Tirana became the regional hub of innovation with the development of ACT NOW 2025, an event that showcased the power of technology and the vision for a digital Albania. The conference, organized by the Albanian Council for Technology and Innovation (ACTI), brought together government, business, and international partners on a single stage.
At the opening, Ermal Beqiri, founder of Soft & Solution and Chairman of ACTI, alongside Minister Blendi Gonxhja and Mirlinda Karçanaj, Director of AKSHI, emphasized the role that technology plays in today’s economic development. Their words were followed by discussions with renowned international names such as Kozeta Garrett from Microsoft, Ekaterina Solovova from EBRD, Dane Hinic from IBM, and Onur Koc from Microsoft SEE, who shared their insights on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the future of innovation.
Several local companies, including Fastech, Communication Progress, One Albania, ALBICT, Helius Systems, and Synapse, participated in various panels, while discussions on public policies were led by figures like Delina Ibrahimaj, Igli Tafa, and Sokol Duma. Practical challenges also appeared in the Cyber Drill Challenge, where Alvi Skita emerged as the winner, showcasing the potential of young Albanian talent in cybersecurity.
In the evening, the award ceremony brought emotional moments. The grand prize of €50,000 was awarded to the startup InsectIntel, while youth initiatives and outstanding cybersecurity projects were also recognized. The presence of investors like Vuk Lau, Maaike Doyer, Maria Carolina Romero, Eli Zhabevska, Keo Sar, and Ardian Hoxha, moderated by Ravik Mima, proved that Albania is now firmly on the international capital map.
At this event, Soft & Solution wasn’t just a spectator. We were a key player. As one of the most active companies in the Albanian digital ecosystem and a member of ACTI, we contributed to discussions that demonstrated how Albania is no longer just part of the conversation but a source of ideas and solutions that inspire the region and beyond.
“ACT NOW showed that when ideas, institutions, and companies come together, a new reality is born. Soft & Solution is proud to be part of this reality, taking Albania from a developing market to a global player,” said Ermal Beqiri.
ACT NOW 2025 closed with the message that Albania is no longer at the beginning. It has firmly entered the international innovation stage and Soft & Solution is here to take this journey even further.
