Skopje, 1 April 2026 (MIA) – Energy as a driver of development, young people as the future and partnerships as key to success were the main messages at the event “Energy That Connects: North Macedonia – Austria, a Partnership for the Future,” held in Skopje, organized by the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources with the Austrian Embassy and the Austrian Library at the Faculty of Philology “Blazhe Koneski.”

The event brought together representatives from institutions, the academic community, the private sector as well as professors and students from technical sciences, opening concrete opportunities for new joint projects, deeper cooperation and stronger networking of Macedonian faculties with European ones, particularly with Austrian universities, the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources said.

“The discussion also highlighted the support for young people, with Austrian Ambassador Martin Pammer and Wolfgang Maier, Chairman of the Management Board of EVN Macedonia, expressing openness to initiatives offering practical opportunities, experience exchange and professional development for students, especially in the energy sector. Special emphasis was placed on women’s inclusion in energy and on enabling young people to gain knowledge abroad and apply it at home,” the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources said.

Participants agreed that such events are essential, not only as a platform for discussion, but as a bridge to new opportunities, partnerships and concrete initiatives, the press release reads.

Prof. Dr. Sashko Ristov, who has been a professor in Austria for more than a decade, was presented as an example of such cooperation. Through his initiative and in collaboration with Macedonian institutions, including MEPSO and EVN, a nearly 2 million euro project in energy and digitalization has been developed, aimed at improving the performance and stability of the electricity grid through modern digital tools and solutions.

Austrian Ambassador Martin Pammer said that the ties between the two countries are deep and natural, based on shared values and long-term cooperation, stressing that the partnership will continue to deepen in the future, especially in the areas of education, innovation and energy.

Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources, Sanja Bozhinovska, said in her address that the cooperation has mutual values.

“I want to emphasize that this cooperation has mutual value. It is built through people - through Macedonian professors, researchers and students, through the knowledge that is created and shared, and through ideas that flow in both directions. That is the true meaning of partnership - mutual growth and a shared vision,” Bozhinovska said.

She noted that energy stability is key to economic resilience and quality of life, adding that the Ministry’s goal is to build a modern, sustainable and interconnected energy system, in line with European standards and future development trends.

“No country can address all energy challenges alone,” Bozhinovska said, stressing the need for partnerships, trust and shared vision. She added that such meetings are essential, as they demonstrate that real development occurs when institutions, academia and private sector work together.

The event targeted students from technical faculties, aiming to boost their interest in energy and international cooperation. Bozhinovska also urged young people to see the energy sector as a field of opportunity, innovation and influence.

The event was held at the Austrian Library at the Faculty of Philology in Skopje – a space recently fully renovated with the support from the Embassy of the Republic of Austria, and which symbolically reflects the ties between the two countries through education, culture and the exchange of knowledge. The Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Vladimir Martinovski, also attended the event.

The organizers expressed confidence that the meeting will mark only the beginning of a new wave of cooperation, projects and opportunities connecting young people, institutions and industry in a shared vision for a sustainable energy future.

Photo: Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources