FITD and UKIM Accelerator signed a memorandum of cooperation to support of education, innovation and creation of new businesses within the programs of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

The Fund for Innovation and Technological Development and UKIM Accelerator, as the National Secretary of EIT, today signed a memorandum of cooperation in order to strengthen the education, innovation and the creation of new businesses, as key drivers for sustainable growth and competitiveness of the Macedonian economy.

Through joint cooperation, Macedonian companies will be encouraged to actively participate in the open opportunities for financing projects through the available financing instruments of FITD, as well as in the open calls of EIT for: climate change, digitalization, energy, health, raw materials, food, production, urban movement and culture and creativity.

“The cooperation between FITD and the UKIM Accelerator is a confirmation of the joint commitment to encourage innovation, research and entrepreneurship in our country. I am particularly pleased that with this cooperation, during the coming period, we will intensively work on developing the three components that are a priority for the economic development of the Republic of North Macedonia: improving the competitiveness and productivity of domestic companies, creating attractive employment opportunities and attracting young people to develop innovative solutions on the market” said Festim Halili, director of the Fund for Innovation and Technology Development.

With these activities, support for a new generation of researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators in the areas in which EIT has activities is foreseen, as well as to raise the level of participation of the private sector from the Republic of North Macedonia in the opportunities offered by FITD and EIT.

“As the EIT National Secretariat managed by the UKIM Accelerator, a centralized source of information will be provided for all services and opportunities provided to innovators by the entire EIT community, which counts more than 3,200 partners from top business, research and educational organizations and with over 70 innovation centers across Europe and a total annual budget of over half a billion euros” emphasized Aleksandar Stamboliev, National Secretary of EIT in Macedonia.

Within the framework of the Memorandum, it is planned to organize events in order to inform interested users about the opportunities and programs that provide support for the development and promotion of their own products and/or services, services for various aspects of business operations, through connection with distinguished mentors which will help them develop their idea and prepare joint projects that will contribute to the development of the Macedonian economy.