Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovik recently presented the TECHSIGHT project at the largest regional AI start-ups summit in Skopje — the StartupRevolution.ai. His presentation and key messages about the project were featured in a dedicated article on pari.com.mk. 

This week, our project coordinator Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uvet was also a guest on Turkish national television, where he highlighted the importance of future-proofing initiatives such as TECHSIGHT for strengthening the European deep-tech ecosystem.

TECHSIGHT EIT Culture & Creativity EIT Higher Education Initiative

EIT Higher Education Initiativeis one of the most impactful platforms Europe has created to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship across Higher Education Institutions!
The Innovation Vision Action Plan (IVAP) Workshops are a crucial part of this initiative and play a key role in accelerating this transformation.
TheTECHSIGHT Project, as a proud participant in this initiative, was thrilled to take part in this year’s IVAP Workshop in Krakow, held on 24–26 November.
Our project was represented by:Prof. Dr.Huseyin Uvet, Project Coordinator, Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi with his institutional leadership, Prof. Dr.Eyüp DebikRector, Prof. DrCengiz Kaya, Vice Rector for Science; also project partner representatives: Prof. Dr.Arvīds Barševskis, Rector,Daugavpils Universitate,hashtag#MarjanNikolovski, Innovation Expert and Managing Director, THE NEW WAY; and Project Officer:Maxi Torau, Programme Education Officer,EIT Culture & Creativity.
A heartfelt thank you to the entire EIT Higher Education Initiative team, and especially to the initiative’s leadership, Dr.Dolores Volkert, Head of EIT Higher Education Initiative andRosanna West, EIT Higher Education Initiative Manager, for the inspiring opening speeches and for creating an exceptional space to reflect on our work, connect with colleagues across Europe, and shape new future collaborations with universities and innovation actors.
The TECHSIGHT journey is just the beginning of how this initiative can strengthen innovation and entrepreneurial capacity within our institutions! And we look forward to using this platform to continue building these capabilities in the years ahead!
hashtag#TECHSIGHThashtag#HEIPoweredhashtag#HEItransformationhashtag#InnovationAndEntrepreneurshipEnhacementhashtag#FutureThinkinghashtag#RegionalInnovationEcosystemDevelopment

Workshop

📅 24–26 November. 2025
📍Kraków, Poland.

Join this hands-on EU-Certified Training for Students and learn step-by-step how to navigate innovation, entrepreneurship, and funding processes. This training includes:
✔ EU Participation Certificate
✔ Mentorship support for selected student projects
✔ Practical content designed to support your career and future initiatives

Speakers: Assoc. Prof. Ertugrul Bayraktar & Assist. Prof. Onurcan Sahin

Join our EU-Certified Innovation & Entrepreneurship Workshop and learn how to identify opportunities, build a solid business model, and find the right funding source for your ideas.
Led by Assoc. Prof. Huseyin Uvet, this hands-on workshop is designed for students and young professionals who want to strengthen their innovation and entrepreneurship skills.

What’s included? 👇
✔️ EU Participation Certificate
✔️ Mentorship support for selected projects
✔️ Practical insights to boost your career and future initiatives

Training sessions for Academics continues! Save your spot for our next sessions:
"Strategic Foresight & Horizon Scanning Simplified: Anticipating Change in Academia and Innovation"

🎓 This online training series is tailored for academic and non-academic employees in European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), focusing on how foresight methodologies can strengthen innovation capacity in higher education.

✨ For all participants who attended previous capacity-building sessions for Researchers, Academics and other HEI employees:

You are also warmly invited to continue your learning journey by joining the Methodology Session on 18 November 2025, from 15:30 to 17:00 CET, where our Methodology for Strategic Foresight and Horizon Scanning will be presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr.Onurcan Sahinand Assoc. Prof. Dr.Ertugrul Bayraktarfrom Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi, with a focus on how you can apply it in your own work.

Link for sign up for 13th or 17th November.

Link for sign up for 18th November

Event/Conference

🗓️ Session 1
📅 13 November 2025 | 19:00–20:00 CET
MarjanNikolovski, Innovation Expert & Managing Director, THENEWWAY, Copenhagen, Denmark

🗓️ Session 2
📅 17 November 2025 | 15:30–17:00 CET
🎙️Daniel Nauck, Entrepreneurship Expert, Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal, Germany

Yesterday in Belgrade, the EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology, launched the EIT Community Hub Serbia, a new gateway connecting local researchers, startups, and companies with Europe’s leading innovation networks, funding opportunities, and knowledge flows.

As part of the Biotech Future Forum , the open discussion
“Connecting Serbia to Europe’s Innovation Value Chains” gathered experts from industry, academia, and the innovation ecosystem, including Marjana Brkic, Program Director at the Centar za promociju nauke / Center for the Promotion of Science, who presented the TECHSIGHT Project and spoke about connecting science, industry, and innovation sectors.

The panel also featured Marko Grujić (Neuroblast), Adrian Solomon (EIT Manufacturing), Gergely Horváth (EIT Digital), and Marjana Davidovic(Nestlé). Moderator Dusan Obradovic, CEO (SEE UP Accelerator).

The new Hub will foster collaboration across sectors and disciplines, linking Serbia with all EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities to co-create solutions for Europe’s biggest challenges, green transition, digital transformation, and inclusive growth.

TECHSIGHT Project Phase 1 is soon coming to an end – and what a journey it has been!

One of the many activities we are finalising is the successful implementation of the Deep Tech Start-Ups Coordination Mechanism Program.

Over the past months, 14 deep-tech start-ups from Germany, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye took part in an intensive capacity-building and mentoring process, covering:
🔹 Academia–industry collaboration & spin-off development
🔹 Cross-sector innovation and foresight methodologies
🔹 EU funding opportunities & growth pathways
🔹 Tailored 1-on-1 mentoring with leading experts

💡 As a highlight, selected start-ups had the opportunity to showcase at Web Summit, one of the world’s premier tech gatherings.

Empowering Regional Innovation Ecosystem Development through Systems Innovation!

Last week, the TECHSIGHT Project team, represented by Project Coordinator Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uvet and Innovation Expert Marjan Nikolovski, joined the on-site workshop held in Copenhagen, Denmark, as part of the EIT Higher Education Initiative course “Fostering Ecosystem Innovation & Collaboration: A Systems Innovation Approach.”

Over three days, diverse participants representing academia, industry, and public bodies from the Cohort 4 projects had the opportunity to meet, discuss, and exchange ideas on how we can thrive and succeed in our shared mission - enhancing innovation and entrepreneurship across complex and diverse environments. A true transnational knowledge exchange, fostering knowledge-triangle integration and exciting synergies ahead!

For the TECHSIGHT Project, this workshop was also an opportunity to reflect on our ongoing work in building deep-tech innovation districts: exploring where, how, and why similar approaches have succeeded in other regions, such as the Malmo innovation ecosystem, and learning from experiences shared by colleagues across Europe.

A big thank you to Climate KICf or making this inspiring experience possible. We look forward to the next activities within the EIT Higher Education Initiative!

We are proud to share that the TECHSIGHT Project was featured at this year’s EIT Education & Skills Days 2025, held in Brussels — a flagship gathering that brought together educators, innovators, policymakers, industry leaders, and learners to co-create the future of Europe’s lifelong learning ecosystem.

The project was represented by Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uvet, Project Coordinator from Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi together with his team Assist. Prof. Onurcan Sahin, Assist. Prof. Ertugrul Bayraktar andMarjanNikolovski, Managing Director and Innovation Expert THE NEW WAY, one of TECHSIGHT’s core partners.

Together, they presented how TECHSIGHT contributes to Europe’s evolving skills agenda by strengthening the deep-tech talent pipeline, connecting academia, industry, and innovation ecosystems, and fostering future-ready skills that enhance regional innovation capacity across Europe.

As the event unveiled the next phase of the EIT Education Strategy and celebrated flagship initiatives such as the EIT HEI Initiative, the Deep Tech Talent Initiative, the EIT Skills Academies, and Girls Go Circular, TECHSIGHT stood out as a tangible example of how collaboration can truly turn ideas into impact — advancing a more competitive, resilient, and inclusive Europe.

👏 A sincere thank you to the EIT Higher Education Initiative and EIT Culture & Creativity‘s Programme Officer for Education Maxi Torau for providing this platform to share our mission and to connect with other European initiatives shaping the next generation of innovation and digital education.

Last week, EIT Higher Education Initiative-TECHSIGHT Project took part in the 2-Day Internship & Employment Fair - TECH MECH 2025 at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje / Универзитет „Св. Кирил и Методиј“ во Скопје— a vibrant event connecting students, academia, and industry to shape the future of work and innovation. 💡
As part of the programme,TECHSIGHT Projectcontributed to a panel discussion on “Anticipating Future Competences for University Students - An Alumni Perspective”, exploring how universities can better prepare graduates for the evolving demands of deep-tech industries and innovation-driven economies.
This exchange highlighted how bridging academia and industry is key to building strong regional innovation ecosystems and cultivating the next generation of deep-tech talent.
By engaging directly with students, alumni, and industry, TECHSIGHT continues to support capacity-building, talent development, and innovation district growth across Europe.

Aligned with the objectives of Climate KIC, TECHSIGHT's deep-tech mission supports Europe’s transition to a sustainable, net-zero economy. 🌍

Our participation during last week ClimateWeekNewYork2025 added real value to this mission. Represented by MarjanNikolovski, Innovation Expert and Managing Director of THENEWWAY, TECHSIGHT Project engaged in targeted networking and knowledge exchange to strengthen project objectives.
This was done by attendance at the Danish “Partnerships for the Future” Summit, Meta’s “Innovative Collaborations for Climate Action”, The Narrative Summit(Part of CFF), First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) Summit (New York University summit focusing on ground- breaking climate tech spin-offs and startups), New Climate Futures at Brooklyn’s New Lab (the largest deep-tech incubator in New York’s innovation ecosystem).
Through targeted networking and knowledge exchange, this outreach expanded our network and generated interest in supporting the TECHSIGHT project stakeholders and goals, from global climate-tech experts, investors, funds, and high-level policymakers.

At the core of the EIT Higher Education Initiative lies the knowledge triangle integration of education, research, and innovation - driven by industry and collaboration. The TECHSIGT proudly follows this ambition, working toward the launch of Deep Tech Innovation Districts across our consortium countries.

This week, we hosted our first strategic meeting with TECHSIGHT Associated Partners and new partners, bringing together 30+ organizational leaders from industry, academia, government, and society. The meeting was hosted by MarjanNikolovski, Innovation Expert and Managing Director of the Strategic Innovation Consultancy THENEWWAY, with an opening words by the Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uvet, from Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi - project coordinator, and a presentation byJovana Čedomirović, Expert Associate at Center for the Promotion of Science. The TECHSIGHT core project team was also represented by partner leaders from Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje / Универзитет „Св. Кирил и Методиј“ во Скопје, including Vice-Rector for Science, Research and Innovation Prof. Dr. Valentina Gecevska, and from Politécnico da Guarda, Prof. Dr. Pedro José Arrifano Tadeu.

Together, we explored how to accelerate the deep tech ecosystem through upcoming initiatives such as the Accelerator Program for Deep Tech Startups, the Executive Program for Deep Tech & Government Leaders, and the Deep Tech Academy.

This approach helps secure and maximize the TECHSIGHT Project’s impact!
We are grateful to everyone who contributed their time, expertise, and enthusiasm - your engagement is vital to achieving our shared vision.
Deep tech innovation districts can only be built together. Let’s continue joining forces to grow Europe’s deep tech ecosystem!

The TECHSIGHT Deep‑Tech Start‑Up Support Program has officially started with the Center for the Promotion of Science team, leading the co‑design and execution of this program.

Fourteen breakthrough start‑ups from across Europe have been selected for the first cohort!

Over the next few months, they’ll embark on a tailored journey through four pillars of support - from one - on - one expert mentoring to focused workshops and webinars, designed to accelerate their growth and embed them in Europe’s deep‑tech ecosystem.

At TECHSIGHT, we are proud to see our partners and collaborators sharing insights that bridge technology, innovation, and societal impact. 🌍

During the STPIS 2025 International Conference in Skopje, Prof. Vladimir Trajkovikdelivered a keynote exploring how the combination of future thinking, lean thinking, and systemic thinkingcan contribute to creating wise socio-technological systems. Drawing on findings from two flagship initiatives — SHIELD(as a case study) and TECHSIGHT— his talk highlighted how structured, interdisciplinary approaches can foster more resilient and human-centered innovation ecosystems.

This engagement reflects TECHSIGHT’scommitment to advancing deep-tech education, innovation capacity, and responsible digital transformation across Europe.

🔗 Learn more about the event: stpis.org.

Conference

STPIS 2025

September 17-18, 2025

Skopje 

Our estimated colleagues MarjanNikolovski, from TheNewWay, Copenhagen and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Onurcan Sahin, from Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul will host an on-line lecture

“FUTURE THINKING for RESEARCHERS”

The session brought together innovation-driven researchers to explore how Strategic Foresight and Horizon Scanning can enhance the relevance and impact of their work, while creating added value for emerging start-ups and spin-off ventures.

TECHSIGHT continues to strengthen its ecosystem by forging strategic partnerships with leading national institutions. In this instance, collaboration was extended to the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts,Research Center for Computer Science and Information Technologies at MASA, National Center for Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning NCDIEL, Swiss EP - Swiss Entrepreneurship Program, and other key organisations. This synergy was showcased through support for the national competition: “From Science to Startup: How researchers are shaping the future of Bioinformatics?”

Participating researchers gained valuable insights into how future-oriented methodologies can increase research impact, identify emerging themes and interdisciplinary opportunities, and enhance their strategic innovation capacity in launching entrepreneurial ventures.

One of TECHSIGHT’s core objectives is to catalyze collaboration between industry and academia to accelerate the growth of deep tech innovation ecosystems. Through strategic partnerships across partner countries and the delivery of targeted capacity-building programmes, TECHSIGHT is laying the foundation for the launch of multiple European Deep Tech Innovation Districts.

Entrepreneurs who anticipate disruption don’t just react to change, they shape it!

Through horizon scanning and trend analysis, student entrepreneurs in TECHSIGHT learn to:

- Detect weak signals early
- Turn uncertainty into opportunity
- Build resilience and adaptability

This foresight is a competitive advantage that ensures they stay ahead of fast moving markets.

TheTECHSIGHT Projectis part of theEIT Higher Education Initiative, with a mission to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship across European universities. By applying future thinking methodologies, particularly strategic foresight and horizon scanning, the project equips the next generation of deep tech entrepreneurs with future-ready skills. This series highlights why these methodologies create unique value for student entrepreneurs.

At the 9th Forum of Advanced Technologies in Niš, the Center for the Promotion of Science will present theTECHSIGHT Project.

During the panel “Artificial Intelligence in the Service of Innovation,” the discussion will focus on the role of international initiatives in connecting key actors, accelerating innovation, and building a sustainable future through science and technology.

Special emphasis will be placed on the importance of developing deep tech startups and creating a supportive ecosystem that brings together academia, industry, and investors at the European level. In this context, our project and its activities aimed at strengthening Serbia’s deep tech innovation ecosystem were also highlighted.

The panel features Danijela Vucicevic, Acting Director of the Center for the Promotion of Science, alongside key representatives of Serbia’s innovation ecosystem – the Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Stefan Badža, the ICT Hub Filip Ilić, and the Center for Digital Transformation Marija Janjusevic.

TECHSIGHT Project piloting activities continue! This time, we’re heading to Germany for the Business Digital Day! This upcoming Friday, students at Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal University will have the opportunity to participate in a lecture titled “Future Thinking Meets Digital Business.” by our partner Marjan Nikolovski. They will explore how Strategic Foresight and Horizon Scanning can add value to their journeys as student tech entrepreneurs.
TECHSIGHT Project EIT Higher Education Initiative EIT Culture & Creativity

We are only at the beginning, and already a big milestone has been achieved! 🚀

250+ students have attended the first phase of the piloting activities of theTECHSIGHT Project! 🙌

Through an experimental approach involving guest lecturers, workshops, and presentations by the Danish and Turkish project partners, the first draft of the methodological framework for Strategic Foresight and Horizon Scanning was presented, tested, and iterated! The students from three courses on the topics of entrepreneurship, innovation, and new product development management had the opportunity to learn and explore the importance of Strategic Foresight and Horizon Scanning for their tech entrepreneurship and innovation journey! 👩‍🎓 👨‍🎓

Kudos to the Macedonian project partner, the UKIM professors group, who managed to implement these activities on short notice so that students could gain added skills for their entrepreneurial and innovation future actions! 👏

Yıldız Teknik ÜniversitesiSs. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje / Универзитет „Св. Кирил и Методиј“ во Скопјеhashtag#THENEWWAYHochschule Magdeburg-StendalDaugavpils UniversitateCentar za promociju nauke / Center for the Promotion of ScienceEIT Higher Education InitiativeEIT Culture & CreativityHuseyin UvetValentina Gecevskahashtag#MarjanNikolovskiOnurcan SahinRadmil PolenakovikjVladimir Trajkovik

EIT Higher Education Initiative-TECHSIGHT Project officially announced in Skopje, during the project piloting activities at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje / Универзитет „Св. Кирил и Методиј“ во Скопје (UKIM).

With opening speeches by UKIM Vice Rector of Science, Valentina Gecevska, Project Leader Prof.Dr.Huseyin Uvet fromYıldız Teknik Üniversitesi, from Istanbul, Prof. Dr.Vladimir Trajkovik, Prof. Dr. Radmil Polenakovikj from UKIM and Innovation Expert, MarjanNikolovski from THENEWWAY, Copenhagen and as well with participation from the project partners from Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal from Magdeburg, Daugavpils Universitatef rom Daugavpils, and Center for the Promotion of Science from Belgrade, the participants had opportunity to hear about the current and future planned activities of how TECHSIGHT will boost the european regional deep tech innovation ecosystems.