Three smaller Balkan ecosystems improved their positions together in the StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026. North Macedonia ranks 70th, Albania 75th and Bosnia and Herzegovina 88th. Their scores increased by 75%, 71.1% and 69.4%, respectively.
North Macedonia and Albania each climbed eight places, while Bosnia and Herzegovina gained three. This selection does not represent the entire Balkans; it highlights three markets with similarly strong momentum.
| Ecosystem | Global rank | Score | Score change, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Macedonia | 70 | 1.509 | 75 |
| Albania | 75 | 1.343 | 71.1 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 88 | 0.982 | 69.4 |
Similar growth, potentially different models
Their positions and total scores differ. Similar growth percentages do not establish that the same policies or sectors drove progress. That would require evidence from companies and institutions.
Simultaneous improvement across several smaller markets nevertheless broadens the geography worth examining. European technology partner searches need not be confined to the largest established centres.
The effect of a small base
Total scores remain relatively modest even after rapid growth. Individual company successes may therefore have a larger influence than in mature ecosystems. The ranking does not establish how broadly progress is distributed within each country.
North Macedonia’s profile identifies Skopje as its only ranked city. Opportunities beyond the capital require separate assessment; absence from the ranking does not mean an absence of entrepreneurship.
From a shortlist to a business decision
These markets provide a starting point for finding new partners. Selection should then focus on specialisation, international contract experience and capacity to support a product. Ecosystem momentum raises a market’s visibility, while the commercial decision remains specific to the team and transaction.