The EIT Community will boost innovation in the Western Balkans region by opening the first joint regional hub in Skopje, North Macedonia. By connecting regional actors, innovators, and partners to Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem, the new EIT Community RIS Hub - the first of its kind, will strengthen cooperation among leading business, education and research organisations while increasing the region’s competitiveness and sustainable economic growth. The new Hub is part of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS) programme designed to tackle Europe’s persistent innovation divide.

The new hub is being launched on June 13 at the Center for Technology Transfer and Innovation in Skopje, North Macedonia, with local stakeholders and distinguished guests.

The newly opened hub in North Macedonia will represent all the EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and focus on attracting and engaging an increasing number of North Macedonian participants into EIT Community activities. The hub will provide innovators with a centralised source of information on all services and opportunities provided by the entire EIT Community, both locally and more widely.

Additionally, it will spearhead the EIT Community’s engagement with local authorities, including providing policy support and expertise as required. The EIT has appointed Mr. Aleksandar Stamboliev as a National Secretary to lead the operations of the new hub. He brings over 20 years of experience in the start-up and technology field, and is currently the CEO of BAU Accelerator, committed to helping technology start-ups scale globally.

The launch of the hub in North Macedonia is the first of such regional hubs to open with more planned in the next three years to provide the EIT Community with a strengthened on-the-ground presence across the whole of Europe.  

For more information, please visit the source page of this news: https://eit.europa.eu/news-events/news/eit-launches-innovation-hub-north-macedonia