The 1st Hybrid International Conference on Academia-Industry Cooperation for Innovation – AICI 2022, the Know-Hub project’s Final Conference was organized online and at the University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali” in collaboration with Know-Hub consortium, during the period 15-16 September 2022. The project “KnowHub – Reconnecting universities and enterprises to unleash regional innovation and entrepreneurial activity” has been co-funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education.

Submitted abstracts

The conference received abstracts from three different topics of interest, namely Topic 1-Academy-industry collaboration, Topic 2-Entrepreneurship education and Topic 3-Forward looking innovation ecosystems. A total of 26 abstract where received, 9 for the first topic, 5 for the second and 12 for the third.

All of the submitted abstracts went through a review process by the Scientific Committee. Authors of accepted abstracts presented their work on the conference (either in presence or online).The authors of the best abstracts were invited to submit their full work.

Publications

The Conference proceedings will be published in November 2022 by the University of Vlora. The publication will include all accepted publications, the abstracts, and the full papers, in the Book of abstracts, or the Conference proceedings, respectively.

Full papers will be published (upon review) in the Economicus Journal (ISSN: 2223-6295), an international blind peer reviewed journal, published twice a year by the European University of Tirana, Albania.

The full Book of Abstract is available online through the KnowHub Project website.

Conference Chairs

General chair: Dr. Bojan Jovanovski, FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, Austria

Co-chair: Assoc. Prof. Enkeleint-Aggelos Mechili, University of Vlora, Albania

Co-chair: Dr. Ketrina Çabiri Mijo, European University of Tirana, Albania

Organizing committee (alphabetic order): 

• Adjin Vatreš, MSc., University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Dardane Nuka, European University of Tirana, Albania
• Dr. Elmira Kushta,University of Vlora, Albania
• Eloina Tozaj, MSc., University of Vlora, Albania
• Eva Čuljak, MSc., University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Assoc. Prof. Filloreta Madani, University of Vlora, Albania
• Ina Cobani, MSc., University of Vlora, Albania
• Jana Kunecova, University of Girona, Spain
• Jelena Kostikj, National Center for Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning (NCDIEL), North Macedonia
• Luka Šaravanja, MSc., University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Marc Schwärzli, World University Service – WUS Austria, Austria
• Maria Rottensteiner, World University Service – WUS Austria, Austria
• Dr. Miftar Ramosaço, University of Vlora, Albania
• Mila Velkovska, National Center for Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning (NCDIEL), North Macedonia
• Dr. Mirza Pašić, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Rayko Toshev, University of Vaasa, Finland
• Rezarta Sinanaliaj, MSc., University of Vlora, Albania
• Roksana Nowak, MSc., University of Vlora, Albania
• Dr. Valbona Tahiri, University of Vlora, Albania
• Yao Amevi Amessinou Sossou, FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, Austria

Scientific committee (alphabetic order):

• Dr. Alketa Hyso, University of Vlora, Albania
• Prof. Dr. Andrea Bikfalvi, University of Girona, Spain
• Dr. Bojan Jovanovski, FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, Austria
• Dr. Boris Crnokić, University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Prof. Dr. Branko Vucijak, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• FH-Prof. Dr. Doris Kiendl, FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, Austria
• Dr. Eljona Zavalani, University of Vlora, Albania
• Prof. Assoc. Enkeleint A. Mechili, University of Vlora, Albania
• Prof. Dr. Ermira Qosja, European University of Tirana, Albania
• Prof. Dr. Izet Bijelonja, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Prof. Dr. Janko Jovanović, University of Montenegro, Montenegro
• Prof. Dr. Jelena Jovanović, University of Montenegro, Montenegro
• Dr. Ketrina Cabiri Mijo, European University of Tirana, Albania
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kristofor Lapa, University of Vlora, Albania
• Prof. Dr. Mugdim Pašić, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Prof. Dr. Petri Helo, University of Vaasa, Finland
• Prof. Dr. Radmil Polenakovikj, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and NCDIEL, North Macedonia
• Prof. Dr. Remzo Dedić, University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Prof. Dr. Roland Zisi, University of Vlora, Albania
• Dr. Trajche Velkovski, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and NCDIEL, North Macedonia
• Prof. Dr. Željko Stojkić, University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Fields of the conference 

• Academy-industry collaboration
  • Applied research concepts
  • Collaboration for skills development including practical education
  • Open innovation
  • Good practices with focus on Rapid Prototyping and Lean Manufacturing
• Entrepreneurship education
  • Entrepreneurship education and training
  • Entrepreneurial classrooms (physical, virtual and hybrid)
  • Didactical methods and tools for entrepreneurship and intraprenership
  • Entrepreneurship education for engineers
  • Good practices
• Forward looking innovation ecosystems
  • Role of academia in the innovation ecosystem
  • Partnerships for innovation
  • Skills for Innovation
  • Green and sustainable innovation

Key conclusions of the conference

• The importance of student and university staff mobility is essential for the development of the skill base necessary for keeping up with ever growing speed of change in industry. As different university have various expertise it’s important to foster connections.
• The importance of academia-industry collaboration was emphasized. The importance of having engineers prepared to tackle the contemporary challenges with state-of-the-art technologies, focused to develop solutions based on the market needs was noted.
• The five commercialization hubs open thorough the KnowHub project are an ideal location to foster industry and university collaboration. And are a key component in preparing future engineers for the challenges of tomorrow.
• MHM Robotics and other good practice examples confirm that academia-industry collaboration in applied research and teaching, along with entrepreneurial education for technical students is increasing the innovativeness and competitiveness of both the regional industry and the higher education. As a key measure for sustaining and expanding such collaboration is the universities’ technical, administrative and skills infrastructure to be further developed and well promoted to the wider public.
• A consensus regarding the key topics for further development in Western Balkans has emerged:
  • Advancing academic curricula towards Industry 4.0
  • Digital and green transition of the Western Balkans
  • Best practices from the area of digital twin need to be transferred to the Western Balkan region