Integrated Cross-Sectorial Plan of Tirana-Durres Area

Fund for Innovation. The board, through
supporting mechanisms, is an added value in
stimulating interaction for the progress and
development of SMEs processes. The Regional
Fund may consist of a separate regional
financial budget as well as the contribution of
stakeholders such as SMEs, municipalities,
universities, etc.;
For the further development of innovation
networks it is suggested to:
- Develop public, private or PPP research
centres / institutes; specialized structures
in certification and patenting of products;
“Techno-pole” technological innovation centres
of domestic or foreign ventures;
- Develop a common regional strategy that
fosters innovation and the development of
economic networks in priority sectors by
establishing cooperation between enterprises,
young entrepreneurs, research institutes,
universities, local and regional development
agencies and the “SMEs and innovation
board”;
- Strengthen SMEs cooperation schemes and
build relevant policies based on their profiles
and innovation portfolios;
- Create platforms that promote programs and
cooperation projects between education and
research institutions of regional enterprises,
creating new practices based on the needs of
SMEs to diversify technical tools and the range
of regional products;
- Create platforms that promote SMEs
connection to major businesses and
international corporations, to enable the
expansion of innovation externalities in
the region. These should be platforms that
promote SMEs innovation thanks to the links
in global networks for the sale of products and
services;
- Create “one-stop shop” offices in every
municipality of the region. Each of the
municipalities should enhance the level of
services, using ICT infrastructure serving all
citizens, and especially business;
- Support programs and projects to develop
entrepreneurship in “Start-ups”. These
programs should inspire and integrate
cooperation schemes between public and
private partners, encouraging access to the
banking sector and private financing;
- Make efficient the regional links with the
global enterprise network. Create long-term
programs that facilitate linkage and interaction
for exchanges and capacity building (e.g.,
through business networks, workshops,
seminars, etc.);
- Facilitate funding for new high-tech start-up
entrepreneurs to develop their products, by
creating frameworks that enable third-party
funding;
- Create annual joint venture regional events.
Establish a culture of celebration of successful
cases.
EP3.3- Territorial development of SMEs
Territorial development should be guided
by the principle of good land management,
preserving and conserving it. This implies
that the municipalities of the region should
promote and develop functional geographical
agglomerations to accommodate regional
enterprises. The future development of
these territorial nodes, inside and outside
urban centres, should be oriented near the
primary road and railway axes, by not creating
linear strips, but by developing concentrated
territorial poles. It is suggested to support
strips and poles with assistive areas within
the territory, to develop future services, and to
create the possibility of interaction in groups
for services and infrastructure.
The development of poles, zones and corridors
should be reinforced with public and private
networks and services that support product
marketing, financial and legal services, ICT
infrastructure, healthcare services, logistics
networks and centres, parking areas,
public transport networks and stations,
development of secondary road networks,
and infrastructural reinforcements above and
76