Istanbul: Trkiye’s Digitalpark Technopark has signed a cooperation agreement with North Macedonia’s International Balkan University (IBU) to strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation links between Trkiye, the Balkans, and Europe. The agreement was signed at Digitalpark Technopark’s Atasehir campus in Istanbul by General Manager Tahsin Engin and IBU Board of Trustees Chairman Bilal Sucubasi.

According to Anadolu Agency, the partnership will see Digitalpark collaborate with the university’s INNOX Innovation Center in North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, to support startups and expand regional innovation networks. The cooperation includes the launch of the Bridge To Balkans (B2B) regional accelerator program, which aims to bring together entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors from Trkiye and Balkan countries to help innovative startups expand into regional and global markets.

Planned activities under this partnership include startup acceleration programs, training and mentorship initiatives, networking events, international business development support, and participation in EU-funded projects, with a focus on digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Officials stated that the INNOX Innovation Center, located in central Skopje and covering 1,000 square meters, will provide coworking spaces, offices, and event areas for entrepreneurs and investors. The goal is to position Skopje as a regional hub connecting Balkan startups with European and global innovation ecosystems.

Digitalpark Technopark was founded in 2019 through a presidential decree and jointly established by Recep Tayyip Erdogan University and the Turkish-German University. It hosts more than 350 companies and over 4,000 employees across its campuses in Istanbul and Rize, focusing on fintech, artificial intelligence, and deep-tech projects.