With the aim of strengthening the innovation community and connecting Montenegro’s academic sphere with global leaders in the field of startup entrepreneurship, the Science and technology park of Montenegro and the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) organized a visit by one of the most eminent experts in startup development and technology transfer, mr. George Panagiotakopoulos, Director of European and Global Expansion at the University of California, UC Berkeley.

On this occasion, a meeting was held with the Rector of the University of Montenegro, prof. Vladimir Božović, phd, where the possibilities for strategic cooperation between UCG and one of the world’s most influential university accelerators were discussed. The meeting was attended by Srna Sudar, phd director of the TTO, Radoje Drobnjak, Program Activities Manager at the Science and Technology Park, and Dr. Marina Banović, Rector’s Advisor for Economic Affairs.

This visit is the result of the strategic commitment of the Science and technology park and the TTO to position the University of Montenegro as a central hub of the innovation ecosystem — a space where knowledge does not remain confined within the walls of academia, but is transformed into concrete solutions, products, and entrepreneurial initiatives.

Rector Božović emphasized that UCG, as part of the European Ulysseus alliance, is in a unique position to be an agile, experimental, and niche-oriented university, capable of responding to the challenges brought by the era of artificial intelligence. “Our goal is for education to shape change-makers, not just passive participants in the process,” the Rector stated.

George Panagiotakopoulos shared insights from his years of experience leading the global expansion of one of the world’s most dynamic accelerators, highlighting that Montenegro, precisely because of its size and agility, has the potential to become a test market for innovative educational and startup models that are difficult to implement within larger systems.

The key message of his visit was clear: “Don’t wait for formalities – act quickly, test ideas, and then build institutional support.”

This initiative represents another step toward creating a sustainable link between science, innovation, and industry, where the University of Montenegro, with the support of the Science and technology park and the TTO, will play a key role in equipping and empowering new generations of innovators and startup leaders ready for the global stage.