The Albanian Non-Profit Organization for Information and Communication Technology (ALBICT) was established in Tirana on February 16, 2014, by a group of young professionals with the aim of raising awareness in Albanian society about the importance of innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship in the country’s economic development.
The mission, vision, and scope of ALBICT’s work are closely linked to the initiation, organization, development, and promotion of events related to Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Innovation. The organization is committed to engaging youth as active members of Albanian society and empowering them with 21st-century knowledge and skills.
ALBICT also fosters collaboration between professionals, businesses, and individuals in the ICT and innovation sectors. Its activities include research, analysis, and reporting, as well as educational initiatives and capacity-building trainings to strengthen human capital in the country. The organization offers consulting and advisory services to companies, organizations, associations, and both local and international initiatives interested in supporting, investing in, assisting, or exploring the market in Albania and beyond.
ALBICT is recognized for its significant contributions to the development of the local ICT, innovation, and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Some of its most notable and impactful projects and initiatives include:
- Albanian ICT Awards (10 editions from 2014 to 2023), celebrating innovation in the ICT sector;
- ICTSlab, a lab-based innovation center focused on education and youth education;
- Uplift Western Balkans, an early-stage startup accelerator with impact across Albania and the Western Balkans;
- Bridge2EU, a startup networking program connecting Albanian startups with the Slovak ecosystem, held in three cohorts and involving 30 startups traveling to Bratislava, Slovakia and Vilnius, Lithuania;