On June 24, 2026, North Macedonia marked a pivotal milestone in its integration into the European research and high-performance computing (HPC) landscape with the official launch of Vezilka, the nation’s first AI Factory Antenna.
Unveiled during a high-level presentation in Skopje, the initiative represents a strategic partnership co-financed by the European Union through the Horizon Europe programme and the Macedonian government. Coordinated by the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering (FINKI) in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Vezilka serves as a vital bridge between the national academic community and the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. This integration directly builds upon the country’s previous successful collaboration with EuroHPC in the establishment of the National Competence Center (NCC) for High-Performance Computing, which laid the critical groundwork for advanced computing adoption and skills development in the region.
For the GÉANT community and Europe’s NRENs, the launch of Vezilka is a powerful example of how targeted infrastructure investments can elevate national scientific capacities, foster cross-border collaboration, and strengthen the broader European Research Area. Through a strategic partnership with the Pharos AI Factory in Greece, Vezilka officially embeds North Macedonia into the broader European AI ecosystem.
Aligning national ambition with European strategy
The presentation underscored a unified commitment from both state leadership and European partners to treat computing infrastructure as foundational to modern scientific and societal advancement. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski highlighted how this integration elevates the country’s research potential, describing the project as a catalyst for both science and society:
Vezilka is the beginning of a process that will contribute to stronger science, better economy, and more chances for young people. Access to the European AI infrastructure and advanced supercomputer capacities will allow ideas created in the country to compete at a European and global level. It is a strong incentive for economic growth, job creation, and new opportunities for next generations. Vezilka is an investment in the future of the potential of Macedonian scientists and researchers, students, and companies.
Echoing the importance of regional collaboration and technological sovereignty, EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas officially recognised the integration of North Macedonia into the AI Factory Antennas network. Highlighting the groundwork that made this leap possible, he noted that Vezilka comes as a continuation of the successful e-infrastructure development already achieved in the country by MARnet, with the steadfast support of GÉANT. Underlining the strategic importance of this next step into the European AI ecosystem, Ambassador Rokas emphasised:
The national artificial intelligence factory is an important chapter on the path toward the digitalization of the country, and thus a step closer to the technological initiatives undertaken by the European Union. This project is the bridge that connects North Macedonia with the European future of artificial intelligence.
Empowering the academic and research community
To fully realise this vision, the country’s leading academic institutions are taking an active role in utilising the new HPC capabilities to push the boundaries of their research.
Prof. Dr. Biljana Angelova, Rector of Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM), emphasized what this compute access means for higher education and scientific output:
This infrastructure represents a historic leap for our academic community. Through Vezilka, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University is equipping its researchers and students with the computational tools needed to transition from theoretical studies to applied, large-scale AI research. It ensures that our scientific output remains highly competitive within the European Research Area.
Prof. Dr. Dimitar Trajanov, Project Director and professor at FINKI, explained the symbolic and strategic vision driving the infrastructure’s deployment:
We want to make Macedonia not just a user of AI, but a driver of that process, while enabling young people to see their future here. The name Vezilka has a symbolic meaning, representing the weaving of our national digital ecosystem.
The underlying lifeline: MARnet and high-speed connectivity
While the compute resources of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (such as the Daedalus supercomputer in Greece) are the engine of this initiative, the ability to train large language models and move massive datasets across borders relies entirely on robust, high-speed network infrastructure.
Here, MARnet (the Macedonian Academic and Research Network) plays a foundational role. MARnet currently provides the critical 2x10G links connecting the national academic community to the pan-European GÉANT network. Recognising the exponential data demands of AI research, these connections are slated to be upgraded to 2x100G links.
Furthermore, the region is preparing for the deployment of a new Balkan backbone network. This upcoming infrastructure will enable additional, resilient links to MARnet through providers like 4iG and DGENEST. For the Vezilka project, these network upgrades are essential prerequisites ensuring that researchers can interact with European supercomputers with zero bottlenecks, achieving the necessary latency and bandwidth for large-scale machine learning.
Science, identity, and societal impact
The ultimate goal of connecting national researchers to EuroHPC via Vezilka goes beyond raw computing power; it is about addressing real-world challenges through applied science and securing digital heritage. A core objective of the initiative is to provide researchers with the processing power needed to train Large Language Models (LLMs) dedicated to the Macedonian language.
Minister of Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski articulated this broader vision, emphasizing that the infrastructure will support innovation across healthcare, public administration, and agriculture, while also serving a vital cultural mission:
Today we lay the foundation for a new national infrastructure for knowledge, innovation, and technological development. In the era of artificial intelligence, the digital presence of the Macedonian language becomes a matter of preserving cultural identity. Our goal is for the Macedonian language to be equally present in future generations of AI systems.
By offering access to advanced compute resources for approved academic and research initiatives, Vezilka lowers the barrier to entry for institutions looking to leverage big data and complex natural language processing (NLP) architectures. As North Macedonia begins to utilise these new high-performance computing pathways, the resulting research, digitised cultural heritage, and open-source models will ultimately enrich the entire European knowledge ecosystem.
