EU–WB6 Regional Artificial Intelligence Hackathon

The EU–WB6 Regional Artificial Intelligence Hackathon, a unique initiative held as part of the EU–Western Balkans Investment Forum, brought together innovators, startups, entrepreneurs, investors, and public policymakers from the Western Balkans and the European Union. They competed in a contest designed to drive regional development by showcasing ideas and digital solutions.
The hackathon received 161 project applications, reflecting growing enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) in the region. This event reaffirmed Albania’s role as a hub of innovation and digital transformation in the Western Balkans.
The participants represented a wide range of backgrounds, including students, independent innovators, early-stage concepts, and consolidated projects, demonstrating that the Hackathon successfully connects education, entrepreneurship, and applied technology.
Prime Minister Rama attended the event and announced that the government will open its doors to innovators, creating a shared space centered around the Agency of Excellence.
“We have agreed internally to move forward with this process by opening the government’s doors to all innovators and by creating a shared space with the Agency of Excellence at its core. This is an agency that we recently established and will now place at your disposal, as well as at the disposal of all innovators. This means startups and innovators will have the opportunity to access institutions, better understand their challenges, and utilize their data and statistics — the foundation of AI-based solutions and model creation,” he said.
This event marks the first practical collaboration between the government, youth, universities, and businesses within the framework of European integration and the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans.