Montenegro’s IDEA-ME innovation programme is being implemented as part of the country’s broader European Union accession process, with the aim of strengthening innovation governance, increasing research and development capacity and improving cooperation between science and business. The Innovation for Development and Economic Advancement in Montenegro (IDEA-ME) project is designed to connect Montenegro more closely with European innovation platforms and improve the country’s ability to develop a more coordinated innovation ecosystem.
The programme runs from April 2025 to March 2027 with a budget of $566,675. It is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), with UNDP acting as the lead agency. Project partners include the Ministry of Education of Montenegro, the Ministry of Science and Innovation, the Innovation Fund, the Science and Technology Park, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Technopolis, and the Technology Transfer Office.
Innovation governance linked to EU accession priorities
The project focuses on strengthening innovation governance, increasing public and private investment in research and development (R&D), improving science-business cooperation, supporting research commercialisation and building the capacity of institutions involved in innovation. Additional objectives include promoting inclusive and sustainable innovation, aligning Montenegro’s innovation policies with EU standards, and expanding regional and international cooperation.
The programme is linked to several EU negotiation areas, including Chapter 20 – Enterprise and Industrial Policy, Chapter 25 – Science and Research, Chapter 26 – Education and Culture, Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change, and Chapter 10 – Information Society and Media. Through this approach, innovation policy is positioned as part of Montenegro’s accession requirements related to industrial development, research, digitalisation and environmental transition.
Project builds on Montenegro’s Smart Specialisation Strategy
IDEA-ME builds on Montenegro’s revised Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), which identifies priority areas where the country can develop competitive economic activities.
The five S3 priority domains are:
- Construction
- Energy and Sustainable Environment
- Sustainable Agriculture and Food
- Digital Innovation and Transformation
- Innovative and Sustainable Tourism
The strategy is intended to direct public resources towards sectors where Montenegro can develop stronger innovation capacity and competitive advantages.
Stakeholder process includes more than 200 participants
The S3 development process has entered the stakeholder-mapping and strategy-building phase. Thematic expert groups have been established, involving more than 200 representatives from government institutions, academia, the private sector and civil society. The groups operate through the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process, a mechanism designed to identify innovation priorities through structured cooperation between stakeholders rather than through government-led planning alone.
Focus on commercialising research and supporting businesses
A central element of the programme is improving the connection between research activities and market applications. IDEA-ME includes measures related to science-business collaboration, research commercialisation, policy incentives for SDG-focused entrepreneurship, and support for accelerators and incubators. Preparatory activities have started to identify gaps and opportunities for startups and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Future activities are expected to include targeted training programmes and policy development measures aimed at improving innovation support mechanisms.
European innovation networks and regional cooperation
The programme also supports Montenegro’s preparation for participation in European smart specialisation networks and regional innovation partnerships. Through involvement in S3 Thematic Platforms, Montenegrin institutions and companies would gain opportunities for cooperation, knowledge exchange and participation in wider European innovation ecosystems. The initiative is intended to strengthen links between domestic organisations and international innovation networks.
Women-led enterprises included in innovation support measures
IDEA-ME includes a component focused on gender-responsive innovation support.
Activities include development of a gender-responsive training framework, monitoring institutional participation, collecting sex-disaggregated data and assessing knowledge gained after training.
The project includes support measures targeting women-led enterprises as part of broader efforts to expand participation in the innovation ecosystem.
Energy and environment identified as innovation priorities
The Energy and Sustainable Environment S3 domain is linked to Montenegro’s investment needs in areas including renewable energy, electricity infrastructure, energy efficiency, environmental compliance, wastewater systems and climate adaptation. The innovation framework aims to connect universities, engineering companies, energy developers, municipalities and financial institutions around practical solutions. The implementation of projects within this area depends on the development of initiatives that can be financed, tested and expanded.
Tourism sector targeted through digital and sustainable solutions
The Innovative and Sustainable Tourism priority area focuses on improving productivity and value creation within Montenegro’s tourism sector. Potential areas include digital tourism services, energy-efficient hospitality facilities, destination-management tools, cultural heritage technologies, health and wellness services, circular economy solutions and year-round tourism products.
The approach is aimed at supporting innovation within the existing tourism sector through new services and technologies.
Construction sector linked to higher-value development
The Construction priority domain reflects the importance of the sector within Montenegro’s investment activity. Innovation measures in construction include areas such as digital permitting, building information modelling, energy-efficiency standards, materials innovation and project-management systems. The objective is to support a more productive construction sector, particularly as Montenegro prepares for larger infrastructure and regional development investments.
Innovation capacity seen as key for future EU funding absorption
The IDEA-ME project has a budget of $566,675, which represents a limited amount compared with the scale of Montenegro’s broader economic transformation needs. The programme’s role is focused on improving policies, institutional coordination and mechanisms that could help attract and manage larger financial resources from the EU, national budgets, private investors and development-finance institutions. The effectiveness of the programme will depend on whether it strengthens Montenegro’s ability to develop and implement projects in productive sectors.
Innovation governance connected with future EU financial opportunities
The programme is also linked to Montenegro’s future access to wider EU funding mechanisms. Potential EU membership would provide access to larger financial programmes covering cohesion instruments, competitiveness programmes, agricultural support and cross-border cooperation.
The capacity to manage innovation policy would influence how effectively Montenegro could use these resources for infrastructure, startups, research networks, green investments and regional development projects. IDEA-ME brings together public institutions, academic organisations, startups, MSMEs, women-led businesses, sectoral stakeholders and international networks within a single innovation framework. The programme connects innovation policy with green transition, digital transformation, EU standards and Montenegro’s Smart Specialisation Strategy, creating a structure for further development of the country’s innovation ecosystem.
