Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Check Point, and International Investors Land in Albania for ACT NOW 2025 Tirana, Albania
As ACT NOW gears up for a major event at the end of May in Tirana, new updates have been revealed regarding what is set to unfold, including the names of featured speakers and details on the selection process for prize applicants so far.
While more names are expected to be announced, several speakers who will take the stage during the May 30th conference have already been confirmed. These speakers will share their insights and forecasts on key trends and hot topics such as Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity: “Quantum-ready world,” “Digital Trust in the Age of Deepfakes,” “The Next Era of Secure Access and Identity,” “Startups & Scaleups,” and many more. As representatives of leading companies in the tech industry spearheading the digital revolution, these speakers will also share their vision and perspectives on the coming decade. They will reflect on how they foresee the future amidst rising cyber threats, artificial intelligence’s rapid advancement, and innovation and sustainability challenges.
Among those confirmed to appear on the ACT NOW stage are Kozeta Garrett and Onur Koc from Microsoft, Diana Fernandez from Oracle, Petar Markota from Check Point, Vladimir Vuković from SuperMicro, Jelena Milošević and Nina Lozo from IBM, Eric Piroux from Entrust, and more to be announced.
High-level representatives from government institutions will also attend the event and participate in a discussion panel to share their perspectives on the future of Digital Albania. The event will be honored by the presence of His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama.
The conference will conclude with a discussion between members of ACTI’s Board Members and ACTI members. With their vision as founders of this council and initiative, they aim to open a new chapter in Albania’s journey toward the Digital Europe Program.
The evening of May 30th will feature the Gala Awards Dinner, where selected applicants will present their solutions before the jury. The jury will then select the winner of the ACT NOW Grand Prize. The jury includes: Mrs. Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate; Mr. Sokol Duma, Deputy Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation; Mrs. Mirlinda Karçanaj, Director General of NAIS; Mr. Igli Tafa, Director General of NACS; Mr. Josh Miekley, Human-Centered Strategist; Mr. Aleksandër Biberaj, Head of the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications at the Faculty of Information Technology; and Mrs. Leonora Kusari, Regional Manager and Coordinator of BIP, SME F&D at EBRD.
ACT NOW 2025 received 72 highly competitive and high-quality applications for three prizes: the Grand Prize, the Youth Prize, and the Cyber Drill Prize. These applications are currently undergoing a rigorous evaluation process by the jury to identify innovative and impactful initiatives.
The ACT NOW 2025 jury convened on May 14 to discuss the evaluation criteria and outline the selection process for the shortlist of Grand Prize candidates, who are competing for a €50,000 award. Future meetings are scheduled to prepare and publish the 10 shortlisted applicants. These finalists, selected from dozens of high-quality applications, will pitch their solutions to the jury on May 26. At that point, the jury will determine the 6 finalist startups that will participate in the Gala Awards evening. These 6 selected startups will showcase their values in front of attendees, with one ultimately being awarded the ACT NOW Grand Prize. Additionally, the best youth project and the winner of the Cyber Drill challenge will also be recognized.
The Gala evening on May 30 will also feature a special investor panel, spotlighting the power behind capital. This panel will host investors from the region and beyond, including Mrs. Eli Zhabevska from South Central Ventures, Mr. Keo Sar from Dream VC, Ms. Maria Carolina Romero as a Business Angel, Ms. Maaike Doyer from Epic Angels, Mr. Vuk Lau from Silicon Gardens, and Mr. Ardian Hoxha from Keiretsu Forum Southeast Europe.
ACT NOW 2025 will serve as the platform uniting those who share a common vision for technology, innovation, and the future, in an exclusive event in Tirana that is expected to resonate far beyond Albania’s borders.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://now.acti.al/
