Qualitative Analysis of preliminary priority areas in the smart specialization process in the Republic of North Macedonia

The Republic of North Macedonia launched the process for preparation of the smart specialization strategy in accordance with the methodology and guidance provided by the Joint Research Centre. Smart specialization is of high importance for the future growth of the economy enabling strengthening the innovation potential, competitiveness and unleash of smart growth by defining high priority technological domains in which new added value can be created. The key goal is to identify and apply smarter and more competitive solutions in the domains, having in mind and supporting new challenges for digital and green transition, as well challenges caused by Covid 19. The strategy development process is comprised of bottom�up and top-down activities and involves many stakeholders. After the quantitative mapping of the country’s economic, innovation and scientific potential \ud based mostly on statistical data, 19 industries (grouped in 6 proposed domains) have been identified to have potential for smart specialization. This paper (Qualitative Analysis) is in-depth analysis and rationale of the emerging key priority domains and creates favorable conditions for the stakeholder dialogue within the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process in North Macedonia. The analysis is based on the input of more than 100 interviews performed with the key stakeholders, focus group meetings and information obtained from additional external analysis

Qualitative analysis of economic, innovation and scientific potential in North Macedonia

In 2018, the Republic of North Macedonia launched the process of designing its first Smart Specialisation strategy in accordance with the methodology and guidance provided by the Joint Research Centre. From its outset, the process was regarded to be of utmost importance to the future growth of the economy, strengthening competitiveness based on the country’s innovation potential and unleashing smart growth by defining high-priority domains in which new added value would be created. One of the key goals of this venture is to identify and apply smarter and more competitive solutions within the identified priority domains, taking into account new challenges for digital and green transition, as well as challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. After the quantitative mapping of the country’s economic, innovation and scientific potential, 19 industries have been identified as having potential in terms of Smart Specialisation, and these were grouped into 6 preliminary priority domains. These domains were analysed in-depth in the qualitative mapping phase, which provided the rationale for the final selection of priority domains in North Macedonia and served as a preparatory stage for the stakeholder dialogue within the entrepreneurial discovery process. The findings in this report are based on the input from more than 100 interviews held with the key stakeholders, subsequent focus group meetings and information obtained from additional external analyses