Keeping Tech Talent in Europe

Europe has built the foundations of a strong digital economy, but competition for top tech talent is fierce, with many founders and engineers heading to the US and Asia for late-stage capital, scale, and opportunities.

The solution isn’t to copy others but to lean into Europe’s unique strengths: trust-based ecosystems, universal education and healthcare, strong public–private partnerships, and values-driven growth. Success stories like Sweden prove it’s possible to scale globally while staying rooted locally.

To keep talent, Europe must unify fragmented regulations, boost late-stage funding, and own its innovation narrative. By embracing its stability, inclusivity, and purpose-driven culture, Europe can become a place where world-class talent not only starts but stays.

The Race to Train North Macedonia’s Next-Gen IT Talent

In North Macedonia, the competition to develop the next generation of IT professionals is heating up, pitting the traditional university system against nimble, industry-focused private academies. Public faculties like FINKI (Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University) continue to offer comprehensive academic training in computing.

Meanwhile, private institutions such as Brainster, which began as short courses, have evolved into accredited colleges with ambitions beyond conventional higher education

This dynamic creates both synergy and tension. Universities bring depth and structure; private academies offer speed, flexibility, and alignment with market needs. As the demand for skilled software engineers and data experts surges, students increasingly seek faster routes to employment—raising the stakes for both sides to adapt or risk falling behind

AI Investment Drops in the Western Balkans

After a record-breaking 2023 with €33M raised by regional AI startups, funding in early 2024 has sharply slowed to just €3M, although promising newcomers like Collabwriting, Lupa Technology, and Trickest continue to emerge.

New EDIH Centers Launch Across the Western Balkans

From January 2025, North Macedonia joined the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) network, a key move boosting access to AI tools, training, and funding for businesses across the region.

AI NOW Launches Ethical AI Movement in Skopje

A new NGO, AI NOW, is promoting ethical AI education and digital literacy. In 2025, they unveiled MK‑LLM, North Macedonia’s first open-source large language model for the Macedonian language.

Event Spotlight — Software Freedom Kosova 2025

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