The University of Stip, North Macedonia, Opens the First Cybersecurity Center of Its Kind in the Western Balkans

The first cybersecurity center in the Western Balkans will be opened at Goce Delchev University in Stip, North Macedonia. The initiative is the result of collaboration between the academic community and international partners, with the goal of building capacity to address modern digital challenges and protect critical infrastructure, BalkanEngineer.com learned from the Macedonian Information Agency (MIA).

The new center will serve as a venue for training specialists, conducting scientific research, and providing expert assistance in the event of cyberattacks. The project is supported by the Ministry of Defense of North Macedonia and is part of a broader strategy to strengthen national and regional security within the framework of NATO. The center will feature a modern laboratory for simulating real-world threats, state-of-the-art technical equipment, and specialized academic curricula, providing students with both theoretical and practical knowledge on preventing cyberattacks and disinformation.

The university rector and government representatives emphasized that the choice of Stip as the location establishes the university as a leading institution in the field of information technology. The center is expected to attract experts from across the Western Balkans region, as it will also serve Albania and Montenegro, contributing to better coordination in the exchange of information on hybrid threats and strengthening the digital resilience of countries in the region.

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