’s engagement with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans both promote a transition toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy and recognise the role of digital technologies as enabling tools for monitoring, efficiency and sustainable production. The Green Agenda framework explicitly emphasises a twin green and digital transition, and the S3 2025-2030 incorporates innovation priorities combining digital technologies with sustainability objectives in selected sectors. Existing frameworks tend to treat digitalisation primarily as an enabling tool rather than explicitly assessing its environmental footprint, resource intensity or life cycle impacts. Nor do they translate these considerations into concrete guidance, incentives or monitoring mechanisms for businesses.
In practice, the limited policy integration between digital and environmental objectives means that most support for the twin transition remains donor-driven. The Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation programme, launched in 2024 by the International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and International Telecommunication Union, promotes the uptake of digital tools and sustainable practices in the agri-food sector (ILO, 2024[93]). While it addresses an important segment of the economy, it operates largely independently of government structures and does not extend to other sectors, limiting its systemic impact. Additionally, under the EU-EBRD Go Digital in the Western Balkans Programme, a EUR 5 million financing package was signed for Albania, EUR 3 million of which is dedicated to the Go Digital component and EUR 2 million to Youth in Business. Notably, at least 60% of Go Digital funds are earmarked for projects aligned with green transition objectives, combining digitalisation with sustainability-oriented investments (EBRD, 2025[94]). Complementing this, Albania’s Smart & Green Future Grant Scheme, implemented under GIZ’s ProSEED 2.0 project, has provided targeted support to SMEs integrating green and/or digital elements. Out of 204 applications, 75 grants were awarded, covering sectors such as agriculture, IT, textiles, tourism, crafts and trade (GIZ, 2023[95]; Dua Partner Invest, 2024[96]). In parallel, circular economy-related initiatives such as the Circular Business Incubation – Lab of Tomorrow, implemented by the Agency for Business and Economic Development between 2024 and 2025, support SMEs through incubation, mentoring and grants aimed at reducing waste and adopting circular business models, notably in glass packaging and waste management (Lab of Tomorrow, 2024[97]). Similar activities have continued through related programmes supporting SME digitalisation and innovation, though comprehensive monitoring data on beneficiary numbers and long-term impact remain limited.
At the firm level, engagement with sustainable digital practices is slowly emerging but remains at an early stage, reflecting the limited availability of structured government support. About 26% of surveyed SMEs in Albania have a defined strategy to reduce their environmental footprint using digital tools, slightly above the EU average of 24% (OECD, forthcoming[13]; European Commission, 2022[98]). Almost 50% report plans to develop such a strategy in the future, while 21% have no formal strategy and do not plan to introduce one, and 3% are already carbon-neutral (Figure 4.11) (OECD, forthcoming[13]).
Source: OECD (forthcoming[13]).
Available survey evidence also points to a gradual increase in awareness of the environmental implications of digital technologies, even if this has yet to translate into widespread adoption of green digital tools. About 74% of surveyed SMEs report considering environmental impacts when purchasing ICT equipment or services (OECD, forthcoming[13]). However, 26% still do not factor sustainability into procurement decisions, often due to low prioritisation or unclear cost-benefit considerations, and practices related to ICT disposal reveal further gaps: while 29% use licensed recycling providers, 34% retain old equipment due to data security concerns and 31% are unsure what happens to unused devices.
Environmental monitoring practices tell a similar story of partial engagement. While around 34% and 32% of surveyed SMEs track energy consumption and energy efficiency, respectively, only 25% monitor water use, and none report measuring their carbon footprint (OECD, forthcoming[13]). A further 28% do not track any environmental indicators and 21% are unsure which indicators they monitor (Figure 4.12). Monitoring practices vary significantly by firm size: only 15% of surveyed medium-sized firms report not tracking any indicators, compared with more than half of self-employed businesses. The absence of systematic environmental data collection constrains SMEs’ ability to assess their environmental performance and may hinder alignment with emerging EU sustainability reporting requirements, with potential implications for future access to green finance and cross-border markets. This challenge is not unique to Albania: across OECD countries, only 28% of surveyed SMEs use digital tools to track environmental data, with energy consumption being the most commonly monitored indicator at 17% (OECD, 2025[2]), suggesting that limited environmental monitoring is a structural feature of SME digital maturity more broadly than an economy-specific gap.
Note: Tracking energy efficiency: e.g. reductions in energy waste, impact of energy-saving upgrades like LED lighting or efficient machinery; tracking energy consumption: e.g. electricity and gas consumption by department or production line, peak vs. off-peak usage patterns, etc.
Source: OECD (forthcoming[13]).
The way forward
Set out a roadmap for SME uptake of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Albania should complement the forthcoming Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025-2030 with a practical implementation roadmap that clarifies how emerging technologies will be adopted across the SME base. The roadmap could define priority sectors where AI applications are the most relevant; establish responsible-AI principles; and provide hands-on tools such as model data governance templates, vendor selection guides and sector-specific use-case catalogues (Box 4.8). It should also co-ordinate capacity-building efforts across key actors, including the AI4DigiT hub, AIDA, universities, innovation centres and chambers of commerce, to deliver training, test-before-invest services and advisory support tailored to SMEs. By translating strategic objectives into concrete entry points and support measures, such a roadmap would reduce fragmentation, broaden access beyond start-ups and digitally mature firms, and anchor Albania’s emerging technology agenda in a more operational, SME‑relevant framework aligned with EU priorities.
Germany’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy combines a strong emphasis on trustworthy, human‑centred AI with a clear focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Since the launch of its AI Strategy in 2018, public funding had increased from EUR 3 billion to EUR 5 billion by 2025, with implementation co-ordinated across ministries to translate research excellence into practical SME adoption.
Germany’s approach centres on lowering technical and skills barriers for SMEs through shared infrastructure and applied support:
AI factories and compute access: As a host of the EuroHPC AI Factories, Germany provides SMEs with access to advanced computing and expertise. The Jupiter AI Factory, linked to Europe’s first exascale supercomputer, and HammerHAI at the University of Stuttgart’s High Performance Computing Center, offer cloud-based access to AI tools, curated datasets, pre‑trained models and hybrid AI simulation workloads, enabling SMEs to experiment without heavy upfront investment.
AI service centres (since 2022): Four centres provide SMEs with advisory support and computing resources for applied AI use cases, particularly for firms lacking in-house AI capacity.
Targeted funding programmes: The KI4KMU programme supported SME-led AI innovation with grants covering up to 50% of project costs, while the “Generative AI for SMEs” programme (EUR 30 million, launched in 2025) targets concrete applications such as predictive maintenance, automated design and natural language interfaces.
Hands-on skills and adoption support: AI studios, funded by the Ministry of Labour, provide low-threshold, practical learning environments for employees using fixed and mobile units to reach SMEs nationwide, with a target of 2 600 firms by 2026. These efforts are reinforced by Mittelstand-Digital Innovation Hubs and the Cybersecurity for SMEs initiative.
Germany’s model focuses on access rather than ownership: shared computing, applied testbeds, co‑funded projects and worker-centred learning environments enable SMEs to adopt AI incrementally, manage risk and build internal capabilities without large upfront investments.
Source: OECD (2025[78]).
Introduce a green-digital scheme for SMEs combining eco-efficient technologies with basic sustainability reporting support. Albania could establish a dedicated incentive window within existing SME support structures, such as AIDA, in co-operation with energy and environmental authorities, to encourage investments that simultaneously advance digitalisation and environmental performance. The scheme could co-finance practical solutions such as smart energy monitoring devices, digital tools for resource and waste management, cloud-based paperless systems, or software supporting environmental management standards, and upcoming EU reporting requirements (Box 4.9). Alongside financial support, participating SMEs could receive light-touch advisory services and standardised templates to track core environmental indicators, including energy consumption, waste generation and emissions. By linking financial incentives with simple monitoring tools, the scheme would help SMEs build basic sustainability data practices while adopting more efficient digital technologies, supporting environmental compliance as well as business competitiveness.
Germany has developed a coherent approach to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in combining digital investment with environmental performance gains through two complementary programmes co-ordinated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
The Digital Jetzt (“Digital Now”) programme provides grants to SMEs for investments in digital technologies and workforce digital skills covering software, cloud solutions and data-driven systems that improve process efficiency. Open to companies with 3-499 employees across all sectors, the programme offers funding rates of 30-50% of eligible investment costs, with higher rates available for smaller enterprises and collaborative investments across value chains.
Complementing this, the Federal Grant Programme for Energy and Resource Efficiency in Industry, managed by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control, supports investments in energy and resource efficiency technologies, including energy-efficient motors and pumps, as well as software and sensors for monitoring energy consumption within companies. The programme also funds systemic optimisation projects and transformation concepts to help firms map their route to climate neutrality.
A distinctive feature of Germany’s approach is its emphasis on practical implementation and operational improvement rather than complex sustainability reporting. By pairing investment grants with advisory support and standardised requirements, the programmes enable SMEs to deploy digital systems that generate basic environmental data as a by-product of day-to-day operations, reducing administrative burdens while delivering measurable environmental outcomes.
Sources: BMWK (2026[99]); German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (2026[100]).
References
[86] AADF (2025), “A game-changer for Albania’s startup ecosystem: The Plug and Play Accelerator Program”, news, https://www.aadf.org/a-game-changer-for-albanias-startup-ecosystem-the-plug-and-play-accelerator-program.
[68] AKSK (2024), File Analysis of Cyber Attacks from Iranian Groups – Incident Report Instat – Analizë MEK-DDMC, National Authority for Electronic Certification and Cyber Security, https://aksk.gov.al/en/file-analysis-of-cyber-attacks-incident-report-instat-analize-mek-ddmc (accessed on 15 October 2025).
[73] AKSK (2024), Law No. 25/2024 “For Cyber Security”, National Cyber Security Authority, https://aksk.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ligj-2024-03-21-25-5.pdf.
[67] AKSK (2023), DDoS Attacks in Albania – NoName057 Group – Incident Report DDoS at Parlament, Durrësport, Bashkia Tiranë, Raiffeisen, Ubabank, Hekurudha, National Authority for Electronic Certification and Cyber Security, https://aksk.gov.al/en/ddos-attacks-in-albania-noname057-group-incident-report-ddos-at-parlament-durresport-bashkia-tirane-raiffeisen-ubabank-hekurudha (accessed on 15 October 2025).
[69] AKSK (2023), “Recommendations”, web page, https://aksk.gov.al/deklarate-zyrtare-3 (accessed on 15 October 2025).
[56] Albania Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate (2025), “83 winning start-ups of the ’Call for support measures 2025’ announced”, news, https://www.sipermarrja.gov.al/newsroom/shpallen-83-startup-et-fituese-te-thirrjes-per-masa-mbeshtetese-2025.
[55] Albania Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate (2024), “94 winning projects of the ’Call for support measures 2024’ announced”, news, https://www.sipermarrja.gov.al/newsroom/shpallen-94-projektet-fituese-te-thirrjes-per-masa-mbeshtetese-2024.
[54] Albania Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate (2022), Monthly Bulletin 2022, Government of Albania, Tirana, https://www.sipermarrja.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Buletini-Korrik-MiSHMS.pdf.
[22] Albania Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation (2024), National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023-2030: Progress Report, Government of Albania, Tirana, https://ekonomia.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FINAL-Draft_NESS_Annual-Progress-Report_2023_30.10.2024.pdf.
[36] Albania Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation (2021), Monitoring Report 2021-2024, Government of Albania, Tirana, https://ekonomia.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/RAPORT-MONITORIMI-2021-2024.pdf.
[21] Albania Ministry of Finance (2023), National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023-2030, Government of Albania, Tirana, https://arkiva.financa.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/National-Employment-and-Skills-Strategy-2030_EN.pdf.
[63] Albania Ministry of Justice (2025), Law No. 124/2024 on the Protection of Personal Data, Government of Albania, Tirana, https://qbz.gov.al/eli/fz/2025/9/b9ea0ec9-b6ad-4464-9fe7-ca419a989852;q=P%C3%ABr%20mbrojtjen%20e%20t%C3%AB%20dh%C3%ABnave%20personale.
[9] Albanian Daily News (2024), “Over 100 MSMEs supported by AIDA”, news, https://albaniandailynews.com/news/over-100-msmes-supported-by-aida.
[5] Albanian Government (2025), Information received by Albania’s government during the assessment cycle.
[17] Albanian Government (2024), “National Professional Development Program for Teachers: New stage in reforming education system”, news, https://www.kryeministria.al/en/newsroom/programi-kombetar-i-zhvillimit-profesional-te-mesuesve-nje-faze-e-re-ne-reformimin-e-sistemit-te-arsimit.
[90] Bartczak, J. and S. Block (2025), “How AI use impacts the environment and what you can do about it”, web page, World Economic Forum, https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/how-ai-use-impacts-the-environment.
[26] BIM4WB (2025), “About the project”, web page, https://bim4wb-eu.org.
[99] BMWK (2026), “Digital Jetzt programme”, web page, https://www.bundeswirtschaftsministerium.de/Navigation/DE/Home/home.html.
[28] BPI France (2023), “Apply to the 8th cohort of the SME Accelerator”, https://www.bpifrance.fr/nos-appels-a-projets-concours/candidatez-a-la-8e-promotion-de-laccelerateur-pme#:~:text=Que%20propose%20l%27Acc%C3%A9l%C3%A9rateur%20PME,Activer%20vos%20leviers%20de%20croissance.
[43] Brynjolfsson, E. and A. McAfee (2011), Race Against the Machine: How the Digital Revolution is Accelerating Innovation, Driving Productivity, and Irreversibly Transforming Employment and the Economy, https://www.academia.edu/2662722/Race_against_the_machine_How_the_digital_revolution_is_accelerating_innovation_driving_productivity_and_irreversibly_transforming_employment_and_the_economy.
[60] Business Finland (2025), “Cooperation between companies and research organisations”, web page, https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/services/funding/funding-services/cooperation-between-companies-and-research-organizations.
[77] Centre for Cyber Security Belgium (2023), CyberFundamentals Framework, Centre for Cyber Security Belgium, Brussels, https://atwork.safeonweb.be/tools-resources/cyberfundamentals-framework.
[76] Centre for Cyber Security Belgium and Cyber Security Coalition (2022), Cyber Security Guide for SME, Centre for Cyber Security Belgium, Brussels, https://cybersecuritycoalition.be/wp-content/uploads/cybersecurity-guide-sme_EN.pdf.
[66] CISA (2022), “Iranian state actors conduct cyber operations against the government of Albania”, news, https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa22-264a#:~:text=In%20July%202022%2C%20Iranian%20state,rendered%20websites%20and%20services%20unavailable (accessed on 15 October 2025).
[38] Delegation of the European Union to Albania (2025), “EBRD and EU provide funding to support Albanian small businesses”, https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/albania/ebrd-and-eu-provide-funding-support-albanian-small-businesses_en?s=214.
[96] Dua Partner Invest (2024), ““Smart & Green Future” financing opportunity”, news, https://duapartnerinvest.com/homepage/news/detail?id=180.
[82] Dua Partner Invest (2024), “Support for Albanian startups and startup facilitators”, news, https://duapartnerinvest.com/homepage/news/detail?id=225.
[94] EBRD (2025), “Go Digital in the Western Balkans”, web page, https://www.ebrd.com/home/what-we-do/focus-areas/digitalisation/go-digital-in-western-balkans.html.
[10] EBRD (2023), “EBRD expands Youth in Business programme in Albania”, news, https://www.ebrd.com/home/news-and-events/news/2023/ebrd-expands-youth-in-business-programme-in-albania.html.
[39] Ecommerce4All (2025), “About the platform”, web page, https://ecommerce4all.eu/about-the-platform.
[62] EDPB (2025), “Data Protection Guide for Small Businesses”, web page, https://www.edpb.europa.eu/sme-data-protection-guide/data-protection-benefits-for-you_en?utm_source.
[19] ETF (2023), Key Policy Developments in Education, Training and Employment: Albania 2023, European Training Foundation, Turin, Italy, https://www.etf.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2024-01/Country%20Fiche_Albania_2023_EN_edited%20%281%29.pdf.
[33] EU4Innovation (2024), “EU4Innovation”, web page, https://westernbalkans-infohub.eu/initiatives/eu4innovation.
[88] European Commission (2025), “European Digital Innovation Hubs Network: AI4DigT”, web page, https://european-digital-innovation-hubs.ec.europa.eu/edih-catalogue/ai4digit.
[44] European Commission (2025), “European Digital Innovation Hubs Network: DIU”, web page, https://european-digital-innovation-hubs.ec.europa.eu/edih-catalogue/diu.
[45] European Commission (2025), “European Digital Innovation Hubs Network: DiVA”, web page, https://european-digital-innovation-hubs.ec.europa.eu/edih-catalogue/diva-0.
[50] European Commission (2025), European Innovation Scoreboard 2025: Country Profile Albania, European Commission, Brussels, https://ec.europa.eu/assets/rtd/eis/2025/ec_rtd_eis-country-profile-al.pdf.
[74] European Commission (2024), Albania 2024 Report, European Commission, Brussels, https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/a8eec3f9-b2ec-4cb1-8748-9058854dbc68_en?filename=Albania%20Report%202024.pdf.
[30] European Commission (2024), European Innovation Scoreboard 2024, Publications Office of the European Union, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/779689.
[61] European Commission (2024), State of the Digital Decade 2024 Report, European Commission, https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/factpages/state-digital-decade-2024-report?utm_source.
[6] European Commission (2023), “Digital Europe Programme opens to candidate countries Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, and Serbia to access calls for funding”, news, https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/digital-europe-programme-opens-candidate-countries-montenegro-north-macedonia-albania-and-serbia-2023-06-30_en.
[98] European Commission (2022), Flash Eurobarometer 498: SMEs, Green Markets and Resource Efficiency, Publications Office of the European Union, https://doi.org/10.2873/490067.
[20] European Commission (2021), “2030 Digital Compass: The European way for the digital decade”, https://eufordigital.eu/library/2030-digital-compass-the-european-way-for-the-digital-decade.
[37] European Digital Innovation Hub (2025), “Digital Valley Albania (DiVA) officially launches to drive digital transformation for Albanian SMEs”, press release, https://divalbania.eu/press-release.
[53] Eurostat (2024), “Research and development expenditure by sector of performance (dataset)”, https://doi.org/10.2908/tsc00001.
[51] Eurostat (2023), “Research and development expenditure by sector of performance (dataset)”, https://doi.org/10.2908/tsc00001.
[18] Eurostat (2023), “Share of individuals having at least basic digital skills, by gender (data set)”, https://doi.org/10.2908/sdg_04_70.
[64] Foley, T. (2025), “New privacy law to take effect in Albania”, VitalLaw, https://www.vitallaw.com/news/new-privacy-law-to-take-effect-in-albania/cspd015bb46c8483de4c34a2a3b9895c18b49f.
[57] France Directorate-General for Enterprise (2020), France Relance: A Guide to Support Measures for SMEs and Very Small Businesses, Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Paris, https://www.entreprises.gouv.fr/la-dge/publications/france-relance-le-guide-des-dispositifs-destines-aux-pme-et-tpe.
[59] France Num (2025), My priority for digitizing my small business, web page, https://www.francenum.gouv.fr.
[100] German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (2026), “Federal Grant Programme for Energy and Resource Efficiency in Industry”, web page, https://www.bafa.de/DE/Home/home_node.html.
[95] GIZ (2023), “Promoting regional economic development in Albania through improved vocational education and training”, web page, https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/123154.html.
[91] Gordon, C. (2024), “AI is accelerating the loss of our scarcest natural resource: Water”, Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/cindygordon/2024/02/25/ai-is-accelerating-the-loss-of-our-scarcest-natural-resource-water.
[58] Gouv.fr (2020), “Presentation of the Recovery Plan”, web page, https://www.economie.gouv.fr/presentation-plan-relance.
[41] Hall, B., F. Lotti and J. Mairesse (2012), “Evidence on the impact of R&D and ICT investment on innovation and productivity in Italian firms”, NBER Working Papers, No. 18053, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA, https://doi.org/10.3386/w18053.
[85] Hubitat (2025), “Innovation Center Hubitat Albania: About us”, web page, https://hubitat.al.
[93] ILO (2024), “Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation in Albania (DART)”, web page, https://www.ilo.org/projects-and-partnerships/projects/digital-agriculture-and-rural-transformation-albania-dart.
[16] ITU (2021), Digital Skills Assessment: Albania, International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Regional-Presence/Europe/Documents/Publications/Digital%20Development%20Country%20Profiles/Final-Albania-Digital-Skills-Assessment.pdf.
[75] IUS (2025), “IUS Life collaborates in CyberFort Project: European initiative to strengthen cybersecurity in VET and SMEs”, news, https://news.ius.edu.ba/en/news/ius-life-collaborates-cyberfort-project-european-initiative-strengthen-cybersecurity-vet-and.
[80] KonsultimiPublik (2025), Draft Decision on the Approval of the National Strategy for Aritifical Intelligence of Albania and Action Plan 2025-2030, https://www.konsultimipublik.gov.al/documents/RENJK_864_Relacioni-shoqerues-per-Projektvendimin-per-miratimin-e-Strategjise-se-Inteligjences-Artificialie-ne-Shqiperi-2025-2030.docx.
[97] Lab of Tomorrow (2024), “Enhancing circular glass packaging solutions in Albania”, web page, https://www.lab-of-tomorrow.com/challenges/challenge/enhancing-circular-glass-packaging-solutions-in-albania.
[42] Mohnen, P., M. Polder and G. Van Leeuwen (2018), “R&D and organizational innovation: Exploring complementarities in investment and production”, NBER Working Papers, No. 25044, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA, https://doi.org/10.3386/w25044.
[8] Muça, E. (2025), “AIDA opens applications for funds to support businesses”, AlbaniaTech, https://albaniatech.org/aida-opens-applications-for-funds-to-support-businesses.
[35] Muça, E. (2024), “AECA increases the offer in e-commerce with more than 30 new e-shops”, Albania Tech, https://albaniatech.org/aeca-increases-the-offer-in-e-commerce-with-more-than-30-new-e-shops.
[49] NASRI (2025), Approval of Funding for Winning Technology and Innovation Projects that are a Collaboration Between Universities and Business/Industry, for the Year 2025, National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation, Government of Albania, Tirana, https://nasri.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Vendim-Nr.-6-dat%C3%AB-30.04.2025-P%C3%ABr-miratimin-e-financimit-t%C3%AB-projekteve-fituese-t%C3%AB-Teknologjis%C3%AB-dhe-Inovacionit-q%C3%AB-vijn%C3%AB-si-bashk%C3%ABpunim-i-universiteteve-me-biznesin-indu.
[48] NASRI (2024), Approval of Funding for Winning Technology and Innovation Projects that are a Collaboration Between Universities and Business/Industry, for the Year 2024, National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation, Government of Albania, Tirana, https://nasri.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Vendim-Nr.-7-date-10.06.2024-PTI.pdf.
[47] NASRI (2023), Approval of Funding for Winning Technology and Innovation Projects that are a Collaboration Between Universities and Business/Industry, for the Year 2023, National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation, Government of Albania, Tirana, https://nasri.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VENDIM-NR.-11-DAT%C3%8B-21.07.2023-MIRATIMIN-E-FINANCIMIT-T%C3%8B-PROJEKTEVE-FITUESE-T%C3%8B-TEKNOLOGJIS%C3%8B-DHE-INOVACIONIT-Q%C3%8B-VIJN%C3%8B-SI-BASHK%C3%8BPUNIM-I-UNIVERSITETEVE-ME-BIZNESININDUSTRIN%C3%.
[78] OECD (2025), AI Adoption by Small and Medium‑sized Enterprises: OECD Discussion Paper for the G7, OECD, Paris, https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2025/12/ai-adoption-by-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises_9c48eae6/426399c1-en.pdf?utm_source.
[52] OECD (2025), Economic Convergence Scoreboard for the Western Balkans 2025, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/bc0babf3-en.
[31] OECD (2025), “SME digitalisation”, web page, https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/digitalisation-of-smes.html?utm_source.
[2] OECD (2025), SME Digitalisation for Competitiveness: The 2025 OECD D4SME Survey – Policy Highlights, OECD, Paris, https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/networks/oecd-digital-for-smes-global-initiative/D4SME-2025-Policy-Highlights.pdf.
[32] OECD (2025), The 2025 OECD definition of e-commerce and guidelines for interpretation, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/2254f1de-en.
[27] OECD (2025), Unleashing SME Potential to Scale Up: Helping SMEs Scale Up, OECD Studies on SMEs and Entrepreneurship, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/ea948a58-en.
[4] OECD (2024), OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024 (Volume 2): Strengthening Connectivity, Innovation and Trust, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/3adf705b-en.
[15] OECD (2024), “SME Digitalisation to manage shocks and transitions: 2024 OECD D4SME survey”, OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Papers, No. 62, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/eb4ec9ac-en.
[12] OECD (2023), OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook 2023, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/342b8564-en.
[29] OECD (2023), “SMEs in the era of hybrid retail: Evidence from an OECD D4SME survey”, OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Papers, No. 41, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/882f30b0-en.
[79] OECD (2022), “OECD Framework for the Classification of AI systems”, OECD Digital Economy Papers, No. 323, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/cb6d9eca-en.
[1] OECD (2021), The Digital Transformation of SMEs, OECD Studies on SMEs and Entrepreneurship, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/bdb9256a-en.
[14] OECD (2021), The Digital Transformation of SMEs: Policy Highlights, OECD, Paris, https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/support-materials/2021/02/the-digital-transformation-of-smes_ec3163f5/Digital-Transformation-of-SMEs-policy-highlights-en.pdf.
[3] OECD (2019), Going Digital: Shaping Policies, Improving Lives, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264312012-en.
[40] OECD (2019), Unpacking E-commerce: Business Models, Trends and Policies, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/23561431-en.
[13] OECD (forthcoming), Digital and Green SMEs: Western Balkans Business Survey, OECD, Paris, forthcoming.
[84] OFICINA Hub (2025), “OFICINA Hub: What we do”, web page, https://www.oficina-hub.al.
[71] Politiko (2024), “Albania faced 49 cyber attacks during 2023, 12 of them serious”, Politiko, https://politiko.al/english/e-tjera/shqiperia-u-perball-me-49-e-kibernetike-gjate-vitit-2023-12-prej-tyr-i507707?utm_source.
[81] Practitioners’ Network for European Development Cooperation (2024), “Economic growth and innovation in Albania: An in-depth loook at Prospeed 2.0 and EU4Innovation initiatives”, news, https://www.dev-practitioners.eu/news/economic-growth-and-innovation-in-albania-an-in-de.
[23] Protik Center (2025), “Innovation in Albania”, web page, https://protik.org/all-about-us.
[87] Protik Center (2025), Protik Innovation Center website, https://protik.org.
[70] PWC, ISAC (2022), Cybersecurity Ecosystem Report: Western Balkans: Emerging Cyber Threats, PwC Serbia, https://www.isac-fund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/PwC-Cybersecurity-Ecosystem-Report-WB.pdf.
[72] RCC (2023), Western Balkans SecuriMeter 2023: Public Opinion Survey on Security, Regional Cooperation Council, Sarajevo, https://www.rcc.int/pubs/163/securimeter2023public-opinion-survey-on-security.
[24] RisiAlbania (2025), “Who we are?”, web page, https://www.risialbania.al/about-us/who-we-are.
[83] TechSpace Incubator (2025), “TechSpace Incubator: About us”, web page, https://techspace.al/en/about-us.
[7] UET (2025), “DIU [Digital Innovation Unit]”, web page, https://uet.edu.al/en/portfolio/diu.
[25] UET (2024), “BIM4WB: Building BIM digital competences”, web page, https://uet.edu.al/en/portfolio/bim4wb.
[34] Ungerer, C., A. Portugal and M. Haddad (2022), “Helping Albania seize the digital trade opportunity”, The Trade Post blog, World Bank, https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/trade/helping-albania-seize-digital-trade-opportunity#:~:text=To%20accelerate%20the%20growth%20of,future%20growth%20of%20e%2Dcommerce.
[11] WBIF (2025), “A big boost for small businesses in Albania and Serbia”, news, https://wbif.eu/news-details/big-boost-small-businesses-albania-and-serbia.
[46] WBIH (2026), “Albania: NASRI launches 2026 National Research and Innovation Calls for stronger participation in Horizon Europe”, news, https://westernbalkans-infohub.eu/news/albania-nasri-launches-2026-national-research-and-innovation-calls.
[92] Wuennenberg, L. and Q. Rugova (2020), “Why Albania should shift away from hydropower and preserve the last free-flowing river in Europe”, International Institute for Sustainable Development, https://www.iisd.org/savi/story/why-albania-should-shift-away-from-hydropower-and-preserve-the-last-free-flowing-river-in-europe.
[65] Zeneli, G. (2025), “The evolution of personal data protection in Albania: A comparative analysis of the new and old law in relation to the GDPR”, Interdisciplinary Journal of Research and Development, Vol. 12/1 S1, pp. 129-138, https://doi.org/10.56345/ijrdv12n1s116.
[89] Zewe, A. (2025), “Explained: Generative AI’s environmental impact”, MIT news, https://news.mit.edu/2025/explained-generative-ai-environmental-impact-0117.