The Innovation Fund of Montenegro has opened a public call for the submission of challenges under Phase I of the Programme for Financing Innovative Solutions in the Public Sector – GovTech. The call invites public sector entities to identify and submit specific problems encountered in their operations that require the development or adaptation of innovative technological solutions.
The deadline for submitting applications is 1 December 2026, at 15:00 CET.
The aim of the call is to identify challenges faced by public sector institutions in Montenegro and create opportunities for the development and testing of solutions that contribute to the digital transformation and modernisation of public administration, more efficient delivery of public services, reduced operating costs, improved resource management, and increased satisfaction among citizens and businesses.
“For innovation in the public sector to deliver tangible results, we need to start with the actual needs of institutions. The Programme for Financing Innovative Solutions in the Public Sector enables real-life challenges to be matched with the knowledge and capacities of companies and scientific research organisations, with the aim of developing solutions that improve institutional performance and the quality of services provided to citizens and businesses. We therefore encourage public institutions to identify the challenges they face and submit them under this public call,” said Katarina Lalović, Executive Director of the Innovation Fund of Montenegro.
Applications may be submitted by public sector entities in Montenegro, including ministries and state administration bodies, public institutions, independent regulatory bodies, public agencies and funds established primarily by the Government of Montenegro, local self-government units, the Central Bank of Montenegro, public enterprises majority-owned by the state, as well as other entities that meet the eligibility requirements of the public call.
A submitted challenge should have a significant impact on the institution’s operations and/or the quality of services provided to citizens, and should not be adequately addressed through standard procurement procedures. It should have potential for the application of modern technologies, a clearly defined target group and expected outcomes, as well as the capacity to implement and test the proposed solution. Institutions facing the same or similar challenges may submit a joint application.
The Programme is implemented in two phases. In Phase I, public sector entities submit their challenges, after which selected challenges will form the basis for seeking innovative solutions in Phase II. Companies and scientific research organisations will then be invited to propose solutions to the selected challenges. Projects selected following the evaluation process in Phase II may receive financial support for the development and testing of prototypes and pilot projects, or for adapting existing solutions to the needs of public institutions.
The previous cycle of the GovTech Programme demonstrated public sector interest in this model of cooperation. A total of 91 challenges were submitted, of which 76 were selected for Phase II. The subsequent call for solutions received 141 proposals, and 16 projects were selected for implementation in cooperation with 18 publi
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