The Center for Knowlege Management (CKM) received funding under the Erasmus + programme KA104 (2020) for the project "Capacity Development for Horizon Europe" - HorizonReady project this fall. HorizonReady aims at increasing CKM iternal capacities for capitalizing on the opportunities of the new Horizon Europe programme. 

In line with its organizational vision, CKM plans to focus on supporting tech and innovative start-ups and SMEs in the next five years. Supported by the National Fund for Innovations their number significantly grew in the past period (more than 300). The focus of CKM support will be placed on helping them increase their impact through informing, educating and supporting them find strategic partners and funds through the new Horizon Europe programme. 

Horizon Europe is the successor of Horizon 2020 programme. However the capacities in North Macedonia to capitalize on these opportunities are poor. Few organizations managed to enter the Horizon 2020 program in the previous seven years, and there are virtually no organizations, nor other capacities in the country to successfully support this process. As a result, the key needs and goals of CKM in the area of European mobility and cooperation in the next 5 years are focused on strengthening its capacities for supporting tech and innovative start-ups,and SMEs in North Macedonia by developing adequate programs for mentoring and support and increasing its networks and cooperation with similar partners from the EU countries; increasing its knowledge on the new Horizon Europe programme; and building its network with organizations and research centres from EU member states that have experience, capacity, and knowledge for implementing Horizon Europe projects.

The project Horizon Ready will support the realization of these goals through specific mobility activities. The structured training and job shadowing of employees directly strengthens CKM's capacities for supporting tech start-ups and innovation driven enterprises in North Macedonia by strengthening CKM organizational and employee knowledge and increasing its networks and cooperation with similar partners from the EU countries. Furthermore, the activities increase CKM's knowledge on the new Horizon Europe programme and build its network with organizations and research centres from EU member states that have experience, capacity, and knowledge for implementing Horizon Europe projects, enabling the organization to substantially increase its chances for implementing projects in this programme, and supporting other enterprises and organizations from North Macedonia in the same.