Kosovo sets its sights on the future with the Innovation Strategy 2030+

Kosovo is setting a bold course toward a more innovative and connected future. At the end of May, the city of Prizren hosted the National Innovation Strategy 2030+ workshop, led by the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade (MIET) and supported by the Sustainable and inclusive growth project, financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxemburg Development Cooperation Agency.

This high-level, hands-on event brought together voices from across the ecosystem — policymakers, educators and international experts — to shape Kosovo’s innovation priorities for the next decade.

More than a policy planning session, this workshop represented a new model of co-creation and local ownership. Participants weren’t passive observers — they were at the center of shaping how Kosovo will innovate, grow, and position itself in the global economy.

The three-day workshop was designed to build momentum from insight to action. It opened with big-picture trends and stakeholder feedback, moved into collaborative design sessions, and concluded with a comprehensive SWOT analysis of the current innovation landscape.

The guiding principle was clear: a successful strategy must be built by those who are already driving innovation on the ground. That spirit of collaboration and realism set the tone for honest dialogue — and practical ideas.

Participants identified several key priorities for Kosovo’s innovation strategy. An important among them was the call to establish a National Innovation Fund to support startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and research infrastructure, backed by a clear legal and operational framework.

Equally important was the need to build a strong data foundation. Reliable, standardised data would enable better policymaking and benchmarking, including the creation of a Kosovo Innovation Scoreboard.

The workshop also called for deeper university–industry collaboration through research partnerships, tech transfer offices, and academic engagement in policy.

Education emerged as a strategic pillar. Participants urged early introduction of entrepreneurship and creative thinking into school curricula, alongside teacher training and systemic reform.

Another key asset: the Kosovar diaspora. Structured engagement with professionals abroad — through incentives, networks, and credential recognition — was seen as critical to boosting local innovation capacity.

The SWOT analysis revealed Kosovo’s strengths, such as a digitally fluent youth and political will for innovation. But it also exposed persistent challenges: limited research and development funding, fragmented coordination, and underdeveloped infrastructure.

Yet Kosovo has distinct opportunities — from the European Union integration to digital transformation — if it can align its systems and reduce dependency on donors. Real risks remain, such as brain drain and weak global visibility, which the strategy must actively address.

As the strategy moves forward, the focus is on refining the vision, engaging more stakeholders, and ensuring alignment with national goals and capacities. The upcoming third workshop will finalise strategic objectives based on the insights collected.

The process ahead remains open, inclusive, and focused on building a smarter, more collaborative innovation system for Kosovo.

 

Are you part of Kosovo’s innovation story? Whether you’re a startup founder, educator, policymaker, or investor — your voice matters. Reach out, get involved, and help shape a smarter, more collaborative innovation future.

The Sustainable and inclusive growth in Kosovo project – funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency – aims to catalyse sustainable economic growth by fostering innovation, inclusivity, and social development in a greener Kosovo. Specifically, the project endeavours to stimulate innovation and both local and foreign investments within a digitally secure and transparent ecosystem.