New Grant Scheme - IPA III

Within the Annual Action Plan for Montenegro for 2024, a new grant scheme was approved for the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation. The grant scheme has an indicative budget of around 1.2 million EUR and will focus on two main EU priorities: green transition and digital transition. It will also continue to strengthen the research and innovation ecosystem, building on the foundations laid by the previous scheme. A key development is the intention to introduce the Innovation Fund as a beneficiary of direct fund allocation, prompting changes to the Action Plan to implement this intention. Following this, the preparation of the applicant’s guide will begin.

The grant scheme aims to support the further development of the research and innovation ecosystem in Montenegro and will focus on strengthening cooperation between the academic and business sectors. Special attention will be given to projects that promote climate change resilience, circular economy, and technological advancement. Increased cross-sectoral mobility of young researchers and stronger links between scientific results and market needs are also expected. Ultimately, the scheme will contribute to the implementation of the Smart Specialisation Strategy and sustainable economic growth.