IDEA-ME: Innovation for Development and Economic Advancement in Montenegro

Project title       IDEA-ME: Innovation for Development and Economic Advancement in Montenegro
   
Participating agencies       UNDP, UNECE
   
Lead Agency       UNDP
   
Project manager      Samra Radončić
   
Timeframe      April 2025 – March 2027
   
Budget       566,675 USD (EU)

 

 

Area of intervention 

Governance efficiency, Entrepreneurship and Ecosystem Development, Policy Alignment, Monitoring, Data, and Evidence-Based Planning.

 

Partners 

  • Ministry of Education 

  • Ministry of Science and Innovation, 

  • Innovation Fund, 

  • Science and Technology Park, 

  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Technopolis, 

  • Technology Transfer Office.

 

Key objectives 

Strengthen Innovation Governance, Boost Public and Private Investment in R&D, Enhance Science-Business Linkages and Commercialization, Build Capacities of Innovation Ecosystem Stakeholders, Foster Inclusive and Sustainable Innovation, Align National Innovation Policy with EU Standards, Promote Regional and International Cooperation.


Major expected results 

The overarching goal of the project is a well-governed, inclusive, and competitive innovation ecosystem that drives sustainable economic growth, digital and green transitions, and maximises Montenegro’s role in EU innovation structures—ultimately positioning Montenegro as a regional leader in innovation-driven growth.

  • Policy recommendations for strengthen innovation ecosystem and policy governance that also enhance science–business collaboration and promote gender-inclusive innovation in Montenegro adopted, aligning the national innovation ecosystem with SDGs and EU best practices.
  • Enhanced capacity and skills among policymakers and key innovation stakeholders to design and implement gender-responsive innovation policies.
  • Policy incentives that foster SDG-driven entrepreneurship and facilitate research commercialization established.
  • Improved regional integration, collaboration and knowledge-sharing leveraging Montenegro’s strategic position and innovation potential, facilitating the integration into S3 Thematic Platforms and Partnerships

 

Target groups 

Government institutions, Innovation ecosystem institutions (Innovation Fund, Tech Parks, etc.), Academic and research community, Private sector actors (startups, MSMEs), Women-led enterprises, Sector-specific actors in ICT, tourism, energy/environment, agribusiness, Regional and international networks.

 

Implementing status

  • Launch of S3 process and stakeholder engagement for policy development

The Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) development process in Montenegro has been launched. The S3 thematic expert groups have been established, bringing together over 200 representatives from government institutions, academia, the private sector, and civil society. These groups are supported by a team of international and national experts engaged through the project.
The thematic groups mark the initiation of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) providing a structured platform for stakeholders to jointly identify innovation priorities and feed them into the national policy development process. This participatory mechanism ensures that expert and stakeholder inputs are systematically collected, discussed, and channelled into the drafting of the S3 strategy.

In parallel, a concept note for the Innovation for Sustainable Development Review (ISDR) was finalized, outlining elective chapters aligned with Montenegro’s national priorities and S3 focus areas. This work will directly inform evidence-based policy discussions and support the integration of targeted recommendations into upcoming strategic documents.

  • Capacity building and skills development

Key experts have been mobilized to drive capacity development across the five S3 priority domains: Construction, Energy & Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Agriculture & Food, Digital Innovation & Transformation, and Innovative & Sustainable Tourism. 

Preparatory work has started for the development of a gender-responsive training framework, which will include mechanisms for tracking institutional participation, collecting sex-disaggregated data, and conducting post-training knowledge assessments. This framework will guide the design and implementation of future capacity-building activities to ensure inclusiveness and gender sensitivity.

  • Policy incentives for SDG-driven entrepreneurship

Preparatory work has started on designing policy measures to support accelerators and incubators, aimed at stimulating SDG-aligned entrepreneurship and research commercialization. The mapping process is underway to identify gaps and opportunities for supporting start-ups and MSMEs, with future activities focusing on tailored training and policy design.

  • Regional integration and knowledge sharing

Scoping activities have been initiated to prepare Montenegro’s participation in S3 Thematic Platforms and regional partnerships. This work aims to strengthen regional cooperation, peer learning, and alignment with EU innovation ecosystems.

 

Contribution to EU Accession 

This project directly supports Montenegro’s institutional, economic, and innovation alignment with the European Union, accelerating readiness for EU membership negotiations, particularly in areas related to:

  • Chapter 20: Enterprise and Industrial Policy
  • Chapter 25: Science and Research
  • Chapter 26: Education and Culture
  • Chapter 27: Environment and Climate Change
  • Chapter 10: Information Society and Media

 

Project brief description

The joint UNDP-UNECE project supports Montenegro in strengthening its innovation ecosystem and aligning with EU green and digital priorities. It builds on the revised Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), aiming to boost R&D investment, improve innovation governance, and enhance science-business cooperation. The project develops policy frameworks, fosters commercialization of research, and integrates Montenegro into S3 Thematic Platforms. It targets key stakeholders—including government, startups, academia, and women-led enterprises—through capacity building and regional cooperation. Ultimately, it seeks to drive inclusive, sustainable economic growth, reduce brain drain, and accelerate Montenegro’s EU integration.

 

 

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