Centre for mechanical engineering supported by USAID

USAID e-Biz Project is an innovative model for helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to use information and communication technology (ICT) to strengthen their businesses. Through this three years lasting project, started in 2003, 8 e-biz centers are opened until now. They all provide services composing high added value for SMEs. Centers work with very good conducted business plans and are formed with co-investment with Macedonian company or consortium. Eight e-biz centers opened until now are as follows: National portal for tourism); Textile Technology Center ; Shoe technology centre, On-line management training centre; Web portal for fashion industry; CIRKO, Centre for digital mediums and SEEU management training centre.

Macedonians take part in modeling sporty plane

There is a vast number of small and medium enterprises in the field of mechanical industry starting to apply high technologies in their process of production, through CIRKO MES CE, part from USAID e-business project. This centre already has two fully equipped laboratories for 3-D modeling, simulation, visualization and trainings for program languages and modeling. Through this centre Macedonia in near future will be provided with technological park; ongoing preparatory phase for forming Macedonian virtual engineering network; SME already started to become known on foreign markets and there are information for foreign investments in Macedonia.
CIRKO centre has already signed Memorandum for understanding with Slovenian Regional centre for technological development, Celje concerning activities needed for forming technological park in Macedonia. Recently, Agency for foreign investments of Macedonia took part in these activities.
CIRKO centre provides services for enterprises, based on licensed software and will help SME in the process of tools designing and constructing, in order not just to become cheaper but also to take less time for production of specific tools needed for processing of tinsmith and plastic at the same time.
Trainings for 3-D modeling, simulation and visualization on processes and techniques are held by certificated trainers from” Solid-WORKS”. They transfer their knowledge not just to the people from the industry but also to those one willing to empower their own knowledge, says Atanas Kockov docent at the Faculty for Mechanical engineering, Skopje and adds: “We are currently working on software product, named 3-D multi, available for all SME which will help them to finish the process of tools construction.  Construction designer will construct only the core and the rest will be closed using the data base and following in 3-D and animation. Saving time, increasing productivity and efficiency are leading toward more competitive firms.”
CIRKO centre works with personnel needed on the labor market. In that direction “Skill Soft” training for programmers in C++ and Java is provided, through which 105 persons are trained and 165 so called “java developers”. “They would be needed in General Motors, in case they invest in Macedonia” says Kockov.
Centers’ success can be seen according to the already gained work. CIRKO works on preparation on 3-D model of sporty plane, project in cooperation with Slovenian TEKOS, Celje. “Four engineers from CIRKO were trained in Slovenia and gained sertificates for reverse engineering. TEKOS received its work from one of their company incubators, in frame of technological innovative centre (TIC) and include us in their work, giving the responsibility for preparation of 3-D plane model” says Kockov.
CIRKO centre actively works on forming Macedonian engineering virtual network-MEV net”. “SME place their contacts on our web site (www.cirko-mes.com), and we will form data base of all SMEs from mechanical, metallurgical and plastic recycling industry. Our idea is to place link between Macedonian and European tool companies, for easily communication and better organized market placement” adds Kockov.
Recently with support from USAID, seminar for 34 SME and training for empowering marketing skills was conducted.”  Cooperation between companies was established. We have contacts with Slovenian company willing to invest in Macedonia. EMO, Celje and IGM, Kavadarci are in the phase of negotiations for joint venture investment-opening of  the most contemporary electronic tool company in Macedonia, as long-term investment of 11,1 million euros, ends Kocov.