The executive director of the STP Montenegro, Valentina Radulović, visited Silicon valley as part of the EIT program “Connect and experience Silicon valley,” with the aim of analyzing the synergy between academia, industry, and talent, and applying these successful models in Montenegro. This visit confirmed the importance of connecting the Montenegrin innovation ecosystem with global technology and entrepreneurship hubs. The Science and technology park of Montenegro plans to implement a program that will give young entrepreneurs access to global knowledge and resources, a key step for the development of innovation in the country.

The European institute of innovation and technology (EIT) represents an important network for fostering advanced innovations and developing entrepreneurial talent. The EIT Hub of Montenegro, located at the University of Montenegro, is part of this european network. The Memorandum of Cooperation between the STP and the EIT Community Officer further strengthens the collaboration between the institutions, focusing on supporting innovators and entrepreneurs.

The visit to Silicon valley provided the opportunity to connect with mentors, investors, and partners who can assist in supporting startups. The STP Montenegro aims to create a modern innovative ecosystem in Montenegro by linking education, science, and industry, thereby striving to change the collective mindset and stimulate development. By utilizing a model of efficient knowledge transfer into practice, we accelerate innovations, and the speed of process development becomes crucial, given the role of the STP as an incubator and accelerator for startups.

The goal of Smart specialization is to adopt a strategy that involves collaboration among institutions at both the national and global levels. This approach includes networking sectoral policies and developing ideas based on scientific research principles, with the aim of implementing and commercializing innovations that drive economic development and progress in Montenegro.