1. Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA) June 12, 2012 1

2. Brief information 1. Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA) Business Relay and Innovation Centre (BRIC) Innovation Fund 2

3. Albanian Investment Development Agency ( AIDA ) Public owned Agency (Board of Directors) Supports private sector development Improves the business climate Follows SMEs in all their economic activities Collaborates with investors and public institutions 3

4. MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

5. AIDA Mission: To assist and accelerate the inflow of foreign investment into the Albanian economy To improve the competitiveness of Albanian exporters To enhance innovation and assist the growth amongst the Albanian SMEs 5

6. Promote and develop a culture of innovation for businesses in Albania Support businesses in Albania to adopt a process of innovation Increase competitiveness of SMEs both in domestic and foreign markets Vision of BRIC

7. Business Relay and Innovation Centre (BRIC) Implementing arm for Business Innovation Technology Strategy (BITS) which aims to: Assist and stimulate firms to innovate and upgrade technologically. Enable the SMEs to develop more competitive products. Improve products and services. Support SMEs to adopt new ICT systems and technology through technological upgrading and positioning in their supply chains. 7

8. BUSINESS INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY (BITS) Programmes 1. Innovation Fund 2. Business Innovation Services 3. Business Incubators 4. Business Clusters

9. INNOVATION FINANCING INNOVATION FUND MEASURE 1.2 INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY MEASURE 1.1 INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY AUDIT PRIORITY 1 ENABLING COMPETITIVENESS PRIORITY 2 DEVELOPING COMPETITIVENESS MEASURE 2.4 INTERNATIONAL -ISATION MEASURE 2.2 PROCESS IMPROVEMENT MEASURE 2.1 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MEASURE 2.3 ICT ADOPTION 9

10. INNOVATION Innovation is the development of a specific product, service or idea with the intent of commercializing it and extracting value from that. Innovation is pragmatic as it further develops an invention into a useful and profitable application. Innovation is a new way of making more money for the company….!!!

11. Innovation is a value creation process The process of transforming the idea into value Innovation = Invention + Implementation ChangeValue Innovation Management OutputInput / Idea Innovation Turning the innovation process more efficient and effective

12. Global Information Technology Report 2012 (142 countries) Government procurement of advanced technology products, Position: 58, Value 3.8 Firm-level technology absorption, Position: 73/142, Value: 4.7 Capacity for innovation, Position: 119/142, Value: 2.4 Extent of business Internet use, Position: 74/142, Value: 4.9 Government prioritization of ICT, Position 62/142, Value: 4.8 Importance of ICT to government vision of the future, Position 59/142, Value 4.1 Impact of ICT on new organizational models, Position 65/142, Value 4.2 *[1 = not at all; 7= significantly]

13. What does this picture tell you?

14. Strategic Innovation Technology Audit (SITA) Active instrument to address both SMEs and BSPs Weaknesses of Albanian SMEs TNA report by EU SME Project in 2010

15. Targeted diagnosis enabling SMEs to assess their current positions and options regarding innovation. Analytical information about development options. Support learning process within the firm. Effective decision making support tool. Strategic Innovation Technology Audit (SITA)

16. Innovation Financing INNOVATION FUND MEASURE 1.2 INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY MEASURE 1.1 INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY AUDIT PRIORITY 1 ENABLING COMPETITIVENESS PRIORITY 2 DEVELOPING COMPETITIVENESS MEASURE 2.4 INTERNATIONAL -ISATION MEASURE 2.2 PROCESS IMPROVEMENT MEASURE 2.1 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MEASURE 2.3 ICT ADOPTION 16

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18. Quick Appraisal (QA) A tool to interview with the entrepreneur. 1+ hour. Self-assessment performed by the entrepreneur and the auditor. Free of charge marketing tool serving to sell the full auditing process. Microsoft Excel Sheet to assess the 5 dimensions. QA Graphic Report. 18

19. Five main dimensions

20. Dimension Subcategories

21. SITA SCORE : AN EXAMPLE 21

22. In Depth Diagnosis Overview & Patterns 2 nd part of the SITA process. Company staff has to be interviewed. Provides further insight to the firm's 5 dimensions. Provide further detailed analysis for the 5 dimensions and sub-dimensions. The IDD is a static process and not a dynamic one. It tells/describes the what is and how it is in a company. It does not aim to do the what might be, how it might be question. 22

23. PROCESS of IDD 23 Minimum staff to be interviewed should be three. (3) Maximum staff to be interviewed should be six. (6) Staff interviewed should not be within the entrepreneurs inner circle. In Depth Questionnaire with the companys staff. Microsoft Excel Sheet to assess the 5 following dimensions: QA Graphic Report bar chart and pentagon

24. IDD Consolidated Graphic Report

25. INNOVATION OPTIONS PROCESS Last phase of the SITA process. A prospective activity/report to help the firm to develop/improve. Provides a maximum of 3 (three) investment options which the audited firm wishes to pursue. Serves as a mini prospective investment plan for the entrepreneur. 25

26. Thank you INNOVATION IS EVERYBODYS BUSINESS