Project description
Empowering AI-driven innovation in North Macedonia
Entire economies and sweeping public services are being transformed by AI, making it ever more important to ensure equitable access to advanced technologies and computing infrastructure. Since this is a challenge for many countries, it is important to build strong national AI ecosystems while addressing societal needs and ethical considerations. The EU-funded VEZILKA project aims to strengthen North Macedonia’s AI innovation ecosystem and contribute to sustainable digital transformation. Specifically, it will establish North Macedonia’s National AI Factory Antenna, connecting it with the Pharos AI Factory through a partnership to accelerate the development and uptake of trustworthy AI solutions. It will support SMEs and public institutions in creating AI-driven applications and develop expertise through targeted skills-building programmes.
Objective
The VEZILKA project establishes the national AI Factory Antenna (AIFA) for North Macedonia, formally linked to the established Pharos AI Factory through a strategic partnership between FCSE, UKIM and GRNET. VEZILKA's mission is to accelerate the adoption of trustworthy AI by developing tangible solutions in key strategic sectors aligned with national priorities and by cultivating a highly skilled national workforce. The project will leverage strong national assets, including valuable public and private sector datasets and the expertise of FCSE, to co-create AI-powered tools for predictive analytics, diagnostics, and operational optimization.
To achieve these goals, VEZILKA will leverage its strategic partnership with Pharos to gain access to the Daedalus supercomputer, providing the essential high-performance computing power for advanced AI model development. This powerful support system will be made accessible to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) through dedicated programs, enabling them to innovate and develop new AI-driven products. Concurrently, VEZILKA will collaborate directly with public administration bodies to co-create solutions that enhance the efficiency of public services. Furthermore, it will leverage its technical expertise and practical experience to advise on the formulation of relevant national AI strategies, data governance, and ethical guidelines. Underpinning these collaborations is a comprehensive skills development plan designed to cultivate the necessary local talent, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of experts for both industry and government and creating a dynamic, self-sustaining innovation ecosystem.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology governance public services
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering computer hardware supercomputers
- social sciences economics and business business and management employment
- social sciences political sciences public administration
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.4.7 - Advanced Computing and Big Data
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HORIZON.2.4.5 - Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2025-AIFA-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1000 Skopje
North Macedonia
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.