Shtip, 24 April 2026 (MIA) - Macedonia will get a Cybersecurity Center, the first of this kind in the Western Balkans, operating within Shtip-based Goce Delchev University. The center, which will also serve Albania and Montenegro, will focus on preventing cyberattacks and disinformation.

United States Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires Nicole Varnes said the Cybersecurity Center is an investment in North Macedonia's digital future, as well as in students and professionals who will help protect that future.

"This initiative enhances the education on cybersecurity at the Goce Delchev University. We are aligning North Macedonia's framework of skills in this field with international standards," said Varnes.

Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska said the center unifies the Government, state institutions and academia.

"It is set to develop the skills of people working in the Ministry of Interior through practical instruction, so they are prepared when joining the institution," said Janevska.

Minister of Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski said the country is positioning itself as a leader in the development of cybersecurity in the Western Balkans. In a time of intensive digitalization, such capacities are crucial in the society's protection and security.

"We have a cyber-strategy up to 2028, we have a law on security of grids and information systems for the first time on record, we are setting up the government center for cyber-incident response, supported by the United States and the European Union," said Andonovski.

He added that the project makes the Goce Delchev University a regional hub for training and certification of cyber-professionals, which represents a significant contribution to the development of one of the key professions in the future.

Shtip University Rector Dejan Mirakovski said the center would grow into an operational focal point supporting activities in the field of cybersecurity.

"The new generations will face serious challenges due to the overlapping of the digital and real worlds. That is why we will create a system through the merger of theory and practice in the service of society. This is an honor for our university, demonstrating its role as an active stakeholder in building a healthier society," said Mirakovski.

The center will include state-of-the-art technical equipment, used through specialized academic curricula that will provide theoretical and practical knowledge for the prevention of cyberattacks and disinformation.

The Integrated Security Operations Center (SOC) framework in the Western Balkans is an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by the Civilian Research and Development Foundation Global (CRDF Global).

Photo: MIA