Total call value: 350.000 EUR

Key objectives: 

• Providing evidence that the new process or technology is feasible and can have commercial application;
• Providing certainty to investors that the process is technically feasible and that the prototype works;
• Reduction of technical and commercial risks, identification of the most appropriate commercialization strategy and initiation of intellectual property protection;
• Increasing the development and introduction of innovative products or processes that are the result of applied research and development activities;
• Strengthening the capacity and ability of the private sector to develop innovations.

Grant value and percentage of co-financing

The lowest amount is 20.000,00 EUR;

The maximum amount is 40.000,00 EUR.

1. A) The maximum intensity of state aid for the private sector amounts to:

• Micro and small enterprises – 70%;
• Medium enterprises – 60%.

1. B) Maximum intensity of state aid to applicants who meet the definition of “organization for research and dissemination of knowledge” up to 90% of eligible project costs.

Who can apply?

• Companies that fall into one of three categories:

• hat they comply with the definition in Annex 1 of the GBER Regulation;
• that they are registered in the Central Register of Business Entities of Montenegro;
• that they are based in the territory of Montenegro;
• that they have fulfilled all obligations of regular payment of taxes and contributions;
• that they are not in pre-bankruptcy, bankruptcy, liquidation proceedings, that they have not suspended regular business activity or similar in accordance with national regulations;
• that in the balance sheet on the date 31/12/2023. have a positive capital value;
• that they did not use financial assistance from public national and international funding sources, or donor programs for the same activities included in the project application. If the applicant has applied for funds from other providers of state aid for the same justified expenses, it is necessary to submit a statement stating the amount and status of this support.

• Scientific research organizations whose primary goal is the independent implementation of fundamental research, industrial research or experimental development, which are registered in the register of centers of excellence, licensed institutions and organizational units managed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation

Eligible costs

• Staff salary costs (gross 2) employed by the applicant as well as newly employed staff;
• Costs of outside research services;
• Costs of materials and small inventory for the needs of the project;
• Costs of instruments and equipment;
• Business travel expenses related to the implementation of the project;
• Costs of market analysis, preparation of a feasibility study, preparation of a study or plan for commercialization, and costs of verification and protection of intellectual property;
• VAT on eligible expenses for which the applicant cannot secure its refund.
• Indirect costs

How and where they apply.

The applicant first registers on the Fund’s portal via a linkwww.programifonda.me

The request for account registration is automatically approved, after which the Applicant receives the necessary credentials via email. After registration, the Applicant can submit his Application directly on the portal.

If there is anything else specific to the call

The period of implementation of the selected projects is at least 4 and at most 12 months.

The program will support projects that have an early stage of technological readiness, from TRL3 to TRL4.

The selection criteria evaluated by the evaluators are:

• Project – goal, purpose, expected results, feasibility of the proposed research;
• The level of innovation of the project;
• Assessment of market potential;
• Operational capacities of the Applicant.