Speaking at the 2025 Regional Artificial Intelligence Hackathon – part of the “WB6-European Union Investment Forum,” a regional platform connecting innovators, startups, entrepreneurs, investors, and public policymakers from the Western Balkans and the EU part of the WB6-EU Investment Forum held in Tirana – PM Rama emphasized the strategic importance of building a powerful AI accelerator rooted in local human capital and institutional expertise.

“We face the challenge of creating a strong accelerator to support our Minister of Artificial Intelligence – who is herself an embodiment of AI,” Rama said.

The accelerator will be built on resources from the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI) and the Agency of Excellence, and will work to integrate AI solutions across central institutions.

“With this synergy, our aim is to ‘expand the minds’ of public institutions using AI,” Rama said, outlining a vision for embedding AI into governance, public services, and digital infrastructure.

The Hackathon & Investment Forum EU – WB6 gathered 161 participants from across the Western Balkans and the diaspora, including innovators, startups, and investors, focused on developing AI-driven solutions for real societal challenges.

The event offered a platform for young creators to present digital ideas that could enhance public services and infrastructure, while also attracting investment and cross-border collaboration.

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