The Science and Technology Park of Montenegro (STP of MNE), as one of the partners in the YEB project, successfully completed a five-day study visit to Turin. This visit is one of the implemented activities, providing young entrepreneurs with the opportunity to gain valuable international experience in one of Europe’s most developed innovation ecosystems.

The visit was preceded by a three-round participant selection process. Prior to departure for Italy, the selected participants attended preparatory workshops with mentors Radivoje Drobnjak and Aleksandra Janičić, who introduced them to key topics in entrepreneurship, social impact, business strategies, and startup financing models.

During their stay in Turin, the young innovators continued their work under the mentorship of PR and marketing specialist Milica Jovančević and Vladan Mašanović, a cooperation associate for education, networking, and collaboration with the academic community. Through a rich and dynamic program, the Montenegrin team acquired new knowledge on market analysis and idea evaluation, with particular emphasis placed on visits to leading institutions driving innovation in the city.

The program included visits to I3P, the incubator of the Polytechnic University of Turin (PoliTO), recognized as a global leader in supporting high-tech startups. There, participants had a unique opportunity to see how cutting-edge scientific research is translated in practice into successful businesses with strong growth potential. They then further explored models of social entrepreneurship through their work with the Cooperativa Sociale Mirafiori, learning how innovative approaches can directly empower work within local communities.

A particularly inspiring part of the visit was the meeting with the Fair Enough startup team, which has been combining environmental awareness and human empathy for years. They are diligently working to reduce the negative impact of the fashion industry on the environment, while at the same time offering a “second chance” to those seeking a new beginning. In this way, participants saw a concrete example of how environmental sustainability and social responsibility can be successfully integrated into a modern and human-centered business model.

This study visit strengthened the capacities of our participants and laid a solid foundation for their future entrepreneurial ventures, with the support of mentors and the resources provided by STP of MNE through the YEB project.

The YEB project is funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.