The Albanian innovation ecosystem is being presented at Bits & Pretzels 2026, one of Europe’s most important startup and innovation events, taking place in Munich, Germany.

At this festival, Albania, which this year has the status of partner country, is represented by 17 startups from Albania, Kosovo and the diaspora, bringing not only their success stories but also an overview of the transformation that the Albanian innovation ecosystem is undergoing.

The Albanian stand was also visited by Dr. Fabian Mehring, Bavarian State Minister for Digital Affairs and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Bavarian Government, accompanied by the ministers responsible for digitalization.

Minister Ibrahimaj and Minister Mehring discussed close cooperation between the two governments for the further development of innovation and Albanian startups.

The Bavarian Minister spoke directly with the startups, focusing on concrete opportunities to connect German companies with startups in the fields of AI and cybersecurity.

The Minister of Economy and Innovation, Ms. Delina Ibrahimaj, stated that: “The 17 startups selected for Bits & Pretzels operate in the fields of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and education. These sectors were selected for a reason, as they are currently among the most sought-after sectors in international markets. The goal is for these startups to share their ideas, hold meetings with peers and attract as much funding as possible to our market. Events such as these serve to put Albania on the global map of the startup ecosystem, so that we can reach the levels of countries that have an established presence in foreign markets.”

The promotion of the Albanian innovation ecosystem at Bits & Pretzels is an initiative of Startup Albania and EU4Innovation (GIZ), as part of efforts to expand the international presence of Albanian startups and connect them with European innovation and investment networks.