The Smart Specialisation (S3) process in North Macedonia started in March 2018, when the letter of commitment from the country's government on starting the development of the National Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) reached the JRC. At the same time, an inter-institutional working body was formed, consisting of the representatives from the government, relevant ministries and academic community (S3 working group). The JRC was asked to support the process of development of the smart specialisation strategy. North Macedonia intends to adopt its RIS3 in 2021 by thoroughly following the JRC methodological framework for smart specialisation in the EU enlargement and neighbourhood countries (JRC S3 Framework).
Facts & Figures 
- Population (2019): 2.07 million (Eurostat)
- GDP per capita in PPS (2018): 38 (EU28=100) (Eurostat)
- Global Innovation Index (2019): 59/129 (WIPO)
- Global Competitiveness Index (2019): 82/141 (WEF)
- Gross domestic expenditure on R&D in % of GDP (2017): 0.36 (EUROSTAT)
- Government effectiveness score (-2.5 to 2.5; 2017): 0.14 (WB)
- Scientific/technical journal articles per million inhabitants (2018): 237.0 (WB)
- Ease of Doing Business score (2019): 10/190 (WB)