On January 21, 2026, the Montenegro Science and Technology Park (STP MNE) signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Secretariat of the Council for Competitiveness and the company BI Communication d.o.o. Podgorica, establishing a strategic partnership aimed at promoting women’s entrepreneurship, innovation, and gender equality in Montenegro.

The agreement is implemented within the ŽIG project “Women’s Business,” which aims to identify and empower women-owned and women-managed companies through a standardized and credible framework that facilitates access to support programs, financing, and development mechanisms.

By signing the Agreement, STP MNE will incorporate the criteria for women’s entrepreneurship defined by the international standard MEST IWA 34:2021 into its incubation, acceleration, mentorship, and other development programs. This standard forms the basis for awarding the ŽIG “Women’s Business” recognition, further strengthening institutional support for women entrepreneurs within Montenegro’s innovation and startup ecosystem.

Valentina Radulović, Executive Director of the Montenegro Science and Technology Park, emphasized that this Agreement represents an important step toward creating a more inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial environment: “STP MNE recognizes the importance of women’s entrepreneurship as one of the key drivers of innovation and sustainable economic development. Through this collaboration, we aim to further empower women entrepreneurs and provide them with equal access to resources, knowledge, and infrastructural support.”

On behalf of the Secretariat of the Council for Competitiveness, Marija Šuković highlighted the importance of the partnership with the Montenegro Science and Technology Park: “We are grateful to the Montenegro Science and Technology Park and its Executive Director, Valentina Radulović, for recognizing the significance of the ŽIG ‘Women’s Business’ project and its role in the economic empowerment of women. We expect that the activities of the Montenegro Science and Technology Park will add further value to the project and contribute to its full realization.”

Ljiljana Burzan-Nikolić, Founder and Executive Director of BI Communication, emphasized that the ŽIG “Women’s Business” initiative was created in response to the need for a systemic approach to supporting women in business: “ŽIG ‘Women’s Business’ is not intended as a one-time recognition, but as a standardized framework that ensures support for women in business is clear, comparable, and institutionally recognized. Partnerships like this connect policies, programs, and the market into a functional system, creating real and long-term development opportunities for women in entrepreneurship and business.”

The Agreement foresees the implementation of joint promotional and educational activities, the exchange of knowledge and best practices, as well as the active participation of STP MNE in events and initiatives dedicated to the development of women’s entrepreneurship. In partnership with relevant institutions and organizations, the Montenegro Science and Technology Park continues to build a strong innovation ecosystem that promotes equality, entrepreneurship, and technological development.