January 10, 2024.
The Innovation Fund of Montenegro is pleased to present the approved projects within the Public Call program for strengthening the innovation of newly established or existing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The public call, which was open from June 1 to September 1, 2023, attracted significant interest from innovative companies, resulting in 51 submitted applications. After the administrative review, 35 of them were sent for international evaluation, consisting of three independent experts for each project proposal individually, selected from the Fund’s evaluator database based on the expertise required by the project content. After the completion of the first round of evaluation, 15 project teams met the pass threshold and were sent for the second round of evaluation.
In the second round of evaluation, teams presented their ideas in the live pitch and answered questions from the three-member international commission. At the end of the second round of evaluation, the scores from the first and second rounds were summarized, and a total of 8 projects were nominated to receive grants, seven projects in the field of information and communication technologies and one in sustainable agriculture and the food value chain.
The final funding decision was made in accordance with the proposed ranking list, and the total budget for this Public Call is 986,488.00 EUR.
The program supports projects whose technological maturity is beyond the concept proving the concept stage but are not yet ready for the market, i.e., those whose technological readiness level of the project is between TRL 5 and TRL 8, or in the experimental development phase. You can find a detailed list of approved projects, along with additional information about each project, in the following table:
Table 1. List of approved projects for the Program line for strengthening the innovation of newly established or existing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
| Applicant | Project Name | Brief Description | Approved grant amount |
| Archangel Enterprises LLC Podgorica | Bleak Faith: Forsaken – Development & Preparation for a Console video-game release | Bleak Faith: Forsaken is an action RPG game set in an open-world from the third-person perspective within a fascinating cyberpunk and dark fantasy world. The game has already undergone a soft launch phase on the PC platform via the Steam service. This game offers players a challenging experience, providing them with an unforgettable adventure. With procedurally generated levels and authentic design in every aspect, Bleak Faith: Forsaken creates an intense atmosphere, promising players an incredible experience. The support will enable the expansion of the game’s availability to other consoles, allowing players worldwide to enjoy it. | 200,000.00 |
| ODIUS LLC Bar | Innovative way of feeding fish fry | Organic fish production goals are achieved by eliminating all substances in fish food that may have negative effects on human health, as well as on the well-being of the fish themselves. This is achieved through this innovative approach of feeding fish fry. Comparative cultivation of natural food (zooplankton) in special fry feeding pools achieves greater success. Feeding fish with live prey has multiple benefits. In previous practice, 90% of the food was of artificial origin. Through the solution presented within this project, the aim is for 90% of the fish food to be of natural origin. The focus is on cultivating zooplankton near river mouths, where biological waste from fish and algae metabolism accumulates. This waste is used as a resource for zooplankton cultivation, contributing to fish fry production. Additionally, environmental protection is achieved by reducing dependence on industrially produced artificial fish food. | 101,600.00 |
| UHURA Solutions LLC Podgorica | Generative AI Intelligent Process Automation Platform (GAIPAP) | The ” Generative AI Intelligent Process Automation Platform (GAIPAP) project represents a transformative initiative aimed at revolutionizing the financial industry. The idea is to transform business operations by integrating advanced AI automated solutions that combine Fine-Tuned Large Language Models (LLM), low-code frameworks, and process automation workflows. This innovative technology promises significant improvements in operational efficiency, cost reduction, and enhancement of customer experience in the financial sector domain. | 162,680.00 |
| Goldbear Technologies LLC Podgorica | LimoExpress- ultimate SaaS for Limo service agencies | LimoExpress is a platform providing limo transfer organization services intended for limo agencies, hotels, and taxi associations. The main purpose of this platform is to significantly simplify the limo transfer booking process, improve communication, and digitize all operations, thus eliminating data loss. Unlike existing platforms, LimoExpress centralizes all operations, facilitates communication, and enables digital tracking of the entire process. This innovative platform aims to enhance the operation of limo agencies, providing efficiency and clarity throughout the entire process. It consists of two parts: a mobile application for drivers and a back-office web platform for operators. | 85,776.00 |
| MoDrone LLC Podgorica | An AI/IoT-based fully qualified sensor system development for real-time monitoring of a landslide – ALARMslide | The project aims to develop an innovation in the field of geosensor technology for continuous monitoring of unstable terrain and artificial structures. ALARMslide will stimulate innovations in geodetic monitoring by developing a geosensor system based on artificial intelligence (AI)/Internet of Things (IoT) for real-time landslide monitoring. The system will also consist of a data collection, analysis, and data visualization platform. The geosensor is designed to be user-friendly and economical, providing highly accurate real-time data. With the ALARMslide project, Montenegro will obtain an advanced real-time unstable terrain monitoring system, thereby increasing infrastructure safety and reducing the risk of loss of life. This innovation has broad potential for application in the fields of geodetic monitoring and landslide risk management. | 149,200.00 |
| BeBeep LLC Podgorica | BeBeep – Developing a commercially viable mobile application prototype | BeBeep is an innovative ride-sharing platform aimed at transforming the way people travel, enabling comfortable ride-sharing and cost-sharing for users traveling between cities. This platform connects two different user groups: drivers and passengers, creating a dynamic ecosystem for easy trip planning and cost-sharing. The mobile application will have an extensive set of features and options, providing a fully equipped platform for user interaction, and will be user-oriented. | 52,216.00 |
| Montenegro Tourist Service LLC Podgorica | Monte.Ski: Montenegro’s Mountain Magic, One Click Away | The ” Monte.Ski: Montenegro’s Mountain Magic, One Click Away” project aims to revolutionize winter tourism in Montenegro through digital transformation. With the increasing popularity of the winter season and the lack of a centralized online tourism platform, the initiative is to create a comprehensive online destination that will allow skiing enthusiasts to easily book ski passes, rent equipment, schedule lessons, and reserve accommodation. Using an existing application connected with hotels and apartments, this project will provide users with a simple and efficient experience, allowing them to make the most of what Montenegrin mountains offer without unnecessary waiting and complications. | 113,120.00 |
| Logate LLC Podgorica | OpenProvider Platform Upgrade for 5G SA Network Functions | OpenProvider is a product that represents a set of network functions found in the core network system of every telecommunication operator. This technological component plays a critical role in providing user internet authorization, and therefore, internet access. This means that OpenProvider is a product that must have availability of 99.999% and must constantly follow technological trends to enable telecommunication operators to create innovative types of services and thus greater competitiveness. OpenProvider is the only software solution of its kind developed in Montenegro and one of the few in the world with this approach. | 121,896.00 |
