Positive Macedonian Experiences with foreign funded project

1. Positive Macedonian Experiences with foreign funded project Cases of USAID and ADA funded projects Dr. Atanas Kocov Dr. Radmil Polenakovik Mr. Tasko Rizov Mr. Bojan Jovanoski

2. Content • Current status in Macedonia • I Project : Business Start-up Centre • II Project : CIRKO-MES CE

3. Current status - Macedonia • Not developed National Innovation System • R&D investment for 2004 – 0.25 % of GDP • Business sector participation - < 6% !!! • Only 2 small, 21 medium and 31 large enterprises invested in R&D activities amounting to Euro 1.7 million (in 2003) and Euro 1.24 million (in 2004) • Low interest among SMEs for R&D activities • Low level of collaboration between “knowledge creators” and “knowledge users” • Problematic absorption capacity of Macedonian “knowledge users” • Only few bright examples of good practice

4. Current status - Macedonia • Lack of technology parks • Lack of hi-tech business start-up center • Low level of promotional activities related to increasing Science, Technology and Innovation awareness • Low level of entrepreneurial education and mentality • Lack of data and instruments to measure innovation trends and STI policies • Decreasing of capacities of R&D human resources (brain drain, etc.) • Low level of investment in R&D infrastructure

5. Current status - Macedonia R&D investment as % of GDP

6. Current status - Macedonia Structure of R&D expenditure by sectors for selected countries in 2000

7. Current status - Macedonia • Decreased government support for science and research projects • Direct links between Faculties and industry almost lost: • New established companies are small or medium enterprises and they are not aware for need of expertise from faculty members • Foreign companies bought best Macedonian capacities; new owners are oriented to bring know how from abroad

8. Current status - Macedonia • Ministry of education and science has major responsibility for activities related to R&D: • Co-financing developmental and innovation projects up to 30% of total amount of the project, • Co-financing of 45 scientific journals per year, • Co-financing of more than 200 scientific books per year, • Co-financing of more than 50 domestic scientific conferences, • Co-financing of participation of international conference, seminars, etc., of more than 500 scientific workers, • Co-financing of study visit of more than 100 young scientists abroad, • Financing of 294 research projects for 2003, and 186 projects for 2004

9. Our experience with IO • Austrian Development Agency • US Agency for International Development (eBIZ project)

10. I Project

11. University Ss Cyril and Methodius - Skopje Faculty of Mechanical Engineering - Skopje

12. Objectives: • To serve as a creative incubator of innovative technology based and service oriented solutions • To improve entrepreneurial spirit among students, recent graduates and University staff • To provide entrepreneurial and small business management training • To assist students and recent graduates to start their own businesses • To increase students and recent graduates employability

13. Project Duration: 01/04/2006 - 31/03/2008 • Project Total Costs:508.342,00 Euro • Target group:University students and young graduates (for phase I)

14. Economic environment of the centre • Mainly engineering, but other knowledge based and service oriented ideas are also welcomed; • The centre is in phase of establishment and will get its new tenants in June 2007

15. FUNCTION • to train • to found • to support

16. Main Outcomes • Established BSC • Trained 120 students • Founded 10 new companies • Increased awareness about self-employment • Developed on-line course for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management for all UKIM students

17. Feel free to contact us University Ss Cyril and Methodius Business Start-up Centre Skopje, Macedonia ukim-bsc@mf.edu.mk www.bsc.ukim.edu.mk

18. II Project

19. CIRKO-MES CE Center for Research, Development and Continuing EducationMechanical Engineering Systems Center of Excellence Tashko Rizov Project Manager, CIRKO MES CE

20. CIRKO MES CE’s co-investors

21. Customer Part drawing, tool’s design Products Product drawing CIRKO MES Center of Excellence MACEDONIAN TOOL FACTORY In Tool Design Production Design NC Programing 3D Modeling training 3D Modeling Technology definition* Material data** Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

22. Type of services offered • Die design • CAD, CAM, CAE • Industrial design • Training (C++, JAVA, SolidWorks)

23. Organized events (1)(seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings) • Advanced engineering technologies • for the Macedonian tool and die design shops • one day seminar with international participation • experts from Slovenia • September 23-24, 2005 • 3D digitalization and 3D CAD model creation • 14 days training program in TECOS Celje, Slovenia • for 4 participants from CIRKO MES CE • Improvement of the marketing skills • of the Macedonian tool and die design shops • 7 days seminar with international experts from TECOS - Celje, Slovenia • University of Ljubljana and Austrian Cluster of Plasticity • October 23-29, 2005

24. Organized events (2)(seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings) 4. Solid CAM training • for practical experience for Macedonian tool and die design machine tool shops • Skopje-Ohrid • May 23-25, 2006 5. Conference on Clustering and Networking • Rogla, Slovenia, September 6-9, 2006 • 4 participants sponsored by e-BIZ and CIRKO MES CE 6. Numerical Simulationas advanced engineering technologies for improvement of the competitiveness of the Macedonian tool and die design machine shops • Ohrid, Macedonia, July 6-8, 2006

25. MEVnet –Macedonian Engineering network • MEVnet is designed for Macedonian SMEs from the field of mechanical engineering industry • Provider of organized and meaningful mechanical engineering communication • Resource center to disclose resources, organizations, research activity, educational initiatives and scientific events • Link between Macedonian SMEs and similar world wide networks • Advisor to members regarding specific professional issues in the field of activity

26. SCM- Pilot project sponsored by e-BIZ – USAID Project • Project Aim: • Maximize profitability of SMEs in Macedonia • Improve the competitiveness of SMEs in Macedonia • Technology transfer • Creating young professionals • Project Activities: • eSCM (Electronic Supply Chain Management) • sharing product description catalogue (over the Internet) • order status information • inventory data • demand projections • Organizing events • Workshops & Seminars • Education and training • Research and publications • Networking • Consultancy • Target Group: • Machine tool industry (in pilot phase) • SMEs in Macedonia

27. Technology Park - RITC Macedonia Aim of the project is • To build »technological city«, which will create longterm conditions for development of creative class • To develop conditions for global entrance of the region in the field of technologies and competitivenss • Prepare background for inflow of technological companies in the region • To create knowledge (international university) and co-operative network based on strong development, research and education for the demands of Johnson Control Inc. and other investors in MKD

28. SLO SČG BOL SKOPJE TETOVO BITOLA ALB TUR GRE

29. S_TIGER Scientific and Technological Innovation for Greater Economic Revitalization Regional Conference March 21-23, 2007 Skopje Macedonia More info: www.maaa.org.mk or www.cirko-mes.com

30. The SPICE GroupScience Park and Innovation Center Experts Group Member of SPICE Group is a joint initiative of professionals from technology and science parks, business incubators and innovation centers as well as finance, industry economic development promotion and governmental institutions. The principle of SPICE Group is to work on a basis of mutual personal trust, in an open, creative atmosphere.

31. Thank you for your attention Center for Development Research and Continuing Education - Mechanical Engineering Systems Center of Excellence Phone: +389 2 3099409 Fax: +389 2 3099408 www.cirko-mes.com info@cirko-mes.com