EIT Community Hub Montenegro
Igniting Innovation Capacities in Montenegro
The innovation ecosystem in Montenegro has been rapidly developing since 2016, when the first legal and strategic frameworks were established. Institutions have been put in place, support schemes designed, and prioritisation through smart specialisation has been ongoing all contributing to the increased pace of technology adoption and innovation development among Montenegrin companies. The country is categorised as an ‘Emerging Innovator’ according to the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS). However, bottlenecks in the regional ecosystem have been identified, including a lack of investment strategies and industrial policy alignment with diversified technology adoption and innovation development, weak connections within the knowledge triangle (education, research, and business), insufficient organisational capacity for innovation, limited human resources in specific thematic areas, and an underdeveloped place-based innovation approach with low public sector involvement in collaborations.
The efforts of local actors to develop the higher education, research, and innovation systems are significantly enhanced through international cooperation, particularly within EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, and Interreg. By working in synchrony at both national and multinational levels, such as through the initiatives of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), Montenegrin innovation ecosystem actors can improve their capabilities, enhance workforce skills, adopt EU standards, and gain access to European markets. In this way, Montenegro improves its competitiveness and socio-economic sustainability, becoming a place where talent is nurtured and provided with opportunities for global business operations.
About the EIT Community Hub
With the establishment of the EIT Community Hub, we aim to encourage the development of innovation in Montenegro within a broader European context. We provide a central platform for local talents and entrepreneurs, facilitating access to the diverse opportunities offered by the EIT community in the fields of education, business development, and innovation. The hub also seeks to strengthen cooperation among institutions in Montenegro and the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).
The main goal of the EIT Community Hub is to enhance collaboration between companies, educational institutions, and scientific bodies within a European framework, thereby contributing to the improvement of innovation capabilities in Montenegro and access to European markets.
EIT comprises nine Knowledge and Innovation Communities: EIT Digital, EIT Food, EIT Health, EIT Innoenergy, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Urban Mobility, EIT Culture and Creativity, EIT Water and EIT Climate.The hub will represent all EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and strive to encourage Montenegrin partners and beneficiaries to participate in EIT activities. As a central source of information for the innovation community in Montenegro, the hub will provide insights into various services and opportunities offered by the EIT community to the countries of the Western Balkans, the EU member states, and all Horizon Europe associated countries.
The support offered by the EIT community is comprehensive and dynamic, including study programmes, training, courses, and bootcamps, competitions for financial and non-financial support, networking events, connections between universities and the economy, collaborative projects, mentoring and validation in developing innovative products and services, expert support for state institutions in policy development, venture investments, and other activities. By promoting a place-based innovation approach, EIT collaboration schemes integrate cities in driving innovation, contributing to more comfortable and liveable spaces while reducing their environmental impact.
This support is available to a wide range of users, from individual innovators and entrepreneurs to researchers in postgraduate studies, universities, and scientific institutes, as well as start-ups, companies, representatives of industries within the EIT ecosystem, producers, farmers, and state and local institutions.
The hub is currently located in Science and Technology Park of Montenegro in office on the second flour which is open for all potential ecosystem players.
On our LinkedIn page EIT Community Hub Montenegro, we publish what is considered the most relevant selection of the numerous opportunities offered by EIT to EU member states and Horizon Europe associated countries, in the context of Montenegro.
“By identifying and mobilising relevant innovation and research–entrepreneurial opportunities for talents and innovative companies from Montenegro within the KICs, the EIT Community Hub will act as a gateway to the EIT innovation ecosystem across its nine thematic areas. The Hub will promote skills development through the EIT Online Campus, addressing the early-stage nature of the national innovation ecosystem and the need for up-to-date competencies at different levels. In addition, the Hub will foster collaboration between the EIT Community and Montenegrin institutions to create synergies among policies and instruments that support innovation and entrepreneurship, thereby strengthening integration into the European innovation and market space.”
MSC ILIJA MUGOŠA, EIT COMMUNITY OFFICER MONTENEGRO
EIT Funding & Impact
Collaboration between Montenegro and the EIT ecosystem is developing rapidly, with a growing number of innovators, learners, and organisations engaging in EIT programmes across innovation, education, and entrepreneurship. Solid foundations have already been established through early participation in Knowledge and Innovation Communities, involvement in skills development and training activities, and the emergence of EIT-supported entrepreneurial initiatives.
This progress demonstrates both strong interest and clear relevance of EIT instruments for Montenegro’s innovation ecosystem. With awareness increasing and initial networks in place, the conditions are now well aligned to scale up engagement. Strengthening activities at this stage can significantly amplify impact — expanding access to skills, finance, and European innovation networks, and accelerating the integration of Montenegrin innovators into EU markets.
About the EIT Community Officer
Mr. Ilija Mugoša, MsC
EIT Community Officer Montenegro
Mr. Ilija Mugoša is an economist and policy expert specialising in economic development, innovation, and finance. He is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of International Economics, Finance and Business and currently serves as Director of Research at the Center for Finance in Podgorica. He previously spent seven years as an economic advisor in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Montenegro, serving across four government mandates and focusing on economic policy, reforms, and cooperation with international financial and development institutions. A significant part of his career was spent within the United Nations system as the national coordinator for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Since 2015, he has been a lecturer at the Faculty of Family Business and Management, teaching the course International Financial Institutions and Business. He has also gained extensive international experience through professional training and academic programmes at Eurostat in Luxembourg, the College of Europe in Bruges, Sciences Po in Paris, and the University of Toronto. Ilija is a member of the Western Balkans Young Leaders alumni network and the author of several publications on economic growth, innovation, financial literacy, and sustainable development in the Western Balkans. His work focuses on strengthening innovation ecosystems, improving access to finance, and supporting evidence-based policymaking for sustainable and inclusive growth.
Contact Details
- Email: montenegro@eitcommunity.eu
- Phone: +382 68 619 904
- Address:
- Boulevard Mihaila Lilica n.n, Science and Technology Park building, Office 26, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
- LinkedIn:
- EIT Community Hub Montenegro
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