Current Projects, Projects

Support for Digital Transformation in SMEs

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Due to the enormous importance that the ICT industry has on the entire economy, and the importance of digital transformation in general for the development of the overall economy, MASIT – the Information and Communication Technologies Chamber of Commerce, aims to support digital transformation and development of small and medium enterprises within this the project and will implement activities to create an online tool for self-assessment of digital transformation needs, as well as providing expert analysis of digital and small and medium enterprises. The project is supported by the Ministry of Economy under the Competitiveness, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program for 2019 and in accordance with the Public Call for Support and Development of the Cluster Association in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2019. The digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises is of great importance not only for the enterprises themselves but also for the development of the economic, social and general situation in the country. Digital transformation completely changes the way business operates and is a necessary process especially for SMEs, which will contribute to the development and offering of better and more innovative products on the market. Completing the process of digital transformation in companies reduces costs and makes companies more efficient and effective, all of which results in increased competitiveness not only on the national market but beyond. The opportunities offered by the digital transformation process are endless, especially for SMEs coming from vertical sectors (tourism, agriculture, textile, automotive, waste management, renewable energy, etc.) that have the greatest potential and benefit from the introduction of digital processes and systems into operation, as well as the creation of new digital services and products for clients. Within this project, MASIT will conduct activities to create an online self-assessment tool and provide expert analysis on digital transformation in SMEs, from December 2019 to March 2020.   PROJECT OBJECTIVES Overall Objective of the Project: To help small and medium-sized companies with an interest and need to introduce digital transformation in their work to check the needs and potential of digital transformation, as well as receive expert assistance in designing a digital transformation strategy. Specific Objective of the Project: Providing a free online tool that will enable companies to self-assess the level of digital transformation they are currently in, as well as the potential level of digital transformation they can achieve; and providing vouchers for conducting expert analysis to define the priority areas for digital transformation of a company’s operations on the basis of which companies can create a digital transformation strategy.

Finished Projects, Projects

Green ICT Development – GIVE

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Green Ict deVElopment (GIVE) is a European Strategic Cluster Partnership in the field of smart green technologies. The general objective of the partnership is to build up strong collaboration and to support cluster development as a tools to SME internationalization and market access. GIVE ESCP consist of 8 partners from 6 European countries – 5 ICT Clusters – ICT Cluster Bulgaria, Albanian Information and Technology Association, Cluj IT Cluster, Chamber of Commerce for Information and Communication Technologies – Skopje, ICT Cluster Central Serbia, 2 Automotive Clusters – Automotive Cluster Bulgaria and Automotive Cluster Serbia and 1 Green Technology Cluster from Latvia.
The partnership development is coordinated by ICT Cluster Bulgaria and financially supported by COSME programme of the EC. The project preparation was supported by REG USAID Project.

Current Projects, Projects

USAID Project – Partnership for Better Business Regulation

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Partnership for Better Business Regulation is a project supported by USAID whose implementation began in 2016. The project is intended to support micro, small and medium-sized businesses in order to better tailor their operations in accordance with the legislation. The project activities are aimed at assisting businesses in the process of compliance with legal requirements and encourage them to take an active part in the policy making that concerns them. EPI CENTAR International, in partnership with the four Chambers of Commerce in North Macedonia – Macedonian Chamber of Commerce, Union of Chambers of Commerce of Macedonia, Chamber of Commerce of North-west Macedonia and Chamber of Commerce of Information and Communication Technologies (MASIT) – are the implementers of the project that will: Help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises improve legal compliance by organizing information sessions on regulatory change; Support the establishment of the Platform for Public-Private Dialogue between the Chambers and the State; Provide co-financing of services through the implementation of which companies will increase compliance with the regulation through Voucher scheme; Create a unique information and interactive internet space and result in better information flow; Promotes the Single National Registry of the Republic of Northern Macedonia (ENER) at events organized by the Project; Organize forums to facilitate dialogue with local and foreign experts on current business topics; Develops compliance checklists; Develop a variety of interactive brochures and guides; Improve the capacities of the chambers; Prepares annual business climate analysis that will enable monitoring of the success of state policies and recording of gaps in them; Support public-private dialogue by organizing workshops, focus groups and working groups with Project representatives and representatives of relevant state institutions; In the coming period, the project will continue to work on constructive solutions for better legal compliance of the companies and support of the mechanisms for public – private dialogue between all stakeholders. All project activities are implemented by EPI CENTAR International in cooperation with the four partners: Macedonian Chamber of Commerce, Union of Chambers of Commerce of Macedonia, Chamber of Commerce of North-west Macedonia and Chamber of Commerce of Information and Communication Technologies (MASIT). More info can be found at www.biznisregulativa.mk . Download PDF

Finished Projects, Projects

YOUTH HUB – Digital Youth

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The project “MladiHUB – Digital Youth” is implemented by the National Youth Council of Macedonia (NMSM) and the Chamber of Commerce for Information and Communication Technologies – MASIT, supported by the British Embassy Skopje. The aim of the project is to enhance the digital skills of young people and increase their employability by offering digital skills courses and academies in return for volunteering and community service work. Depending on the skills, interests and needs of the communities in which they live, young people will need to participate in community initiatives, acquiring a voucher that will allow access to digital and soft skills training. By the end of the project, young people in our country will have the platform and support to acquire and improve their digital skills and respond to the digital transformation of the economy. This will improve employment opportunities, promote innovation and thus support the economic development of the Republic of Northe Macedonia. Download PDF

Current Projects, Projects

Ideal-ist

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Ideal-ist is an international ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) National Contact Point (NCP) network, supporting research and innovation within the EU Framework Programmes. The network includes more than 65 partners from EU Member States, Associated Countries, Eastern European Partner Countries (EEPC), Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC), and other countries throughout the world. https://youtu.be/zIdtz1yLKrE Ideal-ist offers:  Long-standing experience in EU Framework Programmes (Ideal-ist was established in 1996) Expertise in proposal writing and project management: A network of over 65 National Contact Points (NCPs) in the ICT theme support proposers. An international quality team to support proposers, e.g. to better focus proposals Ideal-ist information services: Newsletter, Work Programme information Brokerage events with pre-scheduled meetings Full proposal check events with experienced evaluators Pre-Proposal Check: A new tool to check proposal outlines Toolbox. A tool to support proposers during the whole application process from project idea to project completion and future planning Topic Tree. A tool that helps you to identify historical and future links to call topics and offers you background information provided by Ideal-ist and EC Participant Portal Ideal-ist services:  Ideal-ist supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, academia, research organisations, non-profit organisations, public administrations, and consultancies in Interpreting the ICT Work Programme of Horizon 2020 Submitting project ideas in line with the topics of Horizon 2020 Building partnerships More information can be found at the official project web page http://www.ideal-ist.eu/

Finished Projects, Projects

Second Cycle of the ICT Workforce Requalification Project

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At the beginning of March 2019, MASIT started to work on a second cycle of project for pre-qualification. This is a project that will carry out pre-qualification, which will include unemployed, where the interested candidates will have the opportunity to be trained in order to gain some other skills, knowledge and practical experience (beyond those who already have obtained) for IT profiles needed by ICT companies, which in the future could potentially be employed by ICT companies. The ultimate goal of the project, after the completion and realization of the program, is for the people to be employed in ICT companies in ICT related positions. The pre-qualification program lasts about 3 months, starting in March 2019 Through the pre-qualification process, the trainees gained theoretical and practical knowledge through many hands-on activities, worked on a specific project or case study that was upgraded from subject to subject, but also enriched their competencies with organizational culture and soft skills, which we have profiled them to be immediately ready for employment and productive engagement within IT companies. Based on the results of the questionnaire completed by several IT companies and other potential employers, the Front – End web Developer program has been chosen, with emphasis on “react” technology as the most needed and most attractive need at the moment.   PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM Program participants must have a minimum of a high school diploma, not older than 35, unemployed, have an interest and predisposition to pursue a career in ICT. Potential candidates can also be graduates of any faculty other than electrical engineering and information technology faculties. For candidates, the focus will be on people who have a mathematical and programming inclination and a logical way of thinking. In order to successfully complete the project, it was necessary to carry out a complete recruitment and selection process of the most suitable candidates that would meet the qualification requirements for the training process. Due to the specific needs of the project, the recruitment process was specifically designed for that purpose, yet it followed the basic principles of the company’s standard recruitment procedure and general recruitment standards.   PROGRAM PHASES   Phase 0: Obtaining Candidates’ Inputs (CVs) and Evaluation of Satisfaction of Basic Qualification Criteria in Training; Phase 1: Testing for all candidates through a general knowledge test covering multiple components (English, logic, basic computer skills); Phase 2: Oral interview of the shortlisted candidates; Phase 3: Profiling Test for Closer Candidates; Phase 4: Defining the target group (Final selection based on the first two criteria); Phase 5: Conducting the training (training is planned to be held in the afternoon and at the weekend); Phase 6: Checking the knowledge gained through self-development of a project or case study and other type of testing to monitor the progress of the candidates; Phase 7: Any candidate who fails to find a job immediately after completing the training after 01.06.2019 will be offered internships in one of the ICT companies in the country.   Donor: USAID REG; Partners: Brainster as a training provider.

Publications

Macedonian Outsourcing Industry Report (October, 2019)

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The Chamber of Commerce for Information and Communication Technologies – MASIT has published the first Outsourcing Industry Report in the country. The report measures and illustrates the export of services abroad, the advantages and disadvantages of this industry and its future. MASIT draws on the idea of ​​producing this Report from the fact that the outsourcing industry is not recognized as a separate industry in North Macedonia. Thus, it does not have adequate support mechanisms, proper legislation, a developed market and greater expansion of market opportunities outside the country. The purpose of MASIT is that with the realization of this Report, it emphasizes that in North Macedonia it has all the conditions to create a positive climate for the development of this industry and to accelerate it by positioning the country as a potential country on the map of outsourcing industries in the region and beyond. This Report is created based on the example of two Reports: Report on Outsourcing in the SEE Region and the Report of the Bulgarian Outsourcing Industry Association. Following their positive examples and learning from their mistakes, we believe we can greatly influence the development of the outsourcing industry. The report was originally presented at the MASIT Annual Conference on October 31, 2019, and can be downloaded at the following link below. Macedonian Outsourcing Industry Report (2019) – EN

Publications

Survey for the digital skills needs (September, 2019)

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The activity for conducting the Survey for digital skills needs in the country is one of the first activities of the project “MLADIHUB – Digital Youth” funded by the British Embassy in Skopje and implemented by the National Youth Council of Macedonia (NMSM) and the Chamber of Commerce of Information and Communication Technologies MASIT. The research was conducted to define the key digital skills that the private and public sectors needs in order to develop appropriate training modules offered to youth further within the project. Survey for the digital skills needs (2019)

Publications

Handbook for software and IT services export (April, 2019)

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Foreign companies and companies in the country have recognized the strategic importance of appearing on foreign markets, and thus exporting software and ICT services. Companies in the Republic of North Macedonia see foreign markets as a new potential segment for growing their business and increasing revenue. Accordingly, MASIT developed the Software and ICT Services Export Handbook as part of the USAID Partnership for Better Business Regulation project. The guide explains the steps and strategies that a company needs to know to export to foreign markets. The complete handbook can be downloaded at the following links: MK Version –  Software and ICT Services Export Handbook AL Version –  Software and ICT Servuces Export Handbook The Software and ICT Services Export Handbook  was developed in April 2019 as part of the USAID Partnership for Better Business Regulation Project, which partners the Economic Chamber of Macedonia, the Information and Communication Technologies Chamber of Commerce – MASIT, the Economic Chamber of Northwest Macedonia, the Macedonian Chambers of Commerce and EPI Center International.

Publications

Market research on the ICT sector in the MAK region (Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo) (2018)

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PricewaterhouseCoopers d.o.o.e.l Skopje (PwC Macedonia) supported by PwC Albania and PwC Kosovo, performed a detailed market research on the ICT sector in the MAK region (Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo) comprising the ICT ecosystem, status of the available workforce, ICT education, government support for the ICT sector, national strategic documents and government policies and regulations. Market research on the ICT sector in the MAK region (Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo) (EN) Download PDF

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