The Economic Chamber of North Macedonia and the Institute of Economics at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje have signed an Agreement on scientific, technical, and applied cooperation, aimed at strengthening the connection between academia and the business sector.

The Agreement outlines joint activities focused on planning, identifying, and developing a highly educated workforce in line with business needs; organizing trainings, seminars, and guest lectures delivered by industry professionals; providing consulting and expert services; conducting joint research and economic analyses; and initiating efforts to align with EU policies.

The Agreement also opens opportunities for postgraduate students to engage in solving real business challenges through their research and master’s theses.

At the signing ceremony, Branko Azeski, President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, emphasized the value of the Institute’s human potential and expressed expectations for a long-term partnership.

“Today, success is based on knowledge, and the cooperation between science and business is of crucial importance. It is essential to keep pace with the times and to make decisions grounded in research-based expertise. This is where I see the key role of science and educational institutions,” said the Chamber President Azeski.

The Director of the Institute of Economics, Prof. Dr. Iskra Stancheva-Gigov, highlighted that the signing of this Agreement marks an important step toward strengthening the links between academia and the business community in the country.

“Our shared goal is to bridge the gap by delivering talent aligned with market needs and by conducting joint research that will provide swift and sustainable solutions to current economic challenges. This Agreement will foster greater synergy, innovation, and support for the economic development of our country,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Stancheva-Gigov.

The cooperation framework also includes the preparation of joint publications and collaboration on projects in the fields of competitiveness, innovation, and exports.