Prishtina, 4 March, 2024
The inauguration of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Prishtina was the next activity in which the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated today, which was implemented as a result of the cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade and the University of Pristina “Hasan Prishtina”.
In his opening speech, the prime minister emphasized that the opening of this center marks an important step in our commitment to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within our academic community, in our economy and society in general.
“The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering will serve as an important node of creativity and collaboration. It will be a space where ideas are initiated, where challenges are faced with innovative solutions and where the spirit of entrepreneurship is cultivated. This center will not only advance the learning experience of our students, but also contribute to the development of business ideas, technologies and solutions that address real problems of industry and the economy,” he added.
Furthermore, as the prime minister said, the launch of this center will enable equipping our students with the skills, mindsets and resources needed to face the challenges of the modern world that is developing at breakneck speed, while the faculty’s academic staff will have better conditions for research work and to participate with projects in EU programs such as Horizon Europe and Digital Europe, in which Kosovo has recently joined.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Rozeta Hajdari, expressed her happiness for the inauguration of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, which she considered a space that will create a culture that supports innovation and promotes the growth of the ecosystem of entrepreneurship, empowering students, graduates, entrepreneurs, innovators and potential entrepreneurs such as individuals or students, who with their talent and creativity will create new innovative enterprises.
As evidence of commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is already investing in two other important platforms: Innovation and Training Park in Prizren – ITP, a 40-hectare space as a co-investment with the German government, which is already populated with over 40 local and international companies and other participants from non-governmental and academic organizations; as well as Tech Park Prishtina, a modern space in which the government has invested 1.2 million Euros, and which has been given under management to the Association of Information and Communication Technology – STIKK, as a representative of the ICT private sector.
After the introductory words, the ribbon was cut, while the Prime Minister and the attendees visited the premises of this center where they saw closely the laboratories in which training and practical classes will be held by the students. Also, in this center, various interested businesses will have the opportunity to benefit.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear Ms. Rozeta Hajdari, Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade,
Honorable Deputy Minister Mr. Mentor Arifaj,
Honorable Professor Qerim Qerimi, Rector of the University of Pristina,
The honorable Mr. Ahmet Shala, dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
The honorable Mr. Muhedin Nushi, Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation,
Dear professors, academic staff and students,
Dear attendees,
Ladies and gentleman,
It is a special pleasure for me to be here with you today at this inauguration of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Pristina. The opening of this center marks an important step in our commitment to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship not only within our academic community, but also in our economy and society in general.
I want to express my gratitude to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering for the establishment of this center and at the same time thank the Ministry of Industry, Enterprise and Trade for the investment in its construction.
Innovation and entrepreneurship are the driving forces of progress and prosperity of our state and society. Our government is already investing in two other important platforms for the development of innovation in Kosovo. It is the Innovation and Training Park in Prizren – ITP, with an area of 40 hectares, which is a joint investment with the German government, and which is already populated with over 40 local and international companies and other participants from non-governmental and academic organizations. Within the framework of the ITP, our Government has also invested in concrete projects, such as the center for digital excellence, within which a laboratory for 3D printing and scanning and the data center of the academic and research network of Kosovo (KREN) have been created. , and the piloting of the 5G network is expected soon.
Meanwhile, Tech Park Prishtina is a modern space of 4000 square meters, where the government has invested 1.2 million euros and which has been given in management to the Association of Information and Communication Technology – STIKK, as a representative of the private ICT sector. Through this platform, we are supporting the further growth and development of this sector, which has tremendous economic potential for our country.
While today, within the University of Pristina, we are launching this center, which is another important platform of our innovation ecosystem. In its aim of interweaving academia with industry, it is essential that this center equips our students with the skills, mindsets and resources necessary to face the challenges, but also to take advantage of the opportunities of the modern world, which is developing at breakneck speed.
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering will serve as an important hub of creativity and collaboration. It will be a space where ideas are initiated, where challenges are faced with innovative solutions and where the spirit of entrepreneurship is cultivated. This center will not only advance the learning experience of our students, but also contribute to the development of business ideas, technologies and solutions that address real industry and economic problems.
Last modified: March 6, 2024