North Macedonia has taken a first formal step toward building a Science-Technology Park. The national innovation agency INOVA has signed a contract with European Innovation Solutions S.A. to carry out a feasibility study for the project, as well as to design its operating framework and a business plan.
The initiative is jointly run by the Ministry of Education and Science and INOVA. The feasibility study is expected to test a public-private partnership model for the park, which is intended to serve as a national hub for the country's smart specialisation domains. Its aim is to connect research institutions, applied science and industry in one place.
Once established, the park would offer laboratory services, business incubation, acceleration programmes and technology transfer. Startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, research units and university spin-offs are named as its target users. The project is also tied to wider policy goals, including the National Development Strategy 2024–2044 and the S3-MK smart specialisation strategy for 2024–2027.
The park is also meant to link up with European structures, among them the EU Joint Research Centre and the European Innovation Council. Those connections could give local companies and researchers access to European networks and expertise.
Several key questions remain open. The announcement did not disclose the site, the budget or the timeline for the park. The results of the feasibility study and the final choice of operating model are still pending, and will determine how the project moves forward.
Credit. Based on reporting by Ognen Dojcinovski for sportsport.mk. Is this your work? Write to us.
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