A dynamic and substantial year of growth, innovation, and international progress
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis has once again confirmed its status as one of the key institutions in Montenegro’s innovation ecosystem, with continuous growth, capacity strengthening, and an increasing international influence. Through all its programs, laboratories, trainings, and infrastructure segments, Tehnopolis has provided comprehensive support this year to the development of innovative ideas, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation. The results presented at today’s event at the Home of Digital Revolution stand as proof of this.
Đorđije Malović, Executive Director of IPC Tehnopolis, reflected on the dynamic, challenging, and content-rich year behind us, as well as on the comprehensive results achieved over the previous years.
The Business Incubator has once again remained the cornerstone of new entrepreneurial ventures. With 21 received applications and 60 residents at the end of the year, the incubator has further energized the innovation scene. Since its establishment, it has supported 120 residents and as many as 175 ideas. In addition, the pre-acceleration program BoostMeUp has continued building a recognizable brand of support for the startup community, with five completed cycles involving 217 teams, and 100 ideas receiving expert and infrastructural support. Notably, 17 startups developed through this program are already present on the global market, confirming the sustainability and quality of the support provided.
Tehnopolis has also achieved exceptional progress in the field of project management, cooperating with 266 partners from 28 countries and generating over 5.7 million euros through various projects. With 13 active and 34 completed projects, Tehnopolis confirms its place among the most active institutions in the region when it comes to the preparation, management, and implementation of international and development programs.
Through its programs and events, Tehnopolis has maintained its position as one of the most important hubs for innovators, scientists, students, and entrepreneurs. With as many as 154 organized events this year and 7,657 participants, the mission of creating an open innovation community has continued. The Montenegro Pitching Competition, Cross Border Coworking Conference, student startup camp, StartUP Week BoostMeUp 5.0, programs for CodeHubs, trainings, and the grand opening of the House of Digital Revolution represent just part of the rich program that marked the past year.
Special focus was placed on developing knowledge and competencies through various educational programs and professional training. This year, 363 participants completed 33 trainings, covering topics ranging from artificial intelligence, public procurement, and digital marketing to 2D animation, design, comics, and numerous specialized technical and industrial skills. Tehnopolis also made a special contribution to the youngest learners, implementing programs in cooperation with schools and kindergartens in Nikšić, where children had the opportunity to learn about 3D modelling, robotics, Arduino, and coding.
Tehnopolis BioLab further strengthened its position in the fields of science and agriculture. This year, 104 users relied on its services, 203 analyses were conducted, and 44 devices were tested, while the total laboratory workload has surpassed 1,000 analyses and nearly 300 users. Noteworthy achievements include drone monitoring of 50,000 m² of production areas and confirmation of competence through participation in international Proficiency Testing programs.
TechLab continued to be a space where new models and prototypes are created, offering training, mentoring support, and hands-on work with students, entrepreneurs, and partners from business and education. We supported the creation of 25 prototypes and conducted 12 trainings, some of which were based on curricula developed by the Lab’s staff.
The Data Center supported startups and academic institutions, further strengthening the digital infrastructure of Tehnopolis.
A major milestone this year was the opening of the Home of Digital Revolution, a new infrastructure segment dedicated to creativity, education, and the development of digital innovation. This multifunctional center already represents an important boost for future generations of innovators.
Tehnopolis’s results this year are not only about projects and programs, but also about the people behind them. The team of 29 employees continuously improved their competencies through training, conferences, and study visits in over 30 cities around the world, including Japan, Italy, Israel, and Belgium, further enhancing the quality of work and the organization’s international engagement.
Tehnopolis also became a member of the prestigious EBN network, paving the way for potential BIC certification. This year, we also contributed to Nikšić’s candidacy for the European Capital of Culture 2030, integrating our work into one of the country’s most important cultural and development projects.
We proudly conclude another year filled with results that demonstrate that Tehnopolis is a place where ideas that change the community, economy, and society are created. Our mission remains the same: to be a strong support system for innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers, and to work together with partners to build a sustainable, advanced, and globally competitive innovation ecosystem.
