PRIVATE SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION, INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN ENVIRONMENT, CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ENERGY, SKOPJE

Their core work

This Skopje-based research institute works at the intersection of energy efficiency, construction, and environmental resilience. Their core contribution to EU projects centres on building energy performance, workforce skills development for the construction sector, and climate adaptation strategies. They bring expertise in BIM (Building Information Modelling) certification, sustainable energy training frameworks, and digital credentialing systems for construction professionals. Their work on climate-resilient regions through the ARSINOE project suggests growing capability in systemic climate adaptation approaches.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

The institute entered H2020 in 2018 through construction workforce training (BIMcert), focused on practical skills for energy-efficient building. By 2021, their focus shifted toward digital frameworks for skills recognition — micro-credentials and digital certification for sustainable energy professionals (ARISE). Simultaneously, they expanded into broader climate resilience work (ARSINOE), signalling a move from narrow construction training toward systemic environmental and climate challenges.

Moving from construction-sector training toward digital credentialing systems and climate adaptation — likely positioning for Green Deal and skills-related calls in Horizon Europe.

How they like to work

Always a participant, never a coordinator — they join consortia rather than lead them. With 54 unique partners across 17 countries from just 3 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia (averaging 18 partners per project). This suggests they function as a regional knowledge contributor within broad European partnerships, bringing Western Balkans perspective and local implementation capacity.

Despite only 3 projects, they have built a wide network of 54 partners across 17 countries — reflecting participation in large-scale coordination and innovation actions. Their network spans much of the EU, likely with strong connections to Central and Southeast European research and training institutions.

What sets them apart

As a research institute from North Macedonia, they offer a Western Balkans entry point for EU-funded consortia needing geographic diversity and enlargement country representation. Their specific combination of construction energy efficiency expertise with digital certification know-how is uncommon — most partners offer one or the other. For consortium builders targeting Widening or including Associated Countries, they bring genuine technical expertise alongside geographic value.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ARSINOE
  Their largest project by far (EUR 304,750 of EUR 463,120 total funding), focused on climate-resilient regions — represents a significant expansion beyond their construction training roots.
• ARISE
  Demonstrates their niche in digital skills recognition and micro-credentials for sustainable energy, a growing policy priority under the European Skills Agenda.
• BIMcert
  Their first H2020 project, establishing their foundation in construction workforce skills and energy efficiency — the entry point for their subsequent EU engagement.