Raising start-up founders’ awareness about the importance of sustainability issues in business

The presentation titled Raising Start-up Founders’ Awareness about the Importance of Sustainability Issues in Business was held on June 13, 2025, at the Faculty of Economics in Skopje. Professor Aleksandra Janeska shared her insights on future support for sustainable entrepreneurship in the region, with a particular focus on opportunities within the local ecosystem. Prof. Aleksandra Janeska Iliev shared research insights gathered during her secondment at Croatian innovation hubs. Her presentation spotlighted Croatia’s leadership in the green transition and its unique blend of tradition and innovation. Through examples like Gospodari Svjetla, she illustrated how Croatian entrepreneurs embed sustainability into business models. Discussion also were raised around the main perspectives of Croatian business to generate ideas evolving around sustainable tourism and heritage integration. She also explored Croatia’s Smart Specialization Strategy and youth engagement through hackathons and student incubators. The session offered practical strategies for founders to integrate sustainability into mission, value creation, and operations while aligning with EU green policies and SDGs.