About
On 23rd June 2026 an ENE webinar on Smart Specialisation (S3), brought together almost 70 participants from across the globe.
This session explored:
• Introduction to Smart Specialisation strategies and methodology,
• Platforms, tools, and governance approaches for S3 in EU and neighbouring regions,
• Regional cooperation and practical experiences from North Macedonia,
• Opportunities for cross-regional collaboration and capacity building.
Organised by the ETF Network for Excellence (ENE), the session served as a platform for policymakers, educators, and industry representatives to explore innovative approaches to Smart Specialisation (S3) and its role in strengthening regional innovation ecosystems. For Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs), S3 provides a practical framework to connect vocational education, innovation, and regional economic development, ensuring that training, research, and industry needs reinforce one another.
On the Agenda
Jolien van Uden (ETF Expert) introduced the Network for Excellence and outlined the session's focus.
Nicola Radovanovic (ETF Expert) presented the Smart Specialisation methodology, covering its design and implementation phases, stakeholder engagement processes, and examples from the Western Balkans region. The presentation explained how Smart Specialisation connects regional economic development with skills development and vocational excellence, emphasising the importance of data analysis, stakeholder dialogue, and governance in priority setting.
Pirita Vuorinen (ETF Expert) presented the European Training Foundation's methodology for analysing skills for competitiveness, focusing on technology-driven changes and their impact on domestic companies.
Presentation:Unlocking Smart Specialisation through Skills: From Evidence to Action
Ramojus Reimeris (JRC Expert) presented on transformative innovation policy and the open discovery process (ODP), explaining how it extends entrepreneurial discovery processes to address both economic and societal challenges.
Ksenija Hadji Toseva Avramcheva (Assistant Head of International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Education and Science, North Macedonia) presented on North Macedonia's smart specialisation strategy and vocational education efforts. She outlined the country's four vertical domains (Smart Agriculture and Food, ICT Sector, Electromechanical Industry, and Sustainable Materials) and two horizontal domains (Energy for the Future and Tourism), along with their connection to vocational education and training through dual education programs involving over 700 companies.
Presentation: Implementation of Smart Specialisation in North Macedonia
The webinar concluded with a Q&A session where participants discussed the challenges and opportunities for VET providers to engage in smart specialisation processes and contribute to regional competitiveness.
Radmil Polenakovikj (Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia) was unfortunately unable to join the webinar live. However, he kindly shared his presentation, which you can find below:
Building a Global Community of Practice
The webinar concluded with an invitation to join the growing Network for Excellence (ENE), which offers a range of resources and support services. These include self-assessment tools, an online knowledge library, and onboarding sessions designed to help institutions strengthen their capacity and impact.
Ready to join? Contact us at etf.network.for.excellence@etf.europa.eu to begin your ENE membership journey and connect with over 120 VET excellence practitioners worldwide. More information at the JOIN Page
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