Aims and objectives

This project has been designed to respond most adequately to the specific needs and problems in the partner countries. Commercialisation Hubs will be developed at all participating universities not as research centres, but as interfaces between higher education institutions and enterprises and society. These Hubs will attract enterprises, especially start-ups and SMEs, to the universities because of the knowledge and skills of their staff (professors and students) as well as the valuable technology that they will possess. Besides, the Commercialisation Hubs will enhance participation of the universities in international projects and programmes, detection and valorisation of research results, creating strategic relationships with industry, liaisons and relations with potential sponsors.

The Hubs will be equipped with rapid prototyping technology (RPT) that has become a necessary instrument for technical and engineering sciences, medicine, urban planning etc. and/or Lean Manufacturing (LEAN), which is very significant for increasing the competitiveness of the enterprises.

Most of the companies in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro lack financial means to purchase and operate presented technology. The placement of RPT and LEAN equipment at universities will enable its usage by interested companies and will also allow practice oriented education of students by working on companies’ projects. This approach should enable capacity building and creation of sustainable networks between universities and enterprises, involving prospective master and PhD students in the implementation of the real R&D tasks provided by companies.

The Commercialisation Hubs’ concept presented in this project presents a development model that will support each PCU to utilise its full potential (knowledge, networks and equipment) in order to boost the entrepreneurial and innovation capacities and enhance their cooperation with enterprises giving them the central role in the regional innovation ecosystem. This will also provide more labour market relevant, practice oriented education which will result in an increased number of innovative and entrepreneurial, more (self)employable, graduates on all levels (bachelor, master and PhD).