Skopje, 7 August 2025 (MIA) - The Ministry of Education and Science signed Thursday agreements to fund 40 scientific research projects by state universities, scientific institutes, and the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU).

“Of these, 15 projects are in the fields of natural and mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, as well as agricultural and veterinary sciences. An equal number of projects are in the social sciences and humanities. For the first time this year, 10 projects are being funded in areas identified by the Smart Specialization Strategy as having high innovation, research, and economic potential: smart agriculture and food with higher added value, ICT technologies, the electromechanical industry, and sustainable materials and smart buildings,” said the Ministry.

The projects were selected through a public call, with a total funding amount of up to Mden 8 million per project. The research teams are expected to complete them by the end of October 2026. 

Minister of Education and Science, Vesna Janevska, said this is the third call through which funds are being approved for the financing of scientific research projects.

“This clearly shows the direction in which we want to move the country. For this Government, science is a strategic resource for development. That’s why we are intensifying investments in scientific research projects, based on precise selection criteria: we encourage original and innovative ideas, support young researchers, and fund internationally competitive and relevant projects. Our goal is to create conditions for high-quality science that delivers real results and has the potential to accelerate the country’s socio-economic development,” Janevska said. 

The Ministry said it has allocated a budget of Mden 680 million for research funding, which, it said, is nearly double the amount allocated in the 2024 budget.

Photo: Ministry of Education and Science