Skopje, 2 October 2024 (MIA) - DigitMax – the digital center for innovation to facilitate the strengthening of digital preparedness and capacities of businesses and public sector, was promoted Wednesday at a cooperation symposium “The Future of Digital Innovation – Academia and Industry Collaboration Symposium” at the Faculty for Computer Science and Engineering in Skopje.

Minister for Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski said that this digital innovation hub has the potential to increase cooperation between the business sector and academy, and at the same time, provide necessary tools, knowledge, and skills for the private sector to digitize and join the Government’s "Smart Macedonia" project.

"As a Government from day one we have said that we are open to cooperation with the private sector and higher education and scientific institutions in the country. We continue to support real innovation, creativity, cooperation, and partnership; and hope that the digital innovation hub will work in this direction as well," Andonovski said.

He pointed out that one and a half years since our accession to the Digital Europe Program, with the rebalancing of the budget, the state paid the membership fee, making this EUR 7,5 billion investment available to our companies, business, NGOs, academia, and state institutions that can apply for digitization and innovation funds. Two projects, he added, are prepared by the Ministry for Digital Transformation, as well as another digital hub.

"According to latest data, 85 percent of the private sector uses the internet, but internal processes are not fully digitized, and there is a lack of funding. With right state support we will find the correct model for technological development in the coming period, especially with the 2025 budget I think there will be funds to finance the digital transformation of SMEs. The goal of these innovation hubs and Digital Transformation Ministry will be to help businesses discover these processes, and new financing methods," Andonovski stressed.

Boro Jakimovski, Dean at the Faculty of Computer Science & Engineering, stressed that DigitMak as a digital innovation hub within the frameworks of activities provided in the hub are opportunities to assess the needs for digitization of SMEs, access to finances to facilitate that process, including access to specialized laboratories within the University to test their conceptual solutions. Additionally, the Enterprise Europe Network offers networking opportunities to companies both in the country and across Europe.

"The companies will first receive assessments on their level of digitization and digitization opportunities within the frameworks of using the basic level of digitization, but also of advanced technologies in the field of the DeeoTech sphere such as artificial intelligence and similar areas, after which a plan, strategy, and receive assistance on how to acquire funding for the digitization process. They will also be given an opportunity to access prototype solutions, with the aim of finding an innovative solution for greater profitability and optimal production, based on the data and processes established," Jakimovski explained.

At the symposium, leading experts, educators, and industry professionals will discuss the required cooperation between academy institutions and industry leaders.

The new digital innovation center- DigitMaks offers opportunities for strengthening digital readiness and capacity of businesses and public organizations. The center was established as a consortium of four partner institutions: Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, Business Accelerator UKIM, and Foundation for Management and Industrial research (MIR). The financing of such initiatives is done through EU projects, such as: Horizon Europe and Digital Europe Program.

In the next two years, the center will help improve digital transformation, sustainability, growth, productivity, competitiveness of private and public entities in the country. ssh/ba/

Photo: MIA