Projects

Under the EU-funded Plan D.Oiran project (Interreg IPA CBC Greece–North Macedonia 2014–2020), GAUSS Institute delivered expert services across three lots: strategic studies for the long-term development of the Doirani Lake area (Strategic Foresight, Scenario Analysis, and Long-Term Strategies); community awareness workshops for citizens and youth; and the design of the project’s visual identity and multilingual website. The project advanced cross-border environmental governance by combining rigorous research with participatory engagement and digital communication, contributing to a sustainable management framework for a shared natural ecosystem of regional significance.

As a subcontractor on the EU-funded Cross4all project (Interreg IPA CBC Greece–North Macedonia), GAUSS Institute digitized a professional Guide to accessibility for people with disabilities and vulnerable groups. We developed a bilingual (Macedonian–Greek) WordPress web portal and an Android mobile application, both fully compliant with the WCAG 2.1 accessibility standard and published for free public access. The platforms are hosted and maintained by the GAUSS Institute for at least 5 years.

Under the EU-funded J-CROSS project, GAUSS Institute developed two technical studies for the Pelagonia Region: a landslide mapping study analysing flood-triggered geohazards, and a dam-breaking risk assessment for the Strezevo Dam — the region’s most critical hydraulic structure. Delivered in November–December 2019 for the Center for Development of Pelagonia Planning Region, the studies combined field research, hydraulic modelling, and institutional analysis to support disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness. Both outputs were prepared in line with EU External Actions visibility requirements, contributing to cross-border resilience-building between North Macedonia and Greece.

The GAUSS Institute successfully led the EU-funded cross-border project “Integrated Sustainable Environmental Management with Decision Support System Implementation” (2011–2012, 43,040 EUR), implemented in partnership with the NEHEMIA Foundation (Albania) and University “Fan Stilian Noli” (Korca). As lead partner, GAUSS managed overall project coordination, developed an innovative web-based Decision Support System (DSS) for Sustainable Natural Resources Management, and produced bilingual educational materials, awareness campaigns, and a cross-border Natural Resources Inventory. The project pioneered the use of ICT-driven participatory decision-making in natural resources governance across the Macedonia–Albania border region.

The consortium: ETC–Bitola and GAUSS Institute, implemented the research, training, and consultancy components of IOM’s Economic and Social Stabilization (ESS) Programme for Vulnerable Social Groups Residing in Border Communities. The Institute conducted an original study on the local economy and business potential of the Municipality of Bitola, delivered two rounds of business skills training to 19 beneficiaries, and provided 24 hours of individual consultancy to 12 participants before and after they launched their businesses. The project combined evidence-based research with hands-on capacity building to support entrepreneurship among socially vulnerable groups, with a strong focus on women’s economic empowerment in the…

GAUSS Institute developed the “Strategy for Integration of the Information System of Municipality of Bitola,” a comprehensive ICT modernization initiative focused on integrating municipal software systems, databases, and administrative procedures. The project included assessment of existing hardware and software infrastructure, analysis of operational workflows, and preparation of technical specifications for integrated document management, digital archiving, and financial monitoring systems. Implemented in cooperation with Municipality of Bitola and supported by the SPARK Foundation, the project established a strategic framework for digital transformation, interoperability, and improved public service delivery, positioning Bitola among the leading municipalities in digital governance and administrative modernization in…

HIVE – From Games to Business was an innovation and youth-employment project led by the GAUSS Institute in partnership with MAGDA and supported by the U.S. Embassy in Skopje. Through a dedicated accelerator space in Bitola, specialized mentoring, and five practical trainings, the project supported young game-development teams in turning ideas into market-ready products, strengthened entrepreneurial and digital skills, and demonstrated the potential of the video game industry as a driver of jobs, innovation, and creative enterprise in North Macedonia.

GAUSS Institute was responsible for establishing and operating the Entrepreneurship & Creativity (E&C) Centre in the Pelagonia region, providing business mentoring services to young graduates and entrepreneurs in the circular economy and bioeconomy sectors. Our responsibilities included the development of a joint cross-border study on the state of the circular economy, preparation of a Regional Action Plan for circular economy development in North Macedonia, design and delivery of five training cycles with mentoring/coaching for approximately 50 participants, supervision of two newly employed business mentors, and coordination of the development of 11 business plans for start-up companies. We also contributed to…

BalkanMed E-Business Pages (BalkanMed e-BP) — Interreg Balkan-Mediterranean 2014–2020 Transnational Cooperation Programme (Project Code: BMP1/1.1/2608/2017). Total project budget: €717,588.50. As Partner 4 in a five-country consortium (Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Albania), GAUSS Institute led the implementation of all project activities at national level, including the management and coordination of field researchers for SME data collection, organisation of a national business seminar, and contribution to the development of four cross-regional competitiveness tools (export analysis, good practices guide, cluster formation guidelines, and technology transfer guidelines). The project produced the BalkanMed e-BP Web Platform — a multilingual online marketplace connecting exporting SMEs,…

Funding Programme: European Climate Initiative (EUKI), implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)Project Reference: EUKI 23_063Implementation Period: November 2023 – October 2025Location: Bitola Region, North MacedoniaProject Website: p2h.gaussinstitute.org About the Project The Renewable Power-to-Heat in Bitola Region project addressed one of the most pressing energy challenges in North Macedonia: the decarbonisation of district heating in Bitola, a city of approximately 80,000 residents whose heating system has historically relied on the coal-fired Bitola power plant complex. By coupling the electricity and heat sectors through large-scale heat pump technology and renewable energy…

Within the ALTER TRIP project, GAUSS Institute designed and implemented pilot actions in accessible tourism that combined digital innovation, tactile heritage interpretation and public promotion. The Institute delivered accessible signage for ten monuments in Bitola, a WCAG 2.1-compliant digital guide, Braille visitor materials, and dissemination activities that strengthened inclusive access to cultural heritage and demonstrated a replicable model for accessible local tourism development.

Project funded by INTERREG IPA CBC Programme “Greece – Republic of Noth Macedonia 2014-2020” Role in the project: subcontractor Period of implementation: 2022-2023 The main goal of the project is to dynamize the transformation of a territory into an accessible and inclusive tourist destination and support the sustainable development of heritage tourism in the cross-border area. The project aims to: Develop a cross-border partnership, with the involvement and participation of the various agents of the tourist value chain that contribute to creating an accessible touristic area and providing quality services to tourists with special needs. Exchange and import know-how and…

Project Funded by Interreg IPA Cross Border Cooperation Programme “Greece – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020” Role in the project: Beneficiary / Partner Project Partners: Waste Management of Western Macedonia DIADYMA S.A., Greece Cluster of Bioeconomy & Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE), Greece GAUSS Institute – Foundation for New Technologies, Innovations and Knowledge Transfer, North Macedonia Association for Research & Analysis ZMAI, North Macedonia BECircular converts Circular Economy (CE) /Bio-Economy (BE) routes into employment hubs through the development of:a) Repair & Reuse center for specific waste streams involving suppliers, end-users, repair lines & sponsors.b) Research & Development center involving symbiotic…

Project funded by INTERREG IPA CBC Programme “Greece – Republic of Noth Macedonia 2014-2020” Period of implementation: September 2021 – August 2023 The main objective of the Green Inter-e-Mobility project is to design and apply an energy-efficient, regional Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) in four (4) cross-border municipalities in Greece (Florina and Prespes) and in North Macedonia (Bitola and Resen). The ITS will support the efficient realization of both the tourist promotion of the cross-border area and the facilitation of disabled or elder residents in their daily transport. The realization of the above objective resulted in the following:- The purchasing of four…

Project funded by INTERREG CBC Programme “Greece – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020” Role in the project: subcontractor Agricultural residues such as straw, bank canes, and tree pruning constitute a significant amount of green waste in rural areas on both sides of the borders between Greece and North Macedonia. These wastes are poorly managed, causing severe environmental impacts. At the same time, local authorities use expensive fossil fuels for space heating public buildings, and due to the current economic recession, very often, the amount of heat generated cannot satisfy the real needs of building users. The sustainable management of green…

aGROWchain, short for Agrowaste Supply Chains for Sustainable Growth, was a cross-border project focused on turning agricultural residues and other forms of agro-waste into a practical resource for local bioenergy development. The project was implemented in the Greece-North Macedonia cross-border area under the Interreg IPA CBC framework, with a focus on sustainable management and recycling of bio-wastes, the creation of local biomass supply chains, and the transfer of practical solutions to municipalities, farmers, transporters, collectors, end users, and local authorities. The GAUSS Institute contributed to aGROWchain as the subcontractor for the development of the digital platform and mobile application for…

GAUSS Institute provided consultancy and implementation support within the EU-funded BENEFIT project, “Building ENergy EFficiency ImprovemenT: Demonstration for public buildings,” implemented under the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Greece–North Macedonia. Acting as an external support organisation for the Public Enterprise for Urban Planning, Architectural Design and Engineering Bitola, GAUSS assisted with project management, procurement and documentation procedures, reporting, FLC and MIS support, communication activities, technical coordination, energy-efficiency deliverables, Building Energy Efficiency platform testing, pilot retrofit evaluation, training materials, transnational guidelines and new business model inputs. The assignment strengthened public-sector capacity for energy-efficiency planning and contributed to practical project results including…

Funded by Transnational Cooperation Programme Interreg Balkan-Mediterranean 2014-2020 Role in the project: Project partner/ Project Beneficiary Period of Implementation: 2017-2019 Brief Description of the Project The project tackles the common challenges of the BalkanMed area with regard to the distinct economic disparities in the region, the relatively low business competitiveness as compared to other European territories, the market fragmentation, and the necessity for a better integration of the socioeconomic links between the involved countries. The project’s main goal is to enhance the competitiveness of the exporting SMEs in the BalkanMed region through the development of conditions for expanding transnational collaboration.…

Project funded by Greece – The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia IPA Cross Border Programme 2007-2013 Role in the project: subcontractor Period of implementation: 2013-2014 Illegal logging and the cross-border trade in illegally logged timber is currently a major concern among all countries worldwide. Based on World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) data, the share of illegal logging is estimated at 20% to 40% of the total global industrial wood production, while the annual global market value of losses from illegal cutting of forests is over US$10 billion. Illegal logging and trade has a multi-dimensional impact, ranging from environmental damage,…

The objective of this study is to analyze urban economic development as a tool for creating opportunities for starting new businesses in the Municipality of Bitola. Activities for study preparation included: Developing a research methodology for the Bitola market research, which consisted of a desk review and a field survey. Analyze the existing data and studies about the local labor market to identify data that should be updated. Prepare a questionnaire for the field research to examine the services that exist or are lacking in the municipality of Bitola. Conduct a field survey (field research) with two hundred interviewees. Enter…