Web3 Innovation HUB: Building the Future of Innovation in the Western Balkans
The Web3 Innovation HUB (W3IH) is an Erasmus+ project designed to boost innovation, entrepreneurship, and research capacity in the Western Balkans through the transformative power of Web3 technologies.
Responding to regional gaps in digital skills and startup infrastructure, W3IH brings together universities, research centers, and industry to modernize education, support green blockchain ventures, and launch a decentralized science (DeSci) network.
By strengthening institutional collaboration and aligning with EU priorities on digital and green transitions, the project will deliver accredited Web3 curricula, establish a regional incubator for sustainable startups, and create a cross-border research ecosystem.
Through these outcomes, W3IH contributes to a more resilient, future-ready higher education system, fosters inclusive innovation, and helps position the Western Balkans as an active node in the European Higher Education and Research Areas.
Addressing Critical Regional Challenges
The Web3 Innovation HUB (W3IH) project responds to the growing global importance of Deep Tech industries—particularly Web3—and their potential to revolutionize education systems, entrepreneurial landscapes, and scientific research models.
While universities and companies worldwide are embracing this shift, the Western Balkans still face significant challenges: outdated curricula, limited startup support, and fragmented research ecosystems.
Core Objectives
- Educational Advancement: Addressing the deep tech skills gap in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), where structured Web3 curricula are largely absent.
- Entrepreneurial Support: Building a supportive ecosystem for Web3 startups, particularly those focused on sustainable green blockchain solutions.
- Scientific Innovation: Creating a collaborative environment for Decentralized Science (DeSci), enabling researchers to adopt open, blockchain-based practices.
Alignment with Erasmus+ Priorities
The project aligns with the call's scope by enhancing the quality and relevance of Higher Education through the development and implementation of Web3 courses and DeSci projects, modernizing HEIs in the Western Balkans to be at the forefront of emerging technologies.
By establishing a Web3 startup incubator, the project supports innovative solutions, particularly in green blockchain technologies, aligning with the call's emphasis on innovation and societal impact.
Strategic Collaboration & Labor Market Engagement
Through its consortium network and jointly built programs for upskilling students and university staff, and the establishment of the Web3 Innovation HUB supporting related startup and science projects, it strengthens the links between the academic sector, research, and business to address current and future skills needs, primarily entrepreneurship and Deep Tech (Web3) skills.
By involving industry partner organizations from the Web3 and business support sectors in developing W3IH, the project strengthens links with the labor market and involves the private sector in skills development.
The project also addresses the priority of Digital Transformation by enabling learners to acquire sector-specific digital skills, focusing on Web 3.0 technologies aligned with the EIT Deep Tech Talents For Europe Initiative (DTTI), aiming to skill one million people in deep tech fields over the next three years.