Development and Institutional Mapping of Chromatography Research in the Republic of North Macedonia: A Historical and Scientometric Analysis

Chromatography represents a cornerstone of modern analytical chemistry, enabling the separation, identification, and quantification of constituents of complex chemical systems. Its development in the Republic of North Macedonia is closely linked to the evolution of national academic institutions and industrial analytical capacity. This study provides a combined historical overview and Scopus-based scientometric analysis of chromatography research in North Macedonia, focusing on institutional development, research groups, methodological evolution, and industrial contribution. Data were obtained from Scopus-indexed publications, institutional records, and key publications. Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM) emerges as the dominant research hub, particularly through the Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and the Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Agriculture, supported by the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU), Goce Delčev University in Štip, and several specialized applied research institutions. The pharmaceutical industry, particularly Alkaloid AD Skopje and Replek Farm, plays a significant role in chromatographic method application and validation. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) dominate research applications, primarily in phytochemistry, pharmaceutical analysis, food chemistry, and environmental science, while MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry has been integrated into the proteomics activity at MANU. The results demonstrate a highly centralized but scientifically productive research system with increasing methodological sophistication and international cooperation.