MASIT at a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Chamber of Commerce for Information and Communication Technologies – MASIT is embarking on a new chapter and partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia. This partnership aims to provide more intensive and constructive support to the Macedonian ICT sector. The collaboration is focused on enhancing the international visibility of the domestic ICT sector, creating conditions for entering new export markets, and better positioning Macedonian companies in the global economy. Through joint activities, participation in major international fairs, conferences, and business forums, as well as by establishing new channels to connect with the Macedonian diaspora and foreign investors, the initiative is expected to create tangible opportunities for growth and development for MASIT member companies. Within the framework of this collaboration, plans include organizing business delegations and direct meetings with potential partners abroad, preparing modern promotional materials, as well as initiatives to establish representative offices of Macedonian ICT companies in strategic markets. Additionally, initiatives for knowledge and technology transfer will be developed to contribute to enhancing the capacities of domestic companies. MASIT President, Mr. Jordan Dimitrovski, emphasized that the Chamber is strategically focused on providing long-term support and achieving an international breakthrough for companies in this industry, with a clear goal of creating conditions for sustainable growth and entry into new markets through partnerships and strategic initiatives. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Timcho Mucunski, highlighted that the Ministry is fully available to support the implementation of all future activities and initiatives that will enhance the competitiveness of Macedonian ICT companies and enable their more effective positioning in the global market. Through this partnership, MASIT strengthens its role as an active partner and supporter of its member companies in their internationalization process, contributing to a stronger positioning of the Republic of North Macedonia on the global ICT map.

The Second Day of MASIT’s 19th Annual Conference Successfully Took Place On October 30, 2024, we held the second event within the framework of MASIT’s Annual Conference, focusing on the application of the latest technologies in healthcare. The event attracted over 250 guests, including numerous experts from the ICT industry, the healthcare sector, doctors, surgeons, pharmacists, and representatives from various other sectors. The opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Ilija Gospodinov, President of the MASIT Management Board, and Mr. Jovan Najdenovski from Najdenovski Law Office, who also served as co-organizer of the second day of the conference. We had the great honor of listening to the presentation of our honorary guest, Mr. Sam Atalah, Professor of Surgery at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine (Orlando, Florida, USA), Director of Colorectal Surgery at HCA Oviedo Medical Center, and Vice-Chair of the Department of Colorectal Surgery at AdventHealth (Orlando). This was followed by a presentation from Mr. Ognen Plavevski, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of 3DLoom, and Dr. Stefan Arsenkov, Specialist in Abdominal Surgery, co-founder and Medical Director of 3DLoom, who provided insights into their work and the role of artificial intelligence and 3D printing in surgical practice. They provided an in-depth overview of how artificial intelligence and 3D printing are transforming medical imaging into customized surgical tools, specialized orthoses, and detailed anatomical replicas to enhance patient care and promote more effective recovery. The next presentation was delivered by Dr. Anela Tosevska, a bioinformatics scientist at the Medical University of Vienna, on the topic “From Code to Cure: How Artificial Intelligence is Revolutionizing Genetics for Personalized Medicine.” As an honorary guest speaker, she demonstrated how AI technologies are transforming the approach to genetics, enabling precise and personalized treatment for each patient. Next, we had the honor of hearing from Prof. Dr. Maja Simonoska Crcarevska, Full Professor and Head of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University – Skopje, Prof. Dr. Zorica Naumovska, Associate Professor and Head of the National Pharmacoinformatics Center (NPIC) at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Assistant Evgenija Mihajlovska, Specialist in Clinical Pharmacy from the same Institute. Their presentation, “The Use of AI in Drug Research, Development, and Production, Utilizing Big Data Analyses for Drug Effects and Applications, and the Development of Personalized Therapies,” sparked a dynamic discussion that revealed the latest trends and innovations in this advanced domain of medicine and pharmacy. We then continued with a presentation by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Goran Spirov, Specialist in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, and M.Sc. Sasho Nikolovski, Specialist in Medical Nuclear Physics, professionals from the University Institute for Positron Emission Tomography – PET Center. Their topic, “Radiomics in PET/CT: The Power of Medical Imaging,” focused on how radiomics unlocks the potential of PET/CT technology for better understanding and precise diagnosis in medicine. Next at the conference, we had the opportunity to hear from Prof. Dr. Anis Sefidanis, Professor at the Faculty of Machine Intelligence and Robotics at the University of Information Science and Technology “St. Paul the Apostle” – Ohrid, and founder of the Center for Research and Development of Exponential Technologies “SEFIDANIS.” His presentation, “Artificial Intelligence and Transhumanism: How to Redefine Human Potential?”, prompted us to reflect on the future of technology and its interaction with human capabilities. On the topic “Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry – The Future of Prosthetics, Surgical Procedures, and Preventive Care,” we followed presentations by leading doctors from this field in our country. Dr. Aleksandar Iliev, Specialist in Maxillofacial Surgery, revealed how modern technologies for 3D visualization and printing are applied in craniofacial surgery, opening new perspectives for improving surgical procedures and patient care. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elena Petrova, Specialist Orthodontist at the Clinic for Orthodontics and educator of specialists at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM) and University “Goce Delčev” (UGD), spoke on “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Orthodontic Practice,” highlighting how AI technologies are transforming approaches to diagnosis and treatment in orthodontics. We continued with another productive panel discussion on the topic “ICT and AI – Current Technologies and Development Trends, Available Tools, and Innovative Solutions for the Future.” The focus of this discussion was on the latest innovations and practices in the ICT industry related to the healthcare sector, featuring Dr. Stojan Nikolić, MSc, Business Development Consultant and Co-founder of Moderm, a healthcare marketing agency; Mr. Marjan Nikolovski, Founder and CEO of EMIT Knowledge; Mr. Siniša Jović, Biomedical Engineer at Proxiad SEE; and Mr. Tomche Delev, Lead Software Engineer and Head of Development at Sorsix. At the end of this productive day, we had the honor of hearing Ms. Aleksandra Manolcheva from EIT Community RIS Hub, who delivered a presentation on “HealthTech Global Trends and EIT Health Opportunities for the Macedonian Ecosystem.” In her presentation, Ms. Manolcheva highlighted the importance of global trends in health technology and how they influence the development of the local sector. She presented the opportunities that EIT Health offers to Macedonian enterprises and innovators, including support for startups and research and development initiatives. Her presentation was inspiring and sparked significant interest among participants, pointing to the potential for advancing the healthcare ecosystem in our country. MASIT and Najdenovski Law Office extend their sincere gratitude to all supporters, sponsors, and patron partners of the Chamber. Thanks to their support, the conference was not only successful but also filled with meaningful discussions, new ideas, and partnerships that will contribute to the growth of our industry. The photo gallery from the second day of the conference can be found on our Facebook page in the album, available at the following link.

Over two days, we discussed artificial intelligence versus the workforce, as well as its applications in healthcare. On October 29–30, 2024, the Chamber of Commerce for Information and Communication Technologies – MASIT held its 19th traditional annual conference. Two days filled with top speakers, panelists, discussions, a diverse audience, and extensive networking. October 29, 2024 – “Artificial Intelligence vs. the Workforce – From Adaptation to Innovation” The first day of the conference, October 29, was dedicated to the controversial issue of balancing artificial intelligence (AI) with the traditional workforce. Through a series of panel discussions and presentations, attendees had the opportunity to hear experiences and insights from renowned speakers and panelists across various industries. Topics included the application of AI in business, the job roles most affected by automation, and ways in which companies, managers, and employees can adapt and leverage AI as a tool for innovation. The conference was opened by Ms. Aneta Pesheva, President of the MASIT Assembly, Mr. Stefan Andonovski, Minister of Digital Transformation, and Mr. Timothy Ong, Director of the USAID Office for Economic Growth. Vector 8 was one of the official supporters of the first day, enabling us to hear from top professionals as the main honorary speakers. Christoph Tomen and Katherine F. Simon emphasized the collaboration between humans and machines, talent education, and adaptation as key points for the effective application of artificial intelligence. The first panel session of the conference was dedicated to public-private dialogue. We had distinguished speakers who attracted significant attention during the discussion, which was moderated by Ms. Vesna Ivanoska, Director of Qinshift Academy and Vice President of the MASIT Management Board. The panel featured Prof. Dr. Vesna Janevska, Minister of Education and Science; Mr. Radoslav Nastasijević Vardziski, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation; Mr. Ilija Gospodinov, President of the MASIT Management Board; and Mr. Nebojša Mojsoski, Director of USAID’s Youth Actively Create Opportunities (YACO) initiative. Attendees had the opportunity to hear them discuss ways to enhance mechanisms that create value for society through such partnerships. Prof. Dr. Anis Sefidanis, a renowned innovator and creator of the first humanoid robot in the region, left a strong impression on the audience with his presentation. Additionally, during the panel session “AI: Threat or Opportunity for Jobs?”, moderated by Ms. Dina Ivanović, Site and Recruitment Lead at Proxiad SEE, we discussed the advantages that artificial intelligence brings to the labor market and which job roles are most at risk. Professionals in the field also provided guidance on which skills should be a focus for future students and which tools are currently most used in IT companies. This session featured representatives from this year’s silver sponsors, including: Ms. Verica Jakimovska, Master in Human Resource Management, specialized in new HR strategies, Coordinator of the employment platform www.esi.mk, and initiator and manager of ESI; Ms. Elena Dimovska, Master and Microsoft Certified Trainer and Certnexus Authorized Instructor, working at Semos Education; Mr. Simon Petkov, Master in Computer Science and Chief Systems Architect at Scalefocus. Education was one of the recurring themes throughout the conference day. On the topic of bridging the skills gap – training the workforce of the future, we hosted an expert panel with experienced and distinguished speakers: Mr. Nikola Zhivkov, Head of Development at Qinshift; Dr. Igor Trajkovski, Founder of Time.mk, Professor and Researcher; Dr. Miodrag Cekić, Lead Technical Consultant for CSE/R&D at IWConnect. This session was sponsored by this year’s Gold Sponsor of the conference – Qinshift Academy. The conference also featured a discussion on another very important topic: “AI-Enhanced Management – Redefining Managerial Roles.” This panel session was moderated by Mr. Damjan Manchevski, Director of Strategic Accounts and General Manager for the Balkans at MAK-SYSTEM International Group. The panel included: M.Sc. Sofche Jovanovska, General Manager at ScaleFocus; Mr. Goran Petrevski, Sales Director at ASEE Group; Mr. Filip Petrovski, CEO and Data Architect at Data Masters. We had the opportunity to engage in a productive discussion on the managerial aspects of artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on redefining managerial roles in the context of modern technologies. The panelists discussed how AI can transform traditional management practices, improve decision-making efficiency, and enable innovative approaches to managing teams and resources. The discussion included practical examples, analyzing the advantages and challenges arising from the integration of artificial intelligence into management. Participants actively shared ideas on how technology can influence the future development of management and new strategies in the field. The discussion proved to be particularly dynamic and valuable for all attendees. The panel “AI-Driven Innovations – Shifting Beyond Traditional Business Models”, moderated by Mr. Goran Damovski, Team Leader of the Swiss Program for Enhanced Market Employability, focused on the practical application of expertise and knowledge, as well as the regional perspective and use of artificial intelligence in agribusiness and tourism. This program enabled a comprehensive regional overview. The leading Research and Development Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems and a pioneer in the digital transformation of agriculture, BioSense Serbia, represented by Ms. Milica Trajkovic, Head of the Business Innovation and Development Department, highlighted the implementation of the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) in Serbia. Ms. Trajkovic emphasized that:“By collecting field data and using artificial intelligence with 99% accuracy for LPIS, Serbia now has a reference database for its agricultural parcels. This allows the identification of all arable land contained in the reference parcels and makes it easy to calculate the maximum arable area.” Mr. Milan Banić, Associate Professor at the University of Niš Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, presented AgAR – an Agricultural Autonomous Robot. Equipped with remote control software, pre-defined path movement, and autonomous navigation with obstacle-avoidance sensors, AgAR is an ideal agricultural tool.“The AI-based AgAR robot is a joint project between an ICT company and a technical faculty. It is an excellent model demonstrating how academia and industry can collaborate effectively,” Mr. Banić noted. He emphasized that AgAR aims to increase agricultural production and reduce operational costs, targeting medium and large producers. However, he also highlighted the challenge of convincing farmers to adopt

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a concept from science fiction – it is already part of everyday life. As pioneers in promoting the importance of shaping the future, together with Najdenovski Law Office, on March 15, 2024, we hosted the premier event: #AI42024, as a follow-up to previously held workshops on this topic. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all guests, honorary speakers and panelists, sponsors and supporters of the event, and participants who secured their spots on time. We promise this is just the beginning – interest is high, and we will continue working on this topic, even more motivated, together with you, with a single goal: to stay ahead of the changes shaping our world. To AI or not to AI? – That is no longer a question. Check out the photo album from the event on our  Facebook page.

On March 29, 2024, the 18th Annual Assembly of the Chamber of Commerce for Information and Communication Technologies – MASIT was held. The Assembly is the highest governing body of the Chamber and is composed of all MASIT member companies. During the MASIT Assembly session, attendees were provided with a detailed overview of the activities the Chamber carried out in 2023. The Assembly also approved the Chamber’s plans and activities for the upcoming year, 2024. We extend our gratitude to all member companies for their active participation and contribution to the work of the Chamber, and we will continue to work together to support the growth and development of the ICT sector. The full album of photos from the 18th Annual Assembly can be viewed on our Facebook page.

11.12.2023 At the invitation of the President of the Republic, Stevo Pendarovski, MASIT organized a pre-New Year gathering and meeting for its member companies and patron partners at Villa Vodno. During the event, Ilija Gospodinov, President of the MASIT Management Board, emphasized the importance of the ICT industry as a strategic sector for the prosperity of the Macedonian economy and once again highlighted the economic indicators that clearly demonstrate the remarkable growth and progress of this industry. During the meeting, MASIT also presented its proposals for the further development of the ICT industry, aiming to better address the challenges faced by ICT companies. We extend our sincere gratitude to President Pendarovski for his cooperation and the warm reception of MASIT member companies, as well as to all participants at the event. Презентација