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Gabriela Kostovska Bogoeska, Executive Director of the Foundation for Management and Industrial Research (MIR), and Emilija Andonova, Programme Coordinator, recently took part in a UK peer-learning visit, holding high-level meetings in London and Oxford with key innovation stakeholders.
They engaged with UK governmental agencies and innovation hubs, including UKRI, NESTA, and ARIA, to discuss international research collaboration, innovation policy, and funding. At Oxford Brookes University, they met with Prof. Simonetta Manfredi and visited the Enterprise Centre to explore entrepreneurial support systems, including connections with Oxford Women in Business, Oxford Science Enterprises, and Grassroots Business Incubator.
A major highlight was the Source Fashion Fair 2025, where they attended workshops on circular fashion, sustainable textiles, biomaterials, and emerging production techniques, closely aligned with North Macedonia’s Smart Specialisation Strategy.
They also met John Walker, Treasurer of the European Small Business Alliance, and the UK’s Innovation Unit to discuss SME support and impactful innovation programmes. A UKRI-hosted session further explored cutting-edge trends like textile recycling, circular workwear, digital fashion design, and the use of AI and emerging tech in sustainable fashion.
This visit reinforced MIR’s mission to drive innovation and sustainability in the Western Balkans through international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The visit was part of the POLICY ANSWERS project, funded by Horizon Europe, which supports policy dialogue, capacity building, and alignment with EU priorities for the Western Balkans. The project also strengthens regional coordination through www.westernbalkans-infohub.eu and a network of 14 regional and EU partner organisations.