Although artificial intelligence (AI) is a global priority, North Macedonia still lacks a legal framework, a national strategy, and institutional coordination for its implementation. According to the State Audit Office, between 2018 and 2023 the government co-financed 48 AI-related projects worth more than €6 million. Yet none of them have been implemented in the public sector, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reports.
“While there are no official financial records on public sector AI investments, the government, in cooperation with the World Bank through the Fund for Innovation and Technological Development, co-financed 48 projects in 17 sectors with a total of over €6 million,” the report said.
Projects abandoned or never launched
One of the most publicized initiatives was ADA, the government’s first digital assistant, launched in 2023 to improve transparency and provide information for potential investors. But the application was shut down just two years later after the government failed to renew its contract with the developer.
Another flagship project, the Technology Park in Skopje, has not been built. Meanwhile, the government’s open data portal — launched in 2018 — has been offline since early 2025.
The only pilot use of AI in the public sector is in the 112 emergency call system, where AI analyzes calls in real time. But the project remains limited due to funding shortages and the absence of a legal framework.
Lack of infrastructure
The audit report also found that North Macedonia lacks the basic infrastructure for advanced AI deployment — such as supercomputers, modern data centers, and specialized big data processing systems.
“Even though 96.9 percent of the population is covered by 5G networks and more than 68 percent of households have access to high-capacity fixed broadband, the country does not have a modern and inclusive digital infrastructure, which is a prerequisite for applying AI in the public sector,” auditors concluded.
Behind regional peers and EU standards
In the Western Balkans, only Slovenia has adopted a national AI strategy, positioning itself as the regional leader. Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo follow, while North Macedonia lags behind.
The International Monetary Fund’s AI Readiness Index ranks North Macedonia 77th out of 174 countries.
Meanwhile, in 2024 the European Union adopted the world’s first comprehensive regulation on artificial intelligence, encouraging member states and partners to adopt AI and create conditions for innovation and investment.