Director of the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro Participates in the Conference

A conference of the INO NET project titled “Promoting a Culture of Innovation and Supporting Collaboration Between Stakeholders in Research, Education, and Innovation” was held in Podgorica. The project is implemented under the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance – IPA 2016.

The conference was opened by Milena Lipovina-Božović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic development of Montenegro, Herman Spitz, Head of the Cooperation sector at the EU delegation in Montenegro, Goran Drobnjak, Acting director-general of the Directorate european integration, programming, Implementation of EU funds, and International cooperation at the Ministry of science, education, culture, and Sports, and Konrad Nierubiec, Director of the INO NET Project at International development Ireland (IDI).

Lipovina-Božović emphasized that this is the first project implemented under the 2016 IPA annual action programme for the competitiveness and innovation sector, focusing on raising awareness about the importance of connecting innovation ecosystem stakeholders and further developing innovations in Montenegro.

“Given the importance of collaboration among all innovation ecosystem stakeholders, the connection between the scientific-research community and the private sector, as well as the establishment of effective advisory mechanisms in the field of intellectual property, this project contributes to the process of Montenegro’s EU accession by fostering sustainable competitiveness aligned with European standards,” said Lipovina-Božović.

The director of the Science and technology park of Montenegro, Velibor Bošković, presented this important project, highlighting its role as a key unit of the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem and discussing the legal framework for developing Montenegro’s innovative economy. He stressed that the innovation ecosystem in Montenegro has significant potential but that cooperation between all market stakeholders—including the state, private, and academic sectors—is crucial for its success.