EIT Community RIS Hub Montenegro

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an EU body and the largest European innovation ecosystem, has laid the foundations for a significant enhancement of Montenegro’s innovation landscape with the official launch of the EIT Community RIS Hub.

The Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) is a special EIT program for less developed innovative regions of the EU and neighboring countries, designed to facilitate their participation in EIT communities and to share best practices and experiences derived from the EIT. For 10 years, the RIS program has been working to bridge the development gap between regions.

The inauguration event of the EIT Hub brought together local, regional, and EU stakeholders from the fields of science, education, and business – innovators, researchers, and policymakers – to explore the opportunities enabled by this initiative. During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the EIT Community Hub and the EIT National Point for Montenegro, entrusted to the Innovation Fund, with Saša Ivanović, Program Manager at the Fund, serving as the national contact person.

EIT Director Mr. Martin Kern opened the meeting by presenting the institute and its activities as the largest European innovation ecosystem. In the introduction, the attendees were also addressed by Mr. Ingve Engstrom, representative of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, and Ms. Marijeta Barjaktarović Lanzardi, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation. They expressed their expectation that the EIT Hub will complement the innovation support system through improved communication between the EIT institute and stakeholders in Montenegro, and also contribute to the reform agenda in the development of the private sector.

The event exceeded the borders of Montenegro as it gathered a significant number of participants from the region and the EU, either in person or online. EIT has expressed a clear ambition to establish a stronger presence in the Western Balkans – in line with the Regional Innovation Scheme, which has been demonstrated by the opening of a series of its EIT Community RIS Hubs. Hubs have already been opened in North Macedonia and Montenegro, with additional ones expected to be launched in the near future.

The Montenegrin business and academic community was introduced to a range of opportunities offered by the EIT. Program managers from all EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), including EIT Digital, EIT Food, EIT Health, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Urban Mobility, and EIT Manufacturing, shared information and examples of how EIT programs contribute to addressing challenges in areas such as climate change, energy, health, food, manufacturing, digitalization, urban mobility, culture, and creativity. Some of the beneficiaries of EIT programs, such as the Montenegrin startup BeBeep, were also presented.

“The expansion of EIT activities in the Western Balkans indicates a growing innovation ecosystem in the region,” said Branka Žižić, Manager of the EIT Community RIS Hub Montenegro, who gave an introductory presentation on the role of the hub in supporting the community. “We are very pleased to introduce Montenegrin talents to the wide range of EIT community initiatives and to encourage collaboration across Europe, acting from the local level and respecting the local context.”

During other panels, which addressed strengthening partnerships with the largest European innovation network EIT, facilitating access to the European market for small and medium-sized enterprises, and overcoming gaps in knowledge and skills – representatives of EIT and domestic institutions, the Ministry of Economic Development, the University of Montenegro, the Innovation Fund, the Science and Technology Park, and the Capital City discussed numerous important topics, barriers, and best practices that can serve as inspiration.

It was concluded that the EIT model of connecting factors from the so-called “knowledge triangle,” which includes science, education, and business – through thematically organized, diverse, and effective support and networking mechanisms, can introduce a new and more efficient dynamic of cooperation between Montenegro and European partners, as well as internally within the country.