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On May 17, 2018, at the Digital Assembly in Sofia, Bulgaria, the European Commission launched the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans. This aims to support the transition of the region into a digital economy and bring the benefits of digital transformation, such as faster economic growth, more jobs, and better services. Part of the agenda is organizing the Western Balkans Digital Summit (WBDS), each year in different members capitals. WBDS this year will be organized in Kosovo, Prishtina on the 21st and 22nd of September.
Sessions
Very competent speakers will discuss about the challenges and latest developments on region and beyond.
Side Events
Youth and technology related competitions will bring the youngsters energy into the Summit. In addition, DS partners will bring their innovative events during the both days of Summit.
Keynote speaker
Director of T2I - Technology Transfer and Innovation Venice
Moderator
Founder at Woozdom
Panelist
President of Board at Youth Entrepreneurial Service
Panelist
Director of ICTT Solutions for Industry and Society at Ericsson Nikola Tesla
Panelist
CEO at DigitalBee Edu
Panelist
CEO at Appdec
Keynote speaker
Vice President at Michigan Virtual
Moderator
Executive Director at KCDE
Panelist
Senior Human Capital Development Expert - Digital Skills and Learning at European Training Foundation
Panelist
Deputy Minister at Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation in Kosovo
Panelist
Head of Unit Digital Education at the European Commission
Panelist
Acting Regional Education Adviser UNICEF
Panelist
Head of Unit ‘Horizon Europe Association’, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
Keynote speaker
DG EAC, European Commission (TBC)
Panelist
Director, Roma Education Fund
Panelist
Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative
Panelist
DG DIGIT, European Commission (TBC)
Panelist
Semos Education, one of the WB Women Entrepreneurs of the Year (TBC)
Panelist
CEO of DP Media (TBC)
Facilitator
Chair
Southeast Europe regional coordinator, GEANT
Panelists
Head of Project Implementation Unit of KODE Project, implementing KREN
Panelist
CEO Advisor at CARNET
Panelist
Head of he GEANT Project Management Office
Moderator
SME Policy Index Project Manager
Panelist
Deputy Director, OECD Global Relations and Co-operation Directorate
Panelist
Minister of Trade, Industry and Entrepreneurship, Kosovo
Panelist
Head of Unit for Kosovo, DG NEAR, European Commission
Panelist
Acting General Director, Kosovo Investment and Enterprise Support Agency (KIESA)
Panelist
Acting Head of OECD South East Europe Division
Panelist
Narrative & Game Designer, QXR Studios
Panelist
Blockchain Strategist, QXR Studios
Paths and metrics to success workshop with Roberto Santolamazza, Director of T2I – Technology
Opportunities for Nearshoring in the Western Balkans in the Telecommunication and IT-Sector for the German Business Delegation
Speaker
International Chief Technology Officer, CyberRes at Micro Focus
Speaker
Cybersecurity Specialist, Raiffeisen Bank International (Austria)
Speaker
Senior Security Engineer at Microsoft
Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum - Secretary General
European Commission, DG CONNECT A4 Digital transformation of Industrial Ecosystems - Head of Unit
Eurochambres - Policy Director
Regional Cooperation Council - Coordinator of Common Regional Market & Senior Expert on Economic and Digital Connectivity
CEFTA – Senior Technical Expert on Trade in Services
Senior ICT Consultant of the HCCI
Servicemanagement and ICT at Austrian Economic Chamber
Croatian Chamber of Economy
Industry & SME Policy Manager at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB)
Product Owner IHK Digital
Deputy Secretary General and Head of Administrative Services Department at Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture of Bolzano
Benefit from the opportunity to learn from reputable representatives from the European Commission, EU member states, RCC, representatives of the Western Balkan countries, International Financial Institutions, renowned experts in the ICT sector, and representatives of the private sector.
B2B Matchmaking event was conducted on the second day of Summit. EEN Kosovo leading by Prishtina REA, in partnership with Ministry of Economy and its
“How to bring cutting edge infrastructure to the western Balkans?”, was the center of today discussion between Jan Dröge, Nicole Klingen, Artane Rizvanolli, Admirim Aliti,
During the first day of the Summit, two sessions and more than 5 side events took place in context of Digital Skills and Youth. Now
Keynote speaker:
Roberto Santolamazza, Director of T2I – Technology Transfer and Innovation Venice
Moderator:
Veronika Tasic Vusurovic, Founder at Woozdom
Panelists:
Gabriela Kostovska Bogoeska, President of Board at Youth Entrepreneurial Service
Ivan Lupic, Director of ICTT Solutions for Industry and Society at Ericsson Nikola Tesla
Valentina Radulovic, CEO at DigitalBee Edu
Zana Tabaku, CEO at Appdec
Digital education has come as a result of adapting to the rapid changes in technological environment and the way our children and students learn today. Preparing for effective use of digital education, requires significant investments in legal and technological infrastructure, system reforms, as well as a shift of pedagogical practices to optimize learning through digital modalities. Therefore, this panel shall address the importance of digital learning, equity in access to technology, and showcase examples that embrace digital education and facilitate these efforts.
Keynote speaker:
Joseph Freidhoff, Vice President at Michigan Virtual
Moderator:
Antigona Uka, Executive Director at KCDE
Panelists:
Alessandro Brolpito, Senior Human Capital Development Expert – Digital Skills and Learning at European Training Foundation
Dukagjin Pupovci, Deputy Minister at Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation in Kosovo
Georgi Dimitrov, Head of Unit Digital Education at the European Commission
Ivelina Borisova, Acting Regional Education Adviser UNICEF
Ruta Zarnauskaite, Head of Unit ‘Horizon Europe Association’, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
Event: Digital and Inclusive Made Compatible
13.00
Introductory remarks
Regional Cooperation Council introduces the panel and presents participants
13.05
Keynote speech
Mr. Georgi Dimitrov, DG EAC, European Commission (TBC)
13.15
Discussion
Very often, mainstreaming agendas, including the digital agenda, are not defined in a way to be all-inclusive. Knowing the challenges, the involvement of the various social groups in promoting, shaping and implementing these agendas will assist the relevant authorities to tailor policies that will include all and be beneficial for all, including Roma, women and youth. The panel will focus on how to address the specific needs of the different social groups in the field of entrepreneurship, digital skills, digital education, etc., while it also aims to present success stories from the region on the benefits of digitalization.
Facilitated by Marius Jitea
14.20-14.30
Conclusions and next steps by Regional Cooperation Council
What is a NREN and what these can do for the youth?
Chair: Anastas Mishev, Southeast Europe regional coordinator, GEANT
Panelists:
Fjolla Restelica Ahmeti, Head of Project Implementation Unit of KODE Project, implementing KREN
Goran Skvarc, CEO Advisor at CARNET
Tryfon Chiotis, Head of the GEANT Project Management Office
Host: GEANT
The objective of this meeting will be to present and discuss the key SME Policy Index 2022 assessment findings for Kosovo. To this end the meeting will bring together policymakers from Kosovo who contributed to the assessment, OECD and international experts, as well as representatives from the European Commission.
| 16:00-16:30 | SIGN-IN TO THE MEETING |
| 16:30-16:50 | OPENING REMARKS |
| Moderator: Ms.Marijana Petrovic, SME Policy Index Project Manager Mr. Karim Dahou, Deputy Director, OECD Global Relations and Co-operation Directorate Ms. Rozeta Hajdari, Minister of Trade, Industry and Entrepreneurship, Kosovo Mr. Vassilis Maragos, Head of Unit for Kosovo, DG NEAR, European Commission | |
| 16:50-17:35 | PRESENTATION OF ASSESSMENT KEY FINDINGS |
| The SME Policy Index 2022 main findings and recommendations for further improvement will be presented. The session will also zoom in on several areas most relevant for future progress in SME policy making, and provide the related OECD and EU good practices. Presentation by the OECD South East Europe Division Questions and answers | |
| 17:35-17:50 | ZOOM-IN: GOOD PRACTICES FOR DRIVING FORWARD DIGITAL GOVERNMENT REFORMS |
| Experts from the OECD Open and Innovative Government Division will present good practices from OECD countries in developing effective institutional and policy frameworks for digital government. Focus will be given to how these good practices can apply to Kosovo. Presentation by the OECD Open and Innovative Government Division Questions and answers | |
| 17:50-18:00 | CLOSING REMARKS |
| Mr. Zef Dedaj, Acting General Director, Kosovo Investment and Enterprise Support Agency (KIESA) Ms. Anita Richter, Acting Head of OECD South East Europe Division | |
Host: UNDP & Manifesta14
Event: Storytelling with Immersive Technologies
Place: Centre for Narrative Practice, former Hivzi Sylejmani Library
New digital technologies are unlocking the power and potential of storytelling by opening up more inclusive and networked ways of information sharing. Virtual and augmented reality have presented numerous possibilities for changing the way we do journalism, activism, marketing, and different forms of entertainment through its immersive powers. The groundbreaking transmedia QXR studios is leading a 2-day workshop session ‘Storytelling with Immersive Technologies’, covering the ways spatial technologies can be used for storytelling. The event is open to all tech enthusiasts, creatives, multimedia and entertainment professionals, journalists, designers, activists and more.
DAY 1: Overview of Immersive Technologies
21 September 2022
17:30 – 17:45 Reception
17:45 – 18:00 Opening Remarks
Catherine Nichols, Creative Mediator, Manifesta 14
Maria Suokko, Resident Representative, UNDP Kosovo
18:00 – 18:45 Presentation
Austin Grossman, Narrative & Game Designer, QXR Studios
Elena Piech, Blockchain Strategist, QXR Studios
18:45 – 19:00 Coffee/Tea Break
19:00 – 20:30 Hands-on practice
20:30 – 21:00 Networking
DAY 2: Participatory Workshop
22 September 2022
17:30 – 18:00 Reception
18:00 – 19:30 Discussion & hands-on practice with AR and motion capture
19:00 – 19:15 Coffee/Tea Break
19:15 – 20:30 Discussion & hands-on practice with AR and motion capture
20:30 – 21:00 Networking
Host: AHK
Speaker: Ramsés Gallego, International Chief Technology Officer, CyberRes at Micro Focus
Topic: Cyber – war and the critical condition the world is going through.
Speaker: Blerta Shabani Kreuter, Cybersecurity Specialist, Raiffeisen Bank International (Austria)
Topic: Cybersecurity in Financial Sector/Banking
Speaker: Teuta Hyseni, Senior Security Engineer at Microsoft
Topic: An ambitious young Enthusiast to a Role Model Security Engineer at Microsoft
In order to meet the needs of their members, Chambers of Commerce in Western Balkans constantly follow market changes in order to improve the skills of their employees and provide best support to the local businesses.
Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF), with the support of European Commission1 and in cooperation with Eurochambres, organizes the Academy on joint challenges for business in the region, with specific focus on European accession perspective and topics of interest for regional cooperation.
In order to strengthen the role that the Chambers of Commerce play as business support providers to local businesses on important matters regarding SME competitiveness, the Action will support exchanges of best practices developed by the Chambers of Commerce in the EU member states and with relevant experts for different services, focusing on digitalized services as a tool and service for companies/customers. The goal of the event is to inspire new positive change and improve environment for doing business.
by 18:00h – arrival of all participants and check in (Brezovica Hotel & SPA)
19:00 – 21:00 Joint networking event and dinner for all participants
Sessions are held in the KADARE hall, Brezovica Hotel & SPA
9:00 – 10:00 Opening remarks
10:00 – 16:30 Topic: EU and WB6 chambers digital services Moderator: Professor Mirdaim Axhami10:00 – 11:30 Session 1
11:30 – 12:00 Coffee break
12:00 – 13:30 Session 2
13:30 – 15:00 Networking lunch 15:00 – 16:30 Session 3
19:00-21:00 Joint networking event and dinner
Sessions are held in the KADARE hall, Brezovica Hotel & SPA Room 1
10:00 – 14:30 Topic: EU and WB6 chambers digital services Moderator: Professor Mirdaim Axhami10:00 – 11:30 Session 1
11:30 – 12:00 Coffee break
Moderator – Wrap up and conclusions
15:10 – 16:10 Networking lunch
19:00 – 21:00 Joint networking event and dinner
Departure of all participants and end of the Academy
