The Trends in Nanotechnology International Conference (TNT2022) took place in Tirana for the 2nd year in a row, bringing together representatives from leading technology institutes of 25 various countries to engage in a professional discussion about achievements and technology challenges, as well as explore Albania’s potential and development ambitious in this aspect in the areas of health, security, agriculture and environment.
This high-level scientific meeting TNT series aims to present a broad range of current research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology as well as related policies or other types of initiatives such as nanoAlb. TNT events have demonstrated that they are particularly effective in transmitting information and establishing contacts among workers in this field
Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed the event, stating that the Albanian government will support this community and the new nanoscience unit, nanotechnology in Albania.
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Welcome. First of all, I would like to wholeheartedly thank professor Merkoçi and professor Correia, who have jointly embarked on a path that at first, frankly speaking, sounded an utopian engagement, but which I truly confident that at this second international conference here in Tirana it is actually a tangible engagement that has been already materialized with 26 working teams from various countries and allow us take a completely implementable next step towards opening a nanotechnology centre or, more precisely, the step towards introducing the nano-Alb into a physical working environment, which, as I have already promised to the professor when we met last year, is now ready and we will gladly accompany you to examine it and choose together the necessary space to kick off this process.
It is certainly a process that would haven’t taken place without the Academy of Sciences new chairmanship by the honourable professor Skënder Gjinushi, who had to move and mix the stagnant waters since he was younger and, indeed, the Academy of Sciences, from a deplorable derelict space has been transformed into a landmark that is slowly opening doors, seemingly totally impossible for the world in which the academy had locked itself in.
The Education Minister brought up an example that I would like to repeat, fact that the University of Tirana has entered into a new spirit with a new awareness about the necessity of accessing European funds through significant and meaningful projects that strengthen not only the financial basis of the research, but also the belief that we are not only unlike others in the negative aspect, but we can do a lot in the positive aspect. Quadrupling European funds for scientific research at the university and increasing 10 times from nearly 40 people to more than 400 people the university staff in accessing these funds in the span of only two years thanks to the leadership of the University of Tirana is extremely significant, encouraging and meaningful and to sent a message across to girls and boys who upon finishing high school with honors, the first idea that comes to their mind is leaving to continue their studies at a European universities.
I would like to conclude by commenting on this initiative, which was completely unimaginable just a few years ago, a joint initiative launched by Albania and the Netherlands or by the Netherlands and Albania, you name it, to involve the European community in our efforts to really materialize the vision and the New European Political Community.
In a few days, on 6th of October, the leaders of this geography, which includes the European Union members and the Balkan countries, very developed but non-EU members, such as Switzerland and Norway, and so on, will gather in Prague to discuss implementation of the New European Political Community idea.
Together with the Dutch Prime Minister Rutte, we have written an editorial due to be published tomorrow on Politiko on some of the main directions we deem very important for this New European Political Community. Albania has attached special importance to young people and to the university, the European university world, to the necessity that our young people and that our universities, which are outside the network of European universities, be provided the opportunity of equal access, which would give a very significant boost to the internationalization process of our universities, enabling the creation of synergies with European universities and practically providing the opportunity to our students, who graduate in Albania high schools, to not necessarily leave the country and enrol leading universities in Spain, the Netherlands, France or Germany, but instead enrol Albanian universities with same curricula and be issued equivalent diploma of a European universities in Spain, the Netherlands, France, Germany and so on.
It is a fact that Albanian girls and boys who finish high school in Albania excel in the most prestigious universities and it is sheer luck that their grade point average (GPA) in European universities is among the highest GPSs in those universities, which shows that the base in education has been strengthened and improved, but on the other hand, it means more responsibility to enhance the university
If this initiative will be embraced by other countries and if this will become a new EU policy, this would mark an extraordinary achievement and it would provide incredible relief to everyone and the families that invest a lot from their savings in their children’s education in foreign universities.
I would like to express gratitude to the Spanish government and our Spanish friends, the government representatives attending the event, because Albania has traditionally good relations with Spain, but resembling the traditionally good relations with neighbours that are not adjacent to you and it is always easier to have better relations with such neighbours. We have a lot to learn from you, but we are convinced that he who stays and cooperates with us never gets bored.
Thank you very much!
