On 27 May 2025, a solemn academic ceremony was held at the Macedonian Philharmonic in Skopje to mark the 60^th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology (IZIIS) at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje.

The event featured speeches by Prof. Dr. Igor Gjorgjiev, Director of IZIIS; Prof. Dr. Biljana Angelova, Rector of UKIM; and Prof. Dr. Vesna Janevska, Minister of Education. Representing the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia was Dr. Jelisaveta Georgieva-Jovevska, Advisor to the President of the Chamber on Infrastructure and Economic Development.

The event was attended by a large number of representatives from domestic and international institutions, IZIIS staff, as well as collaborators and partner institutions. Prof. Dr. Kyriazis Pitilakis, Vice President of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering (EAEE), also addressed the audience. During the event, certificates of appreciation for cooperation and partnership were awarded, and a Monograph was promoted in honor of the Institute’s 60^th anniversary.

The Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology is a scientific research and higher education institution within the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje.

The Institute carries out higher education activities at the second and third cycle of studies, as well as scientific research and applied work in the field of earthquake engineering and engineering seismology, and in all scientific areas related to its core mission.

Since its establishment in 1965, IZIIS has focused its activities on reducing disaster risk, protecting the population and assets, minimizing physical and economic damage, and safeguarding socio-economic systems from the effects of earthquakes and other natural hazards. All IZIIS activities aim to prepare systems, develop coherent legislation, create highly skilled human resources, and build capacities for a seismically resilient society.

IZIIS achieves its strategic goals through:

·       Advancing science, education, and applied activities in the field of earthquake engineering and engineering seismology by integrating knowledge and experience into second and third cycle higher education programs, and by implementing scientific and applied research projects;

·       Contributing to the development of a disaster-resilient society and the mitigation of disaster impacts by promoting policies that build capacities in science, technology, and innovation, raising public preparedness for natural disasters, and fostering an environment for the development, adoption, and implementation of legal regulations to reduce risk to acceptable levels, both nationally and regionally;

·       Developing cooperation with international academic and scientific communities, crisis management institutions, and the media, significantly contributing to the culture of effective disaster management and mitigation;

·       Creating regional and international partnerships and networks for collecting and exchanging data on natural hazards, and for the practical application of that data in risk reduction and control;

·       Building partnerships with the construction industry for the direct application of research results in the construction sector;

·       Facilitating knowledge and experience exchange between academic and scientific institutions, organizing training for researchers and engineers in the field of earthquake engineering and engineering seismology, and creating interdisciplinary platforms for improving disaster risk management through the participation of researchers from natural, social, and other sciences.

IZIIS stands as a pillar of engineering science and a symbol of safety, excellence, and international collaboration.

The Economic Chamber of North Macedonia congratulates IZIIS on its 60-year anniversary as a long-standing member that plays a crucial role in ensuring infrastructure stability and safety, and thus the safety of citizens. The Chamber extends its best wishes for the realization of the Institute’s strategic goals in the future through mutual cooperation, support, and partnership.