Girls have an important place in the STEM professions of today and tomorrow. This is a natural fact, confirmed by the biographies of extraordinary women who have forever changed the world of technology and whose ideas have shaped it into what it is today. Sometimes, in order to know where we are going, we need to remind ourselves where we came from – and that’s exactly what this year’s “Girls in ICT” campaign tells us.
Launched by the company One, the Ministry of Public Administration, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro, and IEC Tehnopolis, the campaign symbolically and visually features Ada Lovelace and Hedy Lamarr in an inspiring video that opens the campaign. The video connects past and future, dreams and knowledge, women and technology, and carries the message: “Imagine a world where every girl has the chance to create!”
“The inspirational video at the heart of the campaign takes us back to where it all began – to the women who laid the foundations of modern technology. Ada Lovelace, a 19th-century mathematician, is considered the first programmer in history, while Hedy Lamarr, a Hollywood actress and inventor, created the technology that later enabled the development of WiFi. Today, girls use technology daily but rarely hear that some of the most important innovations came from women. That’s why we chose to present these forgotten heroines of technology – to serve as role models for the girls who are learning, programming, and dreaming today. Some of them may soon become part of One, a company built on STEM knowledge – or their expertise might take them even further,” said Branko Mitrovic, CEO of One.
Directed by renowned Montenegrin director Gojko Berkuljan, the video powerfully inspires through its visuals and message. With carefully designed scenes and atmosphere, it shows how dreams, knowledge, and technology become tools of change when in the hands of girls. His contribution goes beyond artistic and aesthetic – he turns the video into a platform that carries a strong social message. One of the video’s striking details, encouraging girls to develop their skills regardless of stereotypes, is the Apollo mission, which would not have been possible without the critical contribution of women. To help girls reach for the stars, the Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj sent a message, also highlighting the role of IT experts within his Ministry.
“The women working in the IT Directorate of the Ministry of Public Administration, through their dedication, results, creativity, and engagement, add immense value to the achievements our Ministry strives for. They are role models for everyone who wishes to step into the unexplored and complex world of ICT. On the occasion of Girls in ICT Day, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations and encouragement. In a world that is rapidly changing, your creativity and innovation become a powerful force. Keep exploring new ideas and discovering the yet unknown secrets of information and communication technologies. Be the stars shaping the ICT world in the best possible way,” said Minister Dukaj.
The Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, emphasized that education is key to societal change and that gender equality must begin in the classroom. She stressed that investing in girls in STEM is not just a matter of justice but also a smart societal strategy.
“We are not educating children for the world as it is, but for the world as it could and must be. If we don’t give girls equal opportunities to learn, create, and lead in STEM fields, we are depriving the entire society of a potential that could propel it forward. One of the concrete steps in that direction is this campaign. The video we created in collaboration with One, the Ministry of Public Administration, and Tehnopolis will be shared with all schools in Montenegro. We want as many girls – and boys – as possible to hear messages that break stereotypes, inspire, and open doors to a future where knowledge has no gender,” said Jakšić Stojanovic.
IEC Tehnopolis Director Djorđije Malovic expressed satisfaction that Tehnopolis, as a key player in innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological development, is part of such a significant campaign.
“In a time when technology shapes our everyday lives, we must not ignore half of the talent. Girls have something to say; they have the potential to create. Our task is to encourage them. If we want innovation to truly meet the needs of all of society, then all of society must be involved in its development. That includes girls, because they bring freshness, new perspectives, enthusiasm, and the courage to look at technology in different – often more innovative – ways. I know this for a fact because I am the father of two such girls,” Malovic said.
Two days before International Girls in ICT Day, the campaign organizers will host a panel discussion featuring girls who are already achieving notable successes in STEM fields, as well as prominent experts from the ICT sector. The audience will include girls and boys from Montenegrin schools, because today we are shaping equality, beliefs, and our shared future – the very essence of what technology is and what it can become. Their words and examples will show that there is no need to wait for the future – the future is already here, in their hands. And the place of women, as the organizers say – is among the code, among the stars, and among the ideas that move the world!
