Two Montenegrin teams that previously received financial support from the Innovation Fund of Montenegro achieved notable success at the regional EIT Water & PDJF Hackathon 2026, held at the University of Zadar. DoWater won second place, while INOVUL secured third place, competing against 11 teams from Croatia and the wider region.
The regional hackathon brought together innovative teams, students, researchers and startups developing technological solutions to challenges related to water management, marine and coastal protection. A total of 22 projects from 18 countries were submitted during the programme, while 11 teams from Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia qualified for the final competition.
Second place was awarded to the Montenegrin team DoWater, which presented solar-powered atmospheric water generators – devices that use solar energy to extract water from the air, with the aim of producing drinking water.
Third place went to INOVUL, which presented a patented mechanical wave energy converter, a technology that directly transforms wave motion into rotational mechanical energy. A working mini-prototype of the solution was also presented at the final event.
Both teams are part of Montenegro's innovation ecosystem, whose development the Innovation Fund of Montenegro supports through programmes designed to foster the growth of startups and innovative companies.
DoWater received support through the Early-Stage Startup Development Programme, under which it developed a solution for producing water from atmospheric moisture using solar energy.
INOVUL LLC, Tuzi, develops innovative technological solutions in the maritime sector. Among the company's projects are the Innovative Smart Ship Mooring System, which provides an automated, efficient and secure solution for mooring and unmooring vessels, and the Vessel Mooring Device, designed to improve the safety and efficiency of vessel mooring.
The success of these two teams at the regional competition once again demonstrates the potential of Montenegrin startups and innovative companies to develop practical technological solutions and successfully present them on the regional and international stage.
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