The Science and technology park of Montenegro and the Technology Transfer Office, in partnership with Crnogorski Telekom, organized a three-day program that represented a unique opportunity for our innovation ecosystem – for the first time, Montenegro was visited by an expert from the University of California, Berkeley, who, through a series of exclusive workshops, shared experience and knowledge in entrepreneurship, accelerator establishment, and innovation with key stakeholders – startups, the business community, and academia.

The event also marked the first anniversary of the Science and technology park of Montenegro building – celebrated with the arrival of George Panagiotakopoulos, a renowned expert in global startup development and a representative of the world-renowned innovation ecosystem at the University of California, Berkeley – a global hub for advanced technologies and entrepreneurship.

During the three-day program focused on startups, business, and the academic community, Panagiotakopoulos shared modern strategies that foster agility, innovation, and sustainable growth through interactive sessions, drawing on his extensive experience from Silicon valley.

The workshops were designed for key sectors driving innovation in the country: On the first day at the Montenegro Science and Technology Park, the workshop titled “The Startup Lifecycle, US vs EU vs Asia – and How to Navigate It” was held for startups and young companies. Its goal was to help participants understand global differences in startup development, learn how to validate ideas, build teams, and tailor strategies to the market. On the second day, a workshop for the business community, “Idea to IPO (Silicon Valley Style),” focused on innovation leadership and rapid scaling, providing managers with concrete tools for growth and enhancing competitiveness. On the third day, at the University of Montenegro, the academic community attended workshops titled “Secrets to Developing the World’s Best Accelerator” and “The Entrepreneurial Mindset and Establishing a Culture for Success,” aimed at empowering university accelerators, mentoring networks, and fostering an entrepreneurial culture.

The program sparked significant interest as it provided a unique opportunity to connect the innovation community, corporations, and the academic sector in Montenegro. The goal was to build a strong collaborative network that fosters innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset.

This three-day event further strengthened the capacities of the Montenegrin community to implement innovations and contribute to Montenegro’s development as a digitally transformed and globally competitive society.

We thank George Panagiotakopoulos and all participants for their excellent cooperation and inspiring discussions. We look forward to future events that will continue to bridge knowledge and practice in the field of innovation!