Project-NASRI - UNIVERSITY OF TIRANA

The University of Tirana initiatives are also supported by National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation, –NASRI, through the funding programs that aim to develop science and technology according to the national priority, cooperating with all the line institutions and sectors, contributing to the creation of adequate infrastructure and instruments that will implement the development and research policies in Albania, promoting activities and enterprises that develop science, technology, and innovation, playing a principal role in establishing the scientific research culture.

Title: Preparation and Activation of the Ilmenite Nanomaterial and Evaluation of the Efficacy of its Use in Cleaning Lands Polluted from Heavy Metals, – SORENM

Reference: Board Decision No. 3., NASRI, dated 30 May 2019

Funder: NASRI in the framework of the “Cooperation Program as per the Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Education and Sports (MES) of the Republic of Albania and the National Research Center – (Centro Nazionale di Ricerca – CNR)”,

Duration: 24 months

The project’s purpose is the development of innovative methods to improve the quality of lands polluted with heavy metals through the use of nanomaterials with an ilmenite base. For this purpose, there will be exchanges between Albanian work groups and the National Research Council, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Pisa, Italy.

The project’s objectives are:

The nanomaterial will be tested through water solutions of metals to predict the impact scale in polluted lands
The determination of the nanomaterial’s efficacy in decreasing the metals’ mobility scale

Results according to the objectives:

Adsorption of metals from the nanomaterial;
Comparison of results and conclusions;
Research in untreated lands;
Research in nanomaterial-treated lands.

Activities to be performed:

Creation of adsorption curves for the metals;
Definition of adsorption coefficients;
Preparation of untreated land columns;
Preparation of nanomaterial-treated land columns;
Irrigation of lands with distilled water, different solutions;
Definition of the metal concentration in irrigation waters.

Stages through which the project is planned to go:

Preparation and characterization of the nanomaterial;
Study of the MR affinity towards the Ilmenite nanomaterial
Definition and selection of the polluted land, preparation of land samples with nanomaterial and their characterization;
Land irrigation experiments in the column system;
Land’s chemical fractioning;
Land’s physical fractioning;
XRF analysis;
Performance of ecotoxicity tests

Title: Improvement of the infrastructure of Chemical Engineering Laboratories with computer infrastructure for simulation and optimization and experimental pilot plants for the learning process and scientific research

Reference: Board Decision No. 2, NASRI, dated 08 Aug 2019

Funder: NASRI in the framework of the “Pact for the University”

Duration: 12 months

The project’s objectives are:

Strengthening some processes of great importance in the professional training of chemical processes’ engineering students;
Improvement of the infrastructure of chemical engineering laboratories with experimental pilot plants for the learning process and scientific research

Specific objectives:

Ordering equipment with clear specifications per the relevant profiles
Supply and operation through demonstration by the delivery company along with staff assistance and training;
Performance of tests and group trials with students and professors from department staff

Expected results:

Increase of work posts with specialized computers for modelling, simulation and optimization of processes, as currently there are 3-4 people per computer;
Increase of the teaching quality through the use of this equipment that guarantees experiment quality, as students will try themselves to maneuver through industrial processes, and take part in national and international conferences;

The beneficiaries of this project are expected to be:

Students of study programs from the Industrial Chemistry Department for the Master’s in Chemical Processes Engineering and students of study programs of the Industrial and Food Chemistry;
Professors who cover the relevant teaching disciplines through progressing their specialization and improving their teaching methodologies

The project’s final results aim to become a start-up that is particularly connected with the Chemical Engineering Laboratory’s application for accreditation, by providing services for third parties, increasing participation opportunities in international projects in the region or EU.

Implementing institution: University of Tirana, Faculty of Natural Sciences

Title: Knowledge and Digital Innovation Transfer between Austria and Albania

Reference: Board Decision No. 2, NASRI, dated 30 May 2019

Funder: NASRI, in the framework of the “Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Republic of Albania and Republic of Austria”

Duration: 24 months

The General Purpose is to highlight that cooperating businesses between Austria and Albania may become aware that as long as markets are uncertain, especially in the time of technological changes, their success will be conditioned by the manner and speed of their innovation.

These findings for each party are to be compared further.

The project’s objectives are:

Joint publication in conferences or magazines between the two research groups and participation in scientific activities. In this framework, pursuing the Practitioner Talk is planned, which is a yearly activity that includes CEO participants and senior managers of Austrian businesses to speak in practice regarding IT dynamics in their organizations;
Creation and expansion of the joint network with stakeholders.

Project stages:

Compilation and contact of Austrian-Albanian businesses;
Distribution of questionnaire for businesses;
Analysis of data to see the innovation rate and other factors measuring the will to apply digital innovation;
Awareness raising through an open activity among stakeholders on results of the performed analysis

The results achieved, and certain parts of this project’s methodology will also be reflected in certain education processes for both institutions, such as the improvement of the curricula of the IS Strategy and Governance, or Research Seminar on Information Management and Control subjects, teaching in both institutions, development of case studies etc.

Main partner: Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU), Department of Information System, Institute for Information Management and Control

Implementing institution: University of Tirana, Faculty of Economics

Title: Assessment of rare and endangered species of plants and invertebrates and their habitats in the mountainous areas of Korça, Berat and Vlora counties

Reference: Board Decision No. 11., NASRI, dated 26 June 2019

Funder: NASRI, in the framework of the National Programs of Scientific Research and Development for 2018-2020, NPRD”

Duration: 24 months

Implementing institution: University of Tirana, Faculty of Natural Sciences

The project’s objectives are:

Identification, localization and positioning of endemic/subendemic plants and four thousand endemic terrestrials in the mountainous areas of Korça, Berat and Vlora counties.
Identification and assessment of potentials for use of Crocus and Centaurea genus plants in the study zone, expanding in special cases to Sazan Island for Centaurea genus species in Kukës County and Crocus genus species in Shkodra County;
Identification and localization of Odonata, Lepidoptera and Gastropoda order species with a focus in the Spelaeodiscus genus;
Observation and evaluation of plant-insect cohabitation in their natural environment, identification of new species unknown until now;
Establishment of a hub in the Biology Department for the purpose of increasing the quality of scientific research as a coordination center for dataflow and discussions between partners and the BioNNA in order to increase the scientific research and environmental education quality of students and staff of protected areas.

The project is closely related to the inclusion of young specialists in scientific research in a PhD level and other students in a Master microthesis level as part of the scientific research of the Department of Biology and Biotechnology.

Specific contributions brought by the project:

The identification and recognition of rare and threatened species and computerization of their location will contribute to processing policies of protection of environment and growth, and simultaneously increasing the ecotourism-based attraction of Albanian nature.
The digitalization of results and their disclosure to the public, relevant institutions and researchers regarding data in Botany and Zoology fields will contribute to their awareness raising for the preservation of the environment and sustainable use of the ecosystem’s products
The recognition and enrichment of knowledge on the Flora and Fauna, and the environment of growth of the species, thereby contributing to NATURAL sciences and ENVIRONMENT sciences overall.

Title: Establishment of the Laboratory of Analyses of Materials and Technologies in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

Reference: Board Decisiion No. 1, NASRI, dated 01 Oct 2021

Duration: 12 Months

Program: NASRI in the framework of Programs of Scientific Research Infrastructure for 2021

Description: The new infrastructure will be part of the students’ professional training, impact the extension of research problems of the professors and students, and will encourage in the future new cooperation projects with similar institutions in and out of the country.

Title: Establishment of the Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory for the study of microplastics in sea and freshwater ecosystems

Reference: Board Decision No. 1, NASRI, dated 01 Oct 2021

Duration: 12 Months

Program: NASRI in the framework of Programs of Scientific Research Infrastructure for 2021

Description: Improvement of the scientific infrastructure to improve the increase of analytic and implementing capacities of research groups in departments the most quality practical training possible for students

Title: Enrichment of the Laboratory of In-Vitro Cultures, FNS, UT, to serve the mass and quality production of fruitwood cultures demanded by farmers

Reference: Board Decision No. 1, NASRI, dated 01 Oct 2021

Duration: 20 Months,

Program: NASRI in the framework of Programs of Scientific Research Infrastructure for 2021

Description: Enrichment of the laboratory infrastructure to contribute to quality teaching, advanced scientific research and encourage the product’s transfer to business

Title: Molecular characterization of bacterial communities of coastal saltwater lakes; advanced techniques for the bio-recovery of polluted waters

Reference: Board Decision No. 3, NASRI, dated 18 June 2021

Duration: 2021-2022

Program: NASRI in the framework of Bilateral Programs with Italy

Description: Identification and isolation of halophilic indigenous bacteria from Paola (Italy) and Butrint (Albania) Lakes for the purpose of their use to clean polluted waters

Title: The infodemic in Albanian social networks: How can it be predicted and prevented?