Call for Applications announced for support to Smart Specialisation Strategy’s priority domain – ICT sector

The Ministry of Science has announced, for the first time, a Call for Applications for support to information and communication technologies as one of the priority domains of the Smart Specialisation Strategy of Montenegro (S3, 2019-2024).

With a view to implementation of the S3 strategy and development of an innovative economy with IT sector as its catalyst, the Call for Applications encourages the creation of a strategic IT cluster.

The IT sector is the proponent of development of the Montenegrin economy that will strengthen our traditionally strong industries, while creating a new one – IT economy.

The Call for Applications will contribute to the implementation of S3 in the priority domain of information and communication technologies. With a well-established functional innovation ecosystem, the IT sector should become the proponent of the future development of Montenegro, with the aim of making the IT industry a strong economic activity that would create the leading export products of the state of Montenegro. A strong IT industry should further increase the competitiveness of traditionally strong industries. The cooperation of stakeholders in the IT community within the lifelong learning system should lead to an increase in the number of employees and the growth of necessary skills for the development of this sector, while reducing the brain drain because our young generations will be exposed to the digital world. A strengthened IT sector will contribute to the digital transformation of society, with the digitalisation of public administration that responds to the needs of citizens and the economy.

The Call for Applications is open to companies or non-governmental organisations implementing cluster activities in the field of information technology as their main field of work, as well as to legal entities active in the field of information technology, which have a plan to establish a cluster organisation in the field of information technology within six months after receiving the support.

The Ministry of Science will co-finance a programme for development of a strategic innovative – IT cluster with up to 50% of the total programme costs, up to a maximum of EUR 900,000 over a period of three years. The activities supported through the Call for Applications are the following: establishment and support for organisational and administrative cluster strengthening, creation of professional development programmes with the aim of strengthening human capacities in the IT sector, and internationalisation and partnership creation.

The deadline for submission of applications is 30 November 2020, by 2:00 p.m. The programme implementation should commence in the first quarter of 2021.

The Call for Applications is available HERE

The Application Form is available HERE

The Budget Table is available HERE

The Form with data on the Programme Holder and Partners is available HERE

The Call for Applications in English is available HERE