About the division

Science that turns
ideas into impact

The Science Division is led by Dr. Zagorka Blazevska — pharmacist, food scientist, entrepreneur, and one of the Western Balkans' most recognised voices in agrifood innovation and EU-funded research.

Dr. Zagorka Blazevska — Founder, Vita Nova Consulting Science Division
Dr. Zagorka Blazevska
Founder · Science Division Lead
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Pharmacist Food Science PhD Candidate EIT Food EBRD Entrepreneur Since 2006

The scientist behind the division

Dr. Zagorka Blazevska is a licensed pharmacist, entrepreneur, PhD candidate in Innovative Technologies for Food and Nutrition, and the founder of Vita Nova — a company she established in 2006 and has grown over nearly two decades into a leading raw materials and ingredients business serving the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries across the Central Balkans.

She holds a BSc in Pharmacy from the University of St. Cyril and Methodius (Skopje) and an MBA from the University of Novi Sad. She is completing her doctorate in food and nutrition innovation at the Faculty of Technology and Technical Sciences, with research focused on applied R&D for food product development and novel ingredient applications.

Her commercial expertise spans raw materials sourcing, contract manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, food process engineering, and product formulation — built through 20 years of direct industry experience across North Macedonia, Serbia, and the wider Balkan region.

EU-level recognition and policy influence

Zagorka has served as a member of the EIT Food RIS Policy Council (2023–2025) — one of the most influential advisory bodies shaping EU food innovation strategy across Regional Innovation Scheme countries. She is also a trained EIT Food Commercialisation Evaluator and has served as a Rapporteur Evaluator for EIT Food competitive calls — reviewing and scoring innovation applications at a European level.

Her work was featured by the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) as a showcase of women's entrepreneurship, highlighting how Vita Nova has scaled to offer over 2,000 custom product solutions while mentoring young women entrepreneurs and partnering with universities across the region.

What she's built

  • Vita Nova-ZA (founded 2006) — exclusive representative and distributor of world-leading raw material producers for pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic manufacturers; 2 offices and warehouses in Skopje and Belgrade; serving North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania
  • EIT Food Challenge Labs Macedonia 2025 — designed, organised, and led North Macedonia's first nationally scaled EU food innovation competition as part of Vita Nova Innovation Days, bringing together 100+ participants and funding 3 winning startups
  • AMPLE Skopje (2025) — led the EIT Food AMPLE programme implementation in Skopje, empowering women from vulnerable communities through agrifood entrepreneurship training; recognised by EIT Food as a model programme for EU food-system social inclusion
  • University partnerships — delivers seminars and training at Macedonian universities; collaborates with academic institutions on R&D, product development, and student education in food and pharmaceutical sciences
  • Circular economy — participated in the design of North Macedonia's national Roadmap towards Circular Economy, contributing food-system and biomass expertise
2006
Year Vita Nova was founded
2K+
Custom product solutions delivered
EIT
Food RIS Policy Council member 2023–25
6
Countries served across Central Balkans
"It is truly impossible for me to single out only one or two business ideas: each of our participants showed exceptional dedication, creativity, and courage."
— Dr. Zagorka Blazevska, on AMPLE Skopje · EIT Food, 2025
Dr. Zagorka Blazevska — EIT Food Challenge Labs Macedonia 2025, keynote
Dr. Zagorka Blazevska at Vita Nova Innovation Days 2025 — EIT Food Challenge Labs Macedonia, Mercedes-Benz Rooftop Skopje, October 2025
Recognition

A voice shaping EU food innovation policy

Zagorka's appointment to the EIT Food RIS Policy Council placed her among the key architects of EU food innovation strategy for Regional Innovation Scheme countries — directly influencing how European funding for food science, agrifood entrepreneurship, and sustainability reaches businesses and researchers across the Western Balkans.

The EBRD featured her story on Women's Entrepreneurship Day as an example of how science-led companies can grow from a founding vision into regional leaders — while also giving back by mentoring the next generation of food entrepreneurs.

Her work is recognised not just commercially, but as a genuine contribution to food security, sustainable supply chains, and economic empowerment across the Central Balkans.

Areas of expertise

What Dr. Zagorka
brings to every engagement

Two decades of cross-disciplinary expertise spanning pharmacy, food science, regulation, R&D, and EU funding frameworks.

01

Pharmaceutical & Food Raw Materials

Deep expertise in sourcing, quality assessment, and regulatory compliance for minerals, vitamins, emulsifiers, enzymes, and active ingredients for pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic manufacturers.

02

Food Product R&D

Applied research and product formulation for food and beverage brands — from concept ideation through ingredient selection, nutritional profiling, prototype development, and market validation.

03

Dietary Supplements & Nutraceuticals

Formulation strategy, ingredient safety, health claims evaluation, and regulatory pathway design for supplement brands targeting EU, UK, and Balkan markets.

04

EU Funding & Grant Strategy

Hands-on experience with EIT Food competitive calls as both applicant and evaluator — advising startups and SMEs on grant positioning, proposal quality, and commercialisation readiness.

05

Entrepreneurship & Mentoring

Mentor to young entrepreneurs and women-led startups across the Western Balkans; university seminar contributor; former lead of the AMPLE Skopje women's agrifood entrepreneurship programme.

06

Sustainability & Circular Economy

Contributor to North Macedonia's national Circular Economy Roadmap; advisory experience on sustainable ingredient sourcing, food waste reduction, and green supply chain strategy.

What drives us

Our values

Every engagement we take on is guided by these principles — built over 20 years of practice, not just theory.

01

Scientific rigour

Every recommendation is grounded in peer-reviewed science, current regulatory frameworks, and real market data. We don't guess when we can measure — and we don't advise what we haven't verified.

02

Honest partnership

We tell you what's actually achievable, not what you want to hear. Two decades of client relationships have been built on directness and delivery — not on telling people what gets signatures.

03

Practical outcomes

Strategy without execution is theory. We focus on deliverables that move real needles: products launched, grants won, markets entered, partnerships formed, companies built.

04

Sustainability-first

The best products for business are also the best for people and the planet. Sustainability isn't a checkbox for us — it's built into how we source, formulate, advise, and operate.

Work with Dr. Zagorka
on your project

Whether you're formulating a new product, applying for EU funding, or entering a new market — 20 years of industry expertise and EU-level network are at your disposal. First call is free.

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