Enis Qafëleshi from the Makerspace Innovation Center
The Makerspace Innovation Center is a non-governmental, public-benefit organisation based at the Innovation and Training Park (ITP) Prizren. For young people from the Prizren region, Makerspace is a key point of contact for developing digital skills and founding start-ups.
Mr Qafëleshi, what’s the idea behind Makerspace?
We’ve seen the demand and are bringing digital jobs to our country. We’re offering young people in the region job opportunities for their future. I founded the Makerspace Innovation Center Prizren with my university friend Arbër Kryeziu in 2017. We’ve now trained more than 3,000 young people from the region and supported them in setting up businesses of their own.
What attracted you to the ITP as a location?
When the ITP opened, we decided to move Makerspace there, as we’re a perfect fit for the ITP’s programmes and activities and vice versa. As a non-governmental organisation, the move has helped us to build networks more easily with the world of partners and donors. There are many development programmes here, and we ourselves offer incubation services – in other words, we support entrepreneurs in developing their business ideas. Small and new enterprises can grow much more easily at a place like the ITP.
‘We’ve seen the demand and are bringing digital jobs to our country. That makes us a perfect fit for the ITP and vice versa.’
What makes the ITP particularly attractive for start-ups?
Companies planning to move into the ITP are offered service packages. In addition to suitable premises and infrastructure, there’s also support for business development. This is a huge advantage that you won’t find anywhere else in Kosovo.