Proof of Concept (PoC) 2024

1. Companies

Companies falling into one of the following three categories:

The applicant must:

• comply with the definition set out in Annex 1 to the GBER Regulation;
• be registered in the Central Registry of Business Entities of Montenegro;
• have its registered office in Montenegro;
• have fulfilled all obligations relating to the regular payment of taxes and contributions;
• not be subject to pre-bankruptcy, bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings, have suspended regular business activities, or be in a similar situation in accordance with national legislation;
• have positive equity in the balance sheet as of 31 December 2023;
• not have received financial assistance from national or international public sources or donor programmes for the same activities covered by the project application. If the applicant has applied for funding from other state aid providers for the same eligible costs, it must submit a statement indicating the amount and status of such support.

2. Research organisations

Research organisations whose primary objective is the independent conduct of fundamental research, industrial research or experimental development, and which are registered in the register of centres of excellence, licensed institutions and organisational units referred to in Article 28, paragraph 3 of the Law on Scientific Research Activities, maintained by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development.

The research organisation must meet the definition of a “research and knowledge-dissemination organisation”, in accordance with the Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development and Innovation (2022/C 414/01), Chapter 1.3, point 16 (ff).

The applicant is required to be registered in the Innovation Activity Register no later than six months from the date of signing the grant agreement. Registration is carried out through the web portal: www.inovacije.gov.me.