S&T Country Report - Albania - WBC-INCO Net

1 Introduction
This thematic report is produced by the “Information Office of the Steering Platform
on Research for Western Balkan Countries” and reviews the situation of Innovation
Infrastructures in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The report is based upon desk research, interviews and questionnaires with main
stakeholders.
The objective of this study is to enhance our understanding of the national innovation
system in the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of Macedonia. An overview of the
situation as regards “Innovation Infrastructures” such as clusters, technology and
innovation centres, technological and science parks, business-start-up centres/
technology incubators and some further related organizations is given. The general
environment is described as well as important strategic documents and the main
programmes and instruments for support. The report concludes with a list and
description of the main infrastructures.
The report was compiled in summer 2007.
1.1 General Environment for Setting Up Innovation Infrastructures
This first section deals with rules and regulations, describes the national framework
and the specific funds available.
Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), key driving forces for competitive
knowledge-based economies have been marginalised with an insignificant amount of
GDP being devoted to STI in FYR of Macedonia (e.g. The percentage of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) devoted to the R&D in Macedonia was 0.44% of GDP in
2000, 0.32% in 2001, 0.26% in 2002, 0.22% in 2003 and 0.25% in 2004). The
innovation capacity of SMEs in the country is very limited and insufficient resources
are invested to use and exploit technologies by SMEs. Linkages between universities
and the business sector are weak, there is a lack of awareness about the benefits of
STI and the absorptive capacity of SMEs is low. There is no venture capital available
for innovation activities of entrepreneurs. There are no financial stimuli or incentives
for investments in new technologies and innovations, and the institutions (innovation
centres, technology transfer agencies, research centres, labs, etc.) that are
supporting SMEs in the area of new technologies and innovations are on the early
stages of development or do not exists.
As indicated in the National Development Strategy for Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprises (2002 – 2013), by way of promotional activities the awareness of SMEs
of STI-related issues will be increased, contributing to a higher absorptive capacity.
Increased resources will be provided through innovation-oriented programmes and
projects and the science-business interface will be strengthened. The legal
environment will be further enhanced to explicitly influence the environment for
page 4/MKD