AGP Executive Report

Public Health: The EU’s ECDC is warning Europeans to protect themselves as West Nile virus spreads into new areas, with Italy and Greece reporting rising local transmission and deaths. Regional Health Watch: A Europe-wide surveillance update shows 245 locally acquired human West Nile cases reported across seven countries (including North Macedonia’s 13), with 12 deaths so far—highlighting how fast the season can worsen. Local Infrastructure & Safety: Skopje’s bottled-water rush after rumors about Rašče spring contamination is tied to a wider debate over water safety and lab testing, after the mayor publicly drank tap water to calm fears. AI & Identity for Services: UNICEF and partners are piloting “Universal Basic Compute,” using Self’s identity verification to ensure AI capacity reaches eligible people without requiring new biometric hardware. Cybersecurity Benchmark: A global index ranks Albania highest for cyber readiness, while North Macedonia also appears in the top tier—useful context for regional digital resilience. Tech in the Balkans: A report highlights how Serbia and its neighbors are building tech niches, with Serbia’s video game industry and AI-related investment standing out. Digital Commerce in North Macedonia: iuteGroup expands its Myiute app with iuteMarket, letting users browse and buy products (including refurbished tech) inside the app in North Macedonia and Albania. Food Safety at the Border: Bulgaria’s food safety agency reports returning an 11.6-tonne pepper shipment from North Macedonia after pesticide residues exceeded permitted levels.

AI & Identity for Public Services: Self Labs is partnering with UNICEF Digital Inclusion and the Connect and Compute Foundation to deliver “Universal Basic Compute,” using identity verification to make sure AI capacity reaches eligible real people—without collecting biometric hardware or sharing data. Public Health Watch: Greece’s West Nile virus surge hit 45 new cases in one week, bringing totals to 110 infections and 9 deaths, with the highest risk among people over 65 and no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment. Food Safety at the Border: Bulgaria’s Food Safety Agency sent back an 11.6-tonne pepper shipment from North Macedonia after formetanate residues exceeded permitted levels, with intensified checks continuing at border checkpoints. Cybersecurity Benchmark: A global National Cyber Security Index ranks Albania #1, while North Macedonia also appears in the top tier—useful for regional readers tracking practical cyber readiness. Local Tech & Daily Life: Skopje’s bottled-water rush after rumors about Rašče spring contamination sparked a public safety push, with the mayor urging calm and pointing to ongoing lab testing. Digital Commerce in North Macedonia: Iute Group expands Myiute with iuteMarket, letting customers browse, finance, and buy products inside the app in Albania and North Macedonia. STEM/Industry Spotlight: Prilep’s Mikrosam promotes next-gen automated fiber placement systems aimed at research and industrial composite manufacturing, including scalable platforms and digital process control.

Biometric Travel Tech: The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing major Schengen border delays, with some travelers reporting queues up to five hours—prompting many to rethink summer trips. Food Safety & Labs: Bulgaria’s Food Safety Agency sent back an 11.6-ton shipment of peppers from North Macedonia after detecting formetanate residues above permitted levels, with intensified border testing continuing. AI Access via Identity: Self Labs, UNICEF Digital Inclusion and the Connect and Compute Foundation are pushing “Universal Basic Compute,” using identity verification to ensure AI capacity reaches eligible people without requiring new biometric hardware. Public Health Monitoring: Europe’s West Nile Virus situation is worsening—Greece reported a spike to 45 new cases in a week, and human surveillance across Europe lists locally acquired infections including 13 in North Macedonia. Local Tech & Water Safety: Skopje’s water scare over possible bacterial contamination sparked panic and a public demonstration by the mayor, with claims pointing to ongoing lab checks around the Rašče spring. Cybersecurity Ranking: A global index from Estonia’s e-Governance Academy ranks Albania top for cyber defenses, while North Macedonia appears in the upper tier. Digital Commerce Expansion: iuteGroup launched iuteMarket inside the Myiute app in Albania and North Macedonia, letting users browse and finance purchases in one place. Automation for Industry: Mikrosam (Prilep) is promoting next-generation automated fiber placement systems aimed at research, prototyping and industrial composite manufacturing with digital process control. Travel Industry Presence: WTM London reports strong early exhibitor demand for 2026, with North Macedonia listed among confirmed destinations.

Biometric Border Tech: The EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing major Schengen entry delays, with some travelers reporting queues of up to five hours—prompting many to rethink summer plans. Food Safety at the Border: Bulgaria’s Food Safety Agency sent back an 11.6-ton shipment of peppers imported from North Macedonia after detecting formetanate pesticide residues above permitted levels, with intensified checks continuing at border checkpoints. AI Access Governance: Self Labs is partnering with UNICEF and the Connect and Compute Foundation to support “Universal Basic Compute,” using identity verification to ensure AI capacity credits reach eligible people without requiring new biometric enrollment hardware. Public Health Watch: Greece’s West Nile virus season is accelerating, reaching 45 new cases in a week and 9 deaths, with North Macedonia listed among countries reporting human infections. Cybersecurity Rankings: A new global index puts Albania at the top for cyber defenses, while North Macedonia ranks surprisingly high in the same league table. Local Tech & Services: iuteGroup expanded its Myiute app with iuteMarket, an in-app shopping and financing service now available in Albania and North Macedonia. Water Safety Anxiety in Skopje: Skopje’s water scare tied to the Rašče spring sparked public panic and a mayor-led response, including claims about ongoing lab testing across multiple locations. Automation Industry Spotlight: Prilep-based Mikrosam showcased next-generation automated fiber placement systems aimed at research, prototyping, and industrial composite manufacturing.

Food Safety: Bulgaria’s Food Safety Agency ordered the return of an 11.6-ton shipment of peppers imported from North Macedonia after formetanate pesticide residues were found above permitted levels, with intensified border checks continuing at key checkpoints. AI & Identity: Self Labs is partnering with UNICEF and the Connect and Compute Foundation to help governments deliver “Universal Basic Compute,” using credential-based proof-of-personhood verification so AI capacity reaches eligible people. Public Health: West Nile virus is surging across Southern Europe, with Greece reporting a record weekly spike and Europe’s latest monitoring showing 241 human cases so far this season, including 13 in North Macedonia. Cybersecurity: A new global index ranks Albania as the strongest in cyber defenses, while North Macedonia appears among the higher performers—useful context for regional digital resilience. Local Tech & Water Safety: Skopje’s bottled-water rush after rumors about Rašče spring contamination highlights how quickly public trust can shift, as officials push lab testing and dispute misinformation. Innovation in Industry: Prilep’s Mikrosam is promoting next-generation automated fiber placement systems aimed at research, prototyping, and industrial digital process control. Digital Commerce: iuteGroup expands Myiute with iuteMarket, letting customers browse, finance, and buy products inside the app in Albania and North Macedonia.

Food Safety & Trade: Bulgaria’s Food Safety Agency ordered the return of an 11.6-tonne peppers shipment from North Macedonia after formetanate pesticide residues were found above the legal limit, with intensified border checks continuing at key crossings. AI & Digital Inclusion: Self Labs is partnering with UNICEF and the Connect and Compute Foundation to support “Universal Basic Compute,” using identity verification to ensure AI capacity credits reach eligible real people without collecting new biometric hardware. Public Health: West Nile virus is accelerating across Europe, with Greece reporting a sharp weekly rise and totals now surpassing 2025 levels; Europe-wide surveillance also lists 13 human cases in North Macedonia so far. Cybersecurity Benchmark: A global index from Estonia’s e-Governance Academy ranks Albania top for cyber readiness, while North Macedonia appears among the higher performers. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Skopje’s bottled-water rush after rumors about Rašče spring contamination is tied to concerns over lab testing and spring safety controls. Industry & Automation: North Macedonia’s Mikrosam highlights next-generation automated fiber placement systems aimed at research and industrial composite manufacturing, with modular platforms and digital process control. Business Tech: Iute Group expands its Myiute app with iuteMarket, an in-app shopping and financing service now available in Albania and North Macedonia.

Public Health & Safety: A new report highlights seven countries where smoking remains stubbornly high, with Indonesia singled out for adult smoking prevalence of 30.4% in 2024 and a huge male-female gap—an issue tied to enforcement gaps and easy access to products like kretek. Astronomy in the Region: Perseids meteor shower photos show stargazers across the Balkans, including a meteor streak over North Macedonia. Local Tech & Data for Health: Europe’s West Nile virus surveillance update lists 13 human cases in North Macedonia (as of 5 August), while Spain reports its first fatality of the year—another reminder to use repellents and reduce mosquito bites. Urban Tech & Climate: Skopje’s “urban heat island” effect is illustrated with on-the-ground temperature readings showing big differences between shaded tree cover and direct sun. Digital Services: iuteGroup expands its Myiute app with iuteMarket, bringing shopping plus financing and banking in one place for customers in North Macedonia. Cybersecurity Benchmark: A global index ranks Albania top for cyber defences, with North Macedonia also appearing in the higher tier—useful context for regional security planning.

Space & Astronomy: Perseids meteor shower lit up skies across the region, with a North Macedonia sighting captured above the Stone Dolls of Kuklica near Kratovo. Sports Streaming Tech: Shkendija host Hibs in the Conference League qualifier second leg in Skopje (Tose Proeski Arena, 7pm UK time), with live coverage on SolidSport. Public Health & Water Safety: A Skopje water scare over Rašče spring safety sparked panic buying; the mayor publicly drank tap water and pointed to lab testing across the city while calling the rumours misinformation. Cybersecurity Rankings: Albania tops a global cyber security index from Estonia’s e-Governance Academy, while North Macedonia ranks surprisingly high among the strongest defenders. Epidemiology Watch: West Nile virus surveillance reports rising human cases across Europe, including 13 in North Macedonia, with no vaccine or antidote and mosquito bite prevention urged. Local Tech & Climate: Skopje’s “urban heat islands” are highlighted with direct temperature comparisons showing shade can be dramatically cooler than sun. Digital Commerce: iuteGroup expands Myiute with iuteMarket, letting users browse and finance purchases inside the app in North Macedonia and Albania.

Water Safety & Public Trust: Skopje’s bottled-water rush after rumors of E. coli contamination at the Rašče spring has triggered a mayoral “tap water” demonstration and calls for investigations, spotlighting how lab testing, access controls, and communication shape confidence in local water systems. Cybersecurity Rankings: Albania tops a global National Cyber Security Index, while North Macedonia is also ranked among the stronger performers—useful context for regional digital resilience and critical-infrastructure protection. Public Health Watch: West Nile virus continues to spread across Europe; North Macedonia is listed among countries with human cases, as Greece reports rising deaths and hospitals, with no vaccine and prevention focused on mosquito bite reduction. Digital Commerce in North Macedonia: Iute Group expands its Myiute app with iuteMarket, letting users browse, get recommendations, and buy partner products inside the app—an example of fintech-meets-retail going local. Industrial Automation (Local Industry): Prilep’s Mikrosam promotes next-generation automated fiber placement systems for composites, targeting research labs and production with scalable robotic setups and digital process control. Urban Heat Mitigation: A Skopje temperature comparison shows “urban heat island” effects—shade vs sun readings underline why trees and parks matter for summer resilience.

Cybersecurity Watch: A new National Cyber Security Index from Estonia’s e-Governance Academy ranks Albania #1 globally, with North Macedonia also appearing in the top tier—highlighting readiness across strategy, prevention, and response. Public Health Update: Europe’s West Nile virus season is accelerating: as of 5 August, 245 locally acquired human cases have been reported across seven countries, including 13 in North Macedonia, with deaths concentrated in Greece, Italy, and Romania. Digital Banking Expansion: Iute Group is rolling out iuteMarket inside the Myiute app in Albania and North Macedonia, letting users browse, finance, and buy products without leaving the app. Green Cities in Focus: Skopje’s “urban heat islands” are getting attention after temperature checks showed big gaps between shaded areas and direct sun—fueling calls for more green fixes. Rail Tech & Funding: Corridor 8 progress continues as the EU backs the North Macedonia–Bulgaria railway link with a €149M grant for the Kriva Palanka border section. Local Tech & Industry: Mikrosam (Prilep) is promoting next-gen modular automated fiber placement systems aimed at research, prototyping, and industrial production.

Cybersecurity Benchmark: Albania is ranked top for cyber readiness in a new National Cyber Security Index, beating tech-heavy countries like Germany, the UK and the US—while the index also places North Macedonia surprisingly high, highlighting gaps governments can use to improve defenses. Local Tech & Society Funding: North Macedonia’s political parties received nearly €9 million from the state budget, with VMRO-DPMNE taking a record €2.5 million—an indirect reminder of how public systems shape the tech and research ecosystem through policy priorities. Industrial Automation in the Balkans: Prilep-based Mikrosam is pushing next-generation modular automated fiber placement systems for composites, targeting research centers and industrial production with digital process control and scalable robotic setups. Climate Tech & Urban Resilience: Skopje’s “urban heat islands” are measured in real-world shade vs sun readings, showing how trees and parks can cut temperatures—useful for heat-risk planning. Health Tech & Public Safety: West Nile virus continues spreading across Europe, with ECDC reporting cases including North Macedonia, and Spain issuing travel warnings after its first death of the year. Energy & Infrastructure: EU funding is accelerating Corridor 8 rail progress between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, including a cross-border tunnel—big news for regional connectivity and logistics. Digital Commerce: Iute expands Myiute with iuteMarket, bringing shopping plus financing and insurance into one app for customers in North Macedonia and Albania. Wildfire Risk: North Macedonia faces wildfire pressure amid extreme heat and drought, with dozens of open-air fires reported and aircraft deployed to contain outbreaks.

North Macedonia Climate & Cities: Skopje’s “urban heat island” problem is getting quantified with simple on-the-ground readings showing big gaps between tree shade and direct sun, underlining why green fixes matter as heatwaves intensify. Wildfire Risk: The same drought pressure is driving more wildfires across North Macedonia, with dozens of open-air fires reported and rapid helicopter and air-tractor response in hardest-hit areas like Kavadarci. Solar Science for the Region: Europe is gearing up for the total solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, with the UK set for the biggest show in nearly 30 years and multiple countries across the continent seeing major coverage. Health Watch (West Nile): West Nile virus continues to spread across Europe; ECDC reports 241 human cases so far, including 13 in North Macedonia, while Spain warns after its first death of the year. Digital Banking in the Balkans: Iute Group expands Myiute with iuteMarket, an in-app shopping and financing experience available in Albania and North Macedonia. IoT & Product Delivery Costs: A new guide highlights why IoT app development quotes vary wildly, stressing that device provisioning and firmware integration are often missing from cheap estimates.

Residential Market Watch: Knight Frank’s Global House Price Index puts North Macedonia among the fastest-growing residential markets, with prices up about 16.7% year-on-year in Q1 2026, even as global growth moderates. Digital Banking & Retail: Iute Group expands the Myiute app with iuteMarket, an in-app shopping and financing service now available in Albania and North Macedonia, including options for refurbished devices. Payments & Mobility Tech: Nayax reports $123M Q2 2026 revenue (+28%), with its installed base topping 1.55M devices, while it pushes into fast charging and embedded financial services. Health Alert (West Nile): West Nile virus continues to spread across Europe; ECDC counts 241 human cases this season, including 13 in North Macedonia, as experts warn August–September are the highest-risk months. Climate & Safety: North Macedonia’s heatwave is fueling wildfires—CMC logged 14 open-air fires by Aug 4, with Kavadarci among the hardest hit. Urban Resilience: A Skopje temperature comparison shows “urban heat islands” in action, with shaded areas far cooler than direct sun on major boulevards. Infrastructure: Corridor 8 momentum continues, with an EU €149M grant for the railway link phase toward Bulgaria, including a key cross-border tunnel. Cyber/Disinformation Risk: A European Parliament report warns Russia is intensifying hybrid interference to slow EU accession in the Western Balkans, including North Macedonia.

Digital Commerce in the Balkans: Iute Group is rolling out iuteMarket inside the Myiute app in Albania and North Macedonia, letting users browse, get recommendations, and buy products from partner merchants while also using in-app financing and insurance. Public Health Watch: West Nile virus keeps spreading across Europe, with ECDC reporting 241 human cases so far this season; North Macedonia has logged 13, while Greece and Italy lead. Local Climate Impact: Skopje’s “urban heat islands” are showing up in real readings, with temperatures in tree shade far lower than direct sun on major boulevards—another reminder to push greener fixes. Wildfire Pressure: North Macedonia is battling wildfire outbreaks amid drought and heat, with 14 open-air fires registered by Aug. 4 and air support deployed, especially around Kavadarci. Regional Tech & Payments: Nayax reported Q2 2026 results—$123M revenue (+28%) and 1.55M installed devices—while expanding its next services layer via Lynkwell charging and embedded finance plans.

Digital Commerce in Skopje & Albania: Iute Group rolled out iuteMarket inside the Myiute app, letting customers browse, get recommendations, and pay/finance/insure purchases without leaving the app, with hundreds of product categories and professionally refurbished tech. Payments & Mobility Tech: Nayax reported Q2 2026 results with $123M revenue (+28%) and an installed base above 1.55M devices, while expanding Lynkwell DC fast-charger deployments and pushing embedded financial services via Nayax Capital. Public Health Alert: West Nile virus keeps spreading across Europe; ECDC counts 241 human cases this season, including 13 in North Macedonia, with no vaccine and prevention focused on mosquito bite reduction. Local Climate Risk: North Macedonia’s drought-driven heatwave is fueling wildfires; 14 open-air fires were registered by Aug 4, with major response efforts around Kavadarci. IoT Cost Reality Check: A pricing guide highlights why cheap IoT app quotes often miss device provisioning, firmware integration, and support—turning into higher total costs later. Regional Infrastructure: Corridor 8 progress continues with major EU funding for the railway link toward Bulgaria, including a cross-border tunnel segment.

North Macedonia Heat & Wildfires: Skopje’s heatwave is feeding “urban heat islands” and pushing wildfires—CMC logged 14 open-air fires by Aug 4, with Kavadarci among the hardest hit. West Nile Virus Watch: Europe’s West Nile season is worsening fast: ECDC reports 241 human cases so far, including 13 in North Macedonia, while Greece’s outbreak has climbed to 65 locally acquired cases and 6 deaths. EU Tech/Infrastructure Push: Corridor 8 gets a boost—an EU €149m grant backs North Macedonia’s third railway phase toward Bulgaria, including a cross-border tunnel. Regional IT Shift: Serbia’s IT outsourcing model is under pressure as foreign HQ decisions and AI-era expectations drive layoffs and slower ICT service export growth. IoT Costs Explained: A new pricing guide highlights why “cheap” IoT app quotes often miss device provisioning and firmware integration—turning later work into hidden cost. Academic Freedom Map: A global index ranks Czechia top for academic freedom and flags erosion elsewhere, with the U.S. scoring 0.40. Travel Tech & Data: Budget travel research puts Skopje among Europe’s cheapest 3-star breaks, while eclipse coverage points to Aug 12’s total solar eclipse visibility across parts of Europe.