Montenegro Defines Key Areas for Innovation and Smart Investments

The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has carried out the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP), which enabled the identification of areas where Montenegro has the greatest potential for innovation and competitiveness. 

This process is part of the preparation of the Smart Specialisation Strategy 2026–2031 (S3) – a national document that will guide smart investments in areas with the highest potential for innovation and economic growth. 

Over the past three months, representatives of state institutions, the private sector, academia and civil society jointly analysed the country’s economic and innovation potential, identified strategic opportunities, and developed clear proposals for future public policies. 

The work was conducted across five thematic areas that represent key drivers of future growth: nature- and people-friendly construction, sustainable agriculture and food value chains, energy and a sustainable environment, information and communication technologies, and innovative, regenerative and sustainable tourism. 

The EDP was conducted through three interconnected phases that ensured analytical depth and the active contribution of all participants in the process. The first phase included a comprehensive assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the priority areas. Based on these findings, a long-term vision for Montenegro’s scientific, technological and economic development was defined, taking into account national priorities, international obligations and global trends. In the final phase, this vision was transformed into concrete and applicable policy measures that set operational goals and intervention mechanisms for the coming period. 

In the next stage, the collected information will be consolidated and the strategic framework finalised, which will guide smart and sustainable public investments in the period ahead. The successful completion of the EDP confirms Montenegro’s commitment to participatory policy-making and further strengthens cooperation between institutions, the business community, the research sector and citizens. 

This activity was carried out through the project IDEA ME: Innovations for Development and Economic Advancement of Montenegro, financed through the Montenegro Acceleration Fund.