TvinTek Konekt 2025 Communiqué: Advancing Innovation, Technology Transfer and Collaboration for a Resilient Ecosystem

On May 28, 2025, TvinTek Konekt 2025 took place in Skopje, a conference bringing together a diverse group of participants from academia, industry, public institutions, civil society, and research organizations. The event aimed to foster constructive dialogue and identify practical solutions to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem.

Attendees engaged actively in thematic sessions focused on digital transformation, circular economy, innovation culture, and technology transfer. A key takeaway was the urgent need for clear and long-term mechanisms that connect all stakeholders to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Several important insights emerged from the discussions:

• Human capital, particularly within academic and technical institutions, is a valuable asset but is often underutilized due to weak collaboration among stakeholders.
• While promising projects in digitalization, circular economy, and innovation exist, they tend to be isolated and short-term, lacking a clear long-term strategy and coordination.
• The entrepreneurial drive is there, but limited access to finance and support holds back startups and emerging companies.
• Even though good policies exist, there aren’t enough practical tools or follow-through to turn ideas into real results.
• Technology transfer is showing promising growth, but it still requires stronger infrastructure and enhanced cross-sector collaboration to fully realize its potential.

Despite these challenges, participants highlighted noticeable progress. Pilot projects, local initiatives, and institutional reforms are slowly laying the groundwork for broader systemic change. Moving forward, investing in collaborative efforts and ensuring long-term alignment among all stakeholders will be critical.

This shared understanding forms the foundation of the recommendations outlined in the following document – not as universal solutions, but as a starting point for building the capacity and resilience of Macedonia’s innovation ecosystem.