The Regional Innovation Center of the European Institute of Technology and Innovation for Raw Materials (EIT Raw Materials Regional Innovation Center) is now open in Elbasan. This is the only centre of its kind in the Western Balkans. Its mission is to promote scientific research in the mining sector, to continue exploration, to discover and process raw materials, and to rely on innovation. Furthermore, this Centre will facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing between Albanian professionals and experts and those of the European Union in the search, discovery and processing of mining materials, particularly those of strategic importance.
Belinda Balluku, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, delivered the following speech:

Greetings, everyone!

It took us a long but rewarding road to establish a center that will resuscitate one of Albania’s most important industries, mining. I always say that God has been generous with our country. It has undoubtedly suffered, and it has a long history. God has not spared anything, not even the mountains, the hills, the sea, the groves, the coasts, or the rich underground. With our limited possibilities, we have tried to get everything. We have only been able to do so thanks to the good will of researchers, professors, and other contributors to the sector. Without their support, we would not have been able to do it. We did not have the technology and innovative tools that we have today.
It is clear that, due to the global situation of recent years, starting with the pandemic or the war in Ukraine, the government and other governments in Europe and beyond have not focused on the mining sector. But we have also learned our lessons. We learned that we cannot depend on a limited country, such as Ukraine or Russia, to have the raw materials we need for the functioning of the continents. We quickly realized that even small countries like Albania and the European Union have come to understand the immense importance of this for the mining industry. The raw materials that can be used by the automotive industry today and in the future, as well as renewable energy sources, are all dependent on this. This important raw material can be found in even the smallest area, like Albania, which is only 28 thousand square kilometres. It is, however, extremely rich in this material, as you are aware much better than I am.

Today is a special day because, thanks to your contribution, the Albanian government’s focus, and, without a doubt, the European Union’s support as a strategic partner of our country, we have arrived at a special day to open a new nest, a new incubator of ideas, academic research, and the promotion of a sector in the Republic of Albania: mining. All of this will be made possible by the Regional Innovation Center of the European Institute of Technology and Innovation for Raw Materials, which will signal an important turning point in the growth of our country’s mining industry.

This Centre is the only one in the Western Balkans, and we thank all our colleagues from the European Union for choosing Albania. They have made the right choice. They have chosen a place where, as I told you, God has been generous. In addition to the raw material that is in the Albanian underground, God has equipped this place with people who have an extraordinary resistance to difficulties, a passion for innovation and above all, they love their country. I can assure you that demographic movements are occurring all over the world, regardless of what is said about them. But, as long as we have our sons and daughters who choose to return to Albania, even if it is their last choice and the best for them, there is nothing wrong with them moving abroad to gain the necessary experience and then returning here to contribute.
This Center, in addition to encouraging research and discovery, will undoubtedly serve as an incubator for developing young professionals. Young professionals will have the ability to contribute to the sector while forming an exceptional fusion with all of the professors, academics, and other sector contributors that we have in plenty. And if we have occasionally forgotten them, please accept my apologies, but I, for one, have not forgotten them, nor has the Ministry of Infrastructure. I can assure you that even the directors who have worked with me for a long time, such as Mehmet Hasalami here, know that we have not forgotten them for a moment. I want to make it clear that there is nothing more important than human power. The Albanian Government is fully aware of this and is placing great emphasis on human capacities.

The Albanian government has made it clear since January that 2024 will be a year focused on human capital. Human capital is an irreplaceable asset for the country. It cannot be replaced by technology or innovation. This is the first year we have established a dedicated innovation centre in our country. It is multi-sectoral and will cover all sectors, including renewable energy, mining, transport, critical infrastructure, health, education and everything else. It will cooperate closely with this new centre.
I want to especially thank Linda Pustina, who, as a force of nature that she is, despite the fact that today she has decided to lead another equally interesting and challenging sector for economic development, I would say, has made an extraordinary contribution to the rise of this Center. I would like to thank Professor Ledia. It was a challenge to convince her to join us since she had decided to pursue an academic career, but this Center is the perfect place for that career to develop.
I want to thank Ambassador Gonzato for his invaluable contributions during this period. I also want to thank Bernd Schäfer, who will take the floor after me. As I always say, good work is done with good friends. We will never succeed if we try to do it alone.
So, as we begin this new slot of Innovation and Technology for Raw Materials, I would like to wish you good work, while also expressing my heartfelt gratitude to the Rectorate of Elbasan and, in particularly, my friend, Professor Topin.

I am confident that, just as you helped us and gave us these facilities to open this new nest of innovation and technology for raw materials, we will also help you by giving your students access to our facilities, which are really nice, warm and accommodating for those new ideas to come.

Albania is a rich country in everything that God has given it, but most importantly, it is a rich country in its people.

Thank you for your attention!