Prishtina REA, in its capacity as the national coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Kosovo, hosted a Decentralised Online Info Session on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, drawing more than 60 participants from across the Western Balkans, the European Union and partner countries from other global regions. The session, led by Ahmet Jetullahu – Meti, Country Coordinator of EEN Kosovo, provided a detailed overview of the Balkonnect platform and highlighted the increasing international relevance of this rapidly developing regional innovation and matchmaking festival.
From the outset, Jetullahu emphasised Balkonnect’s mission as an open regional platform designed to connect businesses, innovators, investors, institutions and development partners. He noted that Balkonnect—presented officially through *www.balkonnect.com*—is powered by Prishtina REA and supported by a circle of strategic national, regional and international partners, among them the EBRD and EEN Kosovo. The platform, he explained, has been steadily expanding its scope and reach, creating an environment where Western Balkan SMEs can collaborate not only among themselves but also with organisations from the EU and other continents.
The session dedicated considerable attention to reviewing the achievements of Balkonnect Prishtina 2025, which marked a milestone year for the festival. Held in the capital of Kosovo, the 2025 edition attracted a highly diverse audience from 37 countries spanning 4 continents, demonstrating Prishtina’s capacity to serve as an international meeting point for innovation-driven cooperation. Jetullahu stressed that this geographic diversity was not symbolic—it translated directly into meaningful interaction, networking and partnership-building among participants.
This was particularly evident in the matchmaking results. The festival facilitated 688 transnational meetings, accounting for 82 percent of all matchmaking sessions, while 151 national meetings—or 18 percent—brought together stakeholders within Kosovo. These figures highlighted two important factors: first, the strong interest of international actors in collaborating with Western Balkan partners; and second, the readiness of local SMEs to expand their cooperation beyond national borders. The 2025 numbers also affirmed Balkonnect’s reputation as a regional gateway for cross-border projects, investment opportunities and participation in EU-funded programmes.
With this strong foundation, the info session introduced participants to the much-anticipated Balkonnect Tirana 2026, which will take place from 21 to 23 May 2026. Jetullahu described the Tirana edition as a significant expansion in both scale and ambition. The festival will feature eight major innovation and arenas including:
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Next-Gen Tourism & Creative Futures Arena (I Arena) – Location: Tirana, Piramida. Focus: Innovation in tourism, creative industries, and future cultural trends.
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Green Economy & Planet-Positive Innovation Arena (II Arena) – Location: Tirana, Piramida. Focus: Sustainable development, circular economy, climate tech, and eco-innovation.
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Advanced Manufacturing & Nearshoring Innovation Arena (III Arena) – Location: Tirana, Piramida. Focus: Industrial innovation, advanced manufacturing, supply chain optimization, and nearshoring opportunities.
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Agri-Innovation & Food Systems Transformation Arena (IV Arena) – Location: Tirana, Piramida. Focus: Agri-tech, sustainable food systems, and innovations in agriculture.
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Innovation Diplomacy & Public Impact Finance Arena (V Arena) – Location: Tirana, Piramida. Focus: Innovation-driven diplomacy, development finance, and public impact investment.
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Fintech Futures & Digital Finance Innovation Arena (VI Arena) – Location: Tirana, Piramida. Focus: Fintech innovation, digital finance, blockchain, and financial inclusion.
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Smart Cities & Urban Futures Arena (VII Arena) – Location: Tirana, Piramida. Focus: Urban innovation, smart city solutions, mobility, and digital infrastructure.
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Global Joint Strategic Investment (JSI) Forum (VIII Arena) – Location: Durres, Seaside Facility (Day III). Focus: “Where Vision Meets Capital” – global investment, partnerships, and funding opportunities.
The info session attracted a wide audience of EEN Advisors from different consortiums, along with SMEs and startups interested in exploring the opportunities offered by Balkonnect 2026. With more than 60 participants attending, the session demonstrated the growing awareness within the Enterprise Europe Network and the wider business community about the festival’s potential to support cross-border cooperation, innovation partnerships and internationalisation efforts across the Western Balkans and Europe.
Participants were particularly interested in the opportunities the festival offers for SMEs and EEN Advisors. Jetullahu explained that Balkonnect 2026 will provide a high-quality matchmaking system tailored to facilitate strategic partnerships, market exploration and business cooperation. SMEs from the Western Balkans and the EU will have the chance to form consortia for Horizon Europe, the Single Market Programme and Euroclusters; engage directly with investors; and gain visibility among international innovation networks. Additionally, the presence of institutions from EU member states, EFTA countries and partners from other continents will further strengthen the potential for impactful and sustainable collaborations.
As the session concluded, Jetullahu emphasised that Balkonnect is not merely an event but an evolving regional ecosystem. Its progress reflects a shared commitment among Western Balkan actors and their European and global partners to promote innovation, competitiveness and international cooperation. The strong engagement shown during the info session reaffirmed that Balkonnect Tirana 2026 is poised to build on the achievements of the Prishtina edition, offering an expanded platform through which ideas can be transformed into partnerships, and partnerships into long-term economic impact.
The Decentralised Online Info Session served as an important preparatory step for the region’s business community, setting the stage for what is expected to be one of the most significant innovation and investment gatherings in the Western Balkans in 2026.