EIT Community RIS Hub Montenegro
Igniting Innovation Capacities in Montenegro
The innovation ecosystem in Montenegro has been rapidly developing since 2016, when the first legal and strategic frameworks were established. Institutions have been put in place, support schemes designed, and prioritisation through smart specialisation has been ongoing all contributing to the increased pace of technology adoption and innovation development among Montenegrin companies. The country is categorised as an ‘Emerging Innovator’ according to the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS). However, bottlenecks in the regional ecosystem have been identified, including a lack of investment strategies and industrial policy alignment with diversified technology adoption and innovation development, weak connections within the knowledge triangle (education, research, and business), insufficient organisational capacity for innovation, limited human resources in specific thematic areas, and an underdeveloped place-based innovation approach with low public sector involvement in collaborations.
The efforts of local actors to develop the higher education, research, and innovation systems are significantly enhanced through international cooperation, particularly within EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, and Interreg. By working in synchrony at both national and multinational levels, such as through the initiatives of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), Montenegrin innovation ecosystem actors can improve their capabilities, enhance workforce skills, adopt EU standards, and gain access to European markets. In this way, Montenegro improves its competitiveness and socio-economic sustainability, becoming a place where talent is nurtured and provided with opportunities for global business operations.
About the EIT Community RIS Hub
With the establishment of the EIT Community RIS Hub, we aim to encourage the development of innovation in Montenegro within a broader European context. We provide a central platform for local talents and entrepreneurs, facilitating access to the diverse opportunities offered by the EIT community in the fields of education, business development, and innovation. The hub also seeks to strengthen cooperation among institutions in Montenegro and the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).
The main goal of the EIT Community RIS Hub is to enhance collaboration between companies, educational institutions, and scientific bodies within a European framework, thereby contributing to the improvement of innovation capabilities in Montenegro and access to European markets.
EIT comprises nine Knowledge and Innovation Communities: EIT Digital, EIT Food, EIT Health, EIT Innoenergy, EIT Manufacturing, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Urban Mobility, EIT Culture and Creativity.The hub will represent all EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and strive to encourage Montenegrin partners and beneficiaries to participate in EIT activities. As a central source of information for the innovation community in Montenegro, the hub will provide insights into various services and opportunities offered by the EIT community to the countries of the Western Balkans, the EU member states, and all Horizon Europe associated countries.
The support offered by the EIT community is comprehensive and dynamic, including study programmes, training, courses, and bootcamps, competitions for financial and non-financial support, networking events, connections between universities and the economy, collaborative projects, mentoring and validation in developing innovative products and services, expert support for state institutions in policy development, venture investments, and other activities. By promoting a place-based innovation approach, EIT collaboration schemes integrate cities in driving innovation, contributing to more comfortable and liveable spaces while reducing their environmental impact.
This support is available to a wide range of users, from individual innovators and entrepreneurs to researchers in postgraduate studies, universities, and scientific institutes, as well as start-ups, companies, representatives of industries within the EIT ecosystem, producers, farmers, and state and local institutions.
The hub is currently located at the University of Montenegro (Rectorate building) and is expected to have a long-term base at the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro.
On our LinkedIn page EIT Community RIS Hub Montenegro, we publish what is considered the most relevant selection of the numerous opportunities offered by EIT to EU member states and Horizon Europe associated countries, in the context of Montenegro.
“By identifying the right opportunities for innovation and research-entrepreneurial talents and innovative companies from Montenegro within the KIC-s, the EIT Community Hub will serve as an access point to the EIT innovation marketplace in the nine thematic fields of the KIC-s. The Hub will also promote the skill development programmes from the EIT Online Campus, given an early stage of the innovation ecosystem and a need for adopting up-to-date skills at various levels. Finally, the Hub will act on fostering collaboration among the EIT Community and institutions in Montenegro so as to reach synergy of the different policies and instruments aimed at innovation development.”
BRANKA ZIZIC, EIT COMMUNITY OFFICER MONTENEGRO
EIT Funding & Impact
In 2022, two Montenegrin start-ups were created through EIT programmes. In the same year, 116 Montenegrin residents participated in EIT education and training programmes. Two unique partner organisations and linked third parties from Montenegro participated in the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities. These figures show ample space for improvement in the collaboration between Montenegrin individuals and organisations with the EIT.
About the EIT Community Officer
Mrs. Branka Zizic
EIT Community Officer Montenegro
Mrs Branka Žižić has played a key role in developing policies and support mechanisms in the fields of science and innovation throughout her career, prioritising the principles of community involvement. She was the first general director for innovation in the Government of Montenegro. She has extensive experience in EU programmes focusing on higher education, science, and innovation and possesses excellent networking capabilities within local, regional, and European innovation ecosystems. In her role as EIT Community Officer, Branka leads efforts to identify hidden innovation potential across different sectors and supports their growth on a European scale.
Contact Details
- Email: montenegro@eitcommunity.eu
- Phone: +38267808222
- Address: University of Montenegro, Rectorate building, Cetinjska 2, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
- LinkedIn: EIT Community RIS Hub Montenegro
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Upcoming Opportunities
Stay updated with the latest opportunities related to Montenegro's innovation ecosystem and the activities of the EIT Community RIS Hub.