18.05.2015

MED launches the Information Technology and Innovation fund

Cooperation which started in 2014 between the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) and STIKK the result of which is the National IT Strategy. The IT and Innovation fund, as part of the strategy, has been a recommendation from STIKK, which the Minister of the MED, Mr. Blerand Stavileci, has taken into consideration in order to support new and growing companies, based on public-private cooperation concept.

The Fund would address key problems and obstacles in accessing finances, whereas the Government will allocate an investment fund of 2 million Euro. This investment fund will be support with 2 million Euro from donors, and would additionally stimulate 2 million Euro investment from the private sector, and so achieve a total of 6 million Euro.

The Fund would offer access to finances for new and growing companies with main focus on ICT, the amount of which will be from 20,000 – 500,000 Euro.

For more information, visit: mzhe.rks-gov.net

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18.05.2015

Girls in the Technology Sector

Technology sector offers huge employment opportunities, especially for girls, but this sector has not been seen up to now as attractive in this part of the population. The Norwegian Embassy in Prishtina has funded a project that aims to increase the participation of Kosovo women in IT. Currently, the gender composition of employees in the information technology sector is 80% male and 20% female.

On May 15th, KS-Kosova organised a conference on the issue of women in IT, where a project on this subject was presented. This project focuses on early educational level of women, secondary education that will increase the employment of women in the ICT sector, and strengthen the position of women in the Kosovo economy.

Besides the Norwegian Ambassador, the KS-Kosova had the honor of hosting many important guests during the conference, such as the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr. Arban Abrashi, STIKK Executive Director, Mrs. Vjollca Çavolli, and other important key-players of the ICT sector.

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13.05.2015

Information Technology (IT) and Innovation Forum

On 6 May, the forum about Information Technology (IT) and Innovation was held. This forum is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Economic Development that aims meeting key players in the field of IT decision makers, who discuss important issues that relate to the development and advancement of this sector.

The vision of the forum for Information Technology and Innovation is based on opinions, experiences, policies, reforms, and elaborated relevant recommendations on the field of ICT.

Part of the panels have been economic experts, academics, government institutions, companies about information technology sector and innovation as well as potential donors who will contribute on creating opportunities for a new dimension and reality of the national IT strategy. STIKK has been part of the panels as well.

Mr. Shkumbin Brestovci, showed the importance of the Business and Technology Park and asked the government to support this project with special significance for the economic development of the country.

Mrs. Vjollca Çavolli showed the challenges which businesses face, given the high rates of bank interest, lack of development funds and a lack of government support in terms of tax relief for companies aimed at exporting services.

At the end Minister Blerand Stavileci pledged on behalf of the government for their continued support towards the development of this important sector.

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12.05.2015

Meeting with Committee for Education, Science, Culture, Youth, Sports, and Diaspora with Membership based Associations

On 12 May, a meeting between the Committee on Education, Science, Culture, Youth, Sports, Diaspora, and association/interest groups, was organised by the mentioned committee and the Democracy for Development Institute (D4D).

During this meeting where STIKK also participated, the participants had the opportunity to get familiar with the Commission’s working plan, while it was said that all comments regarding the draft-laws and the upcoming documents to be recommended through a written-consent.

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27.04.2015

International Girls in ICT Day

On 23 April, in recognition of the International Girls in ICT Day, an event has been hosted on the A.U.K campus. The event was the first of its kind in Kosovo, marking the beginning of a new paradigm in the ICT sector. The Girls in ICT initiative is a global effort to raise awareness, empowering and encouraging girls and young women to consider studies and careers in ICT.

The event brought together females interested in the ICT Profession. The event hosted a discussion panel of Ms. Vjollca Çavolli, STIKK Executive Director, Mr. Bernard Nikaj, Former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms. Burbuqe Hana, VALA Coordinator for Quality Assurance, and Ms. Iliriana Nreca, Web Developer.

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02.04.2015

Seventh STIKK Annual Assembly – 2nd of April, 2015

On the 2nd of April at the Innovation Centre Kosovo (ICK), the Kosovo ICT Association (STIKK) held its seventh annual assembly.

STIKK had the honor of hosting participants and guests from various institutions, such as board members of STIKK, representatives from member companies, individual members, donors, and representatives from different non-governmental organizations and national institutions.

The president of the STIKK board, Mr. Shkumbin Brestovci, officially opened the assembly by welcoming all participants. Afterwards Mr. Blerand Stavileci, Minister of Economic Development, explained how he and his ministry cooperates with STIKK, and how the ICT sector can be improved, for example by creating the development and innovation fund.

Mr. Jan Braathu, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kosovo, was the next one to express to the assembly participants his and Norway’s interest in the Kosovo ICT sector. By taking Norway as an example, Ambassador Braathu talked about how the ICT sector has great impact towards the economic development, by contributing to other sectors as well. Mr. Braathu encouraged STIKK and its members to continue their work, because he personally believes that the ICT sector in Kosovo is the most organized ICT sector in the region, and STIKK continues to be the focus point for ICT companies in Kosovo and for cooperation between the sector and government.

The last foreword for the assembly was given by the Deputy Ambassador of the German Embassy in Kosovo, Mr. Matthias Kiesler. Mr. Kiesler expressed the great interest for the ICT sector, and that he believes that this sector is one of the greatest successes of Kosovo. “I have to say I’m deeply impressed, especially by you, by the entrepreneurs, how you do something despite difficulties in this country. I would like to congratulate you for this success”, was one of the few remarks mentioned by Mr. Matthias Kiesler.

After the forewords, Mr. Shkumbin Brestovci continued presenting the international and the board activities of STIKK. Amongst the 2014 achievements, Mr. Brestovci mentioned the organization and participation of about 15 conferences and B2B events (national and international), 7 publications focusing on the ICT sector, and avocation for the approval of the customs tax exemption of ICT goods. Some of the international activities STIKK’s board president found mentionable were the participation of 5 STIKK member companies at CeBIT 2014 with the slogan “Kosovo – Your Outsourcing destination”, and KosICT 2014, the regional conference which has become a STIKK traditional, which has been organized for the 3rd time in a row.

After the board president, STIKK’s Executive Director, Ms. Vjollca Çavolli presented more broadly activities of STIKK for the year 2014. Activities were divided in five (5) objectives which show how STIKK helps to create conducive legislative and policy environment for a rapid development of the ICT sector, human resource development consistent with the ICT sector demands, provide services to members, with a view on creating new business opportunities, creating conditions for a sustainable activity of the STIKK, and support members in exercising social responsibility of the ICT sector.

The assembly working section continued in the afternoon, starting with approving the working agenda, creating the working section commission, and the vote count commission. Afterwards, the annual report of STIKK has been discussed and approved by the members.

Mr. Vigan Budima continued with presenting the annual working plan for 2015, and during the discussions, members have requested to add as activity the establishment of the STIKK Innovation Hub, which would help members to create new business opportunities with other vertical sectors.

The last part of the annual assembly consisted of nominating and voting the new Executive Board members of STIKK, a session led by Mr. Dardani Vokshi. As result of nominations and votes from the members of the assembly, the members of the STIKK Executive Board for the period 2015-2017 are:

Mr. Shkumbin Brestovci from the company Rrota (President of the Board)
Mr. Ermal Sadiku from the company LinkplusIT
Mr. Arben Ymeraga from the company Melita&Partners
Mr. Milot Shala from the company Rolling Rabits
Mr. Altin Ukshini nga FLOSSK

These members are joining the board from the period 2014-2016:

Mr. Dardan Vokshi from the company INET
Mr. Vigan Budima from the company ASSECO SEE
Mr. Mentor Sahiti from the company Adaptivit
Mr. Alban Kastrati from the company IPKO

STIKK wants to take the chance to thank everyone who participated in the Assembly.

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31.03.2015

The seventh annual Assembly Meeting of STIKK

STIKK is honored to announce that on the 2nd of April, the annual Assembly Meeting of STIKK is being organized. This is the seventh assembly meeting and it represents a great achievement for the association.

Participating in this event will be the board of directors at STIKK, representatives of member companies, individual members and associated members such as university representatives and other non-governmental organization and public sector representatives.

For this year, we have the honor to have as guest speakers the Minister of Economic Development, Mr. Blerand Stavileci, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms. Hykmete Bajrami (tbc), the Ambassador of Norway in Kosovo, Mr. Jan Braathu, and Deputy Ambassador of Germany in Kosovo, Mr. Matthias Kiesler.

During the event, STIKK will present its achievements in the past year, the board activities and the international activities of the association. Additionally, there will be a casual networking event for assembly members.

In the afternoon, the assembly will continue in its working section where only members will be present. In this section the annual report, work plan and budget for 2015 will be discussed and approved. Moreover, this year marks a different board structure as new members will be voted for.

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26.03.2015

Closing event of the Academic Exchange for Progress (AEP)

STIKK participated in the closing event of the Academic Exchange for Progress (AEP).

Besides STIKK, this event has been attended by representatives from the South-East Europe University (MK), University of Tirana (AL), University for Business and Technology – UBT (KS), Gjøvik University College (NO), University of Prishtina (KS), Crimson Capital, Athene Project Management, and the Albanian ICT Association – AITA.

STIKK’s Executive Director, Mrs. Vjollca Çavolli will moderate a panel session about “How to bridge the skills gap, improve research and cooperation between companies and universities?”

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18.03.2015

SPARK SalesForce Training

With SPARK’s invitation, STIKK participated in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) training, more specifically to know more about the well-known SalesForce program.

The training was held by the SPARK HQ M&E Manager Anthony Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez explained the importance of easier oversight of customers, especially easier access to information for staff members in order to avoid mistakes and increase quality.

SalesForce and other CRM systems are a big step towards a more efficient register of information for all kinds of companies, organizations and associations. Those systems combine all forms of communication in order for the customers’ information to be easily accessible by staff, from the time first time there is a meeting with the customer.

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27.02.2015

Information: Art House – Managed Print Service Event

Art House is organising the Managed Print Service event on the 11th of March, in Swiss Diamond Hotel.

“Message – what – What do you want them to know/do?: The purpose of the Event is to provide client with innovative platform of software, hardware and services which offers a cost effective, full control on tracking and monitoring of print activities and gain control of your documents and save as much as 30% in the process.

Objectives of Managed Print Services – why – The main goal of Managed Print Service is to optimise the workflow and assets, improving the document and print requirements of the client in the most satisfying, cost-effective way such as increasing business and staff productivity, cost management and control.”

For more information [email protected] or +381 38 549 549.

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