The general objective of this program is to continuously contribute to the competitiveness growth of Montenegro and the development of an innovation and knowledge-based economy.

Specific Objectives of the Program

• Engaging prominent professionals, scientists, innovators, and/or entrepreneurs from home and abroad who, in a structured format, through training lasting up to 6 months, can contribute to the improvement of knowledge and skills of young people (students, young researchers, and professionals).
• Strengthening the capacities of human resources for current and prospective scientific and technological fields in which the national education system still cannot develop the necessary skills.
• Promoting collaboration between educational institutions and companies to create lifelong learning programs through experiential learning and problem-solving in practice.

Grant Value and Co-financing Percentage

The applicant can receive funding from this program line up to 10,000 euros.

Co-financing of project activities is not mandatory, but if it exists, it can be provided by the applicant, project partners, donors, etc.

Who Can Apply?

The public call is open to:

• Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter MSMEs) established as legal entities as defined by the current Law on Business Organizations (“Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 35/2014, 2/2015, 38/2015, 20/2016, 33/2020, 38/2020, 53/2020, 98/2020, 130/2020, 44/2021, 107/2021, 131/2021, 15/2022, 52/2022, 34/2023, 57/2023, 115/2023, and 26/2024.), as well as the Law on Accounting (“Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 52/2016), registered in the Central Registry of Business Entities of Montenegro (CRPS) with headquarters in Montenegro and majority private ownership, provided that the share of a large business entity does not exceed 10%.
• NGOs registered in Montenegro.
• Public/private educational institutions registered in accordance with the General Law on Education.

Eligible and Ineligible Costs

The following categories of costs can be funded under this call:

• Personnel costs for staff engaged on the project. Staff engaged on the project can be employees of the applicant or employed solely for the purposes of project implementation.
• Costs of external experts/trainers for project implementation.
• Costs of equipment, materials, and small inventory for the project. Small inventory refers to materials and devices whose unit value is less than 300 euros excluding VAT.
• Promotion costs for the project.
• Official travel costs related to project implementation.
• VAT on eligible costs for which the applicant cannot secure a refund.

The Fund reserves the right to request documentation justifying budgeted costs if deemed necessary.

Ineligible Costs

• Value-added tax (VAT) for which a refund can be requested.
• Indirect costs incurred directly as a result of project implementation.
• Costs that the applicant has declared and financed under another action or program receiving funds from other public funding sources.
• Representation costs.
• All other costs not listed under eligible costs.

Project Duration and Implementation Period

The project duration is from 3 to 6 months. Planned activities must be implemented by the applicant by March 31, 2025.

How to Submit an Application

Applications with complete documentation are submitted electronically via the portal www.programifonda.me.

Contact email for this public call at the Innovation Fund is eik@fondzainovacije.me or tel. 020 653-052.

Depending on the topic, the training must last a minimum of five working days and include a minimum of 25% practical work, presentation of good practice examples, demonstrations, experiments, etc.