Ss. CYRIL AND METHODIUS UNIVERSITY IN SKOPJE

Their core work

Ss. Cyril and Methodius University is North Macedonia's largest and oldest university, serving as the country's primary gateway into European research networks. They contribute expertise in energy-efficient construction, high-performance computing, open science infrastructure, and food safety research. The university acts as a national hub connecting Southeast European research communities to pan-European e-infrastructures and innovation support networks, particularly through the Enterprise Europe Network for SME innovation management.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2014-2018), the university focused heavily on SME innovation management through the Enterprise Europe Network and on building workforce skills for energy-efficient construction (MEnS, TRAINEE). From 2019 onward, a clear shift emerged toward digital research infrastructure — open science, EOSC integration, high-performance computing (EUROCC, EGI-ACE), and national capacity building for e-infrastructure. The university has essentially transitioned from a skills-and-training orientation to becoming North Macedonia's anchor institution for European digital research infrastructure.

Moving decisively toward digital research infrastructure and EOSC integration, positioning themselves as North Macedonia's primary node for European cloud computing and open science services.

How they like to work

They operate primarily as a participant in large consortia (14 of 26 projects), but have demonstrated consistent coordination ability through six projects — notably running the INNO EEN-M series five times consecutively, showing reliable project management. With 505 unique partners across 62 countries, they are a remarkably well-connected hub for a Widening Country institution, making them a valuable bridge for consortia needing Southeast European and Western Balkan coverage.

Exceptionally broad network for a Western Balkans university: 505 unique consortium partners across 62 countries, reflecting their role as North Macedonia's primary entry point into EU research frameworks. Their connections span from large e-infrastructure consortia (EOSC-hub, EGI-ACE) to focused regional collaborations in Southeast Europe.

What sets them apart

As North Macedonia's flagship university, they are often the only route into the Western Balkans for EU consortia needing geographic coverage in the region. Their dual strength in both physical-world topics (energy, food safety, construction) and digital infrastructure (HPC, EOSC, cloud computing) makes them unusually versatile for a Widening Country institution. The EUROCC project — their largest single grant — positions them as the national competence centre for high-performance computing, a role few universities in the region can claim.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EUROCC
  Largest single grant (EUR 912,935) establishing North Macedonia's national HPC competence centre — a strategic infrastructure role.
• CROSSBOW
  Second-largest funding (EUR 722,188) in cross-border renewable energy management, demonstrating capacity for major energy research contributions.
• NI4OS-Europe
  Key role in building national open science infrastructure and connecting North Macedonia to the European Open Science Cloud ecosystem.