A program of support for young research has been announced
With financial support by the European Union, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Finance presented the IPA grant scheme "Scientific potential in the service of innovation." The presentation of the grant scheme also included an announcement for the open call for project proposals. The deadline for submitting proposals to the Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare is 20 August, and two additional Info Sessions will be organised, on 9 July in Podgorica, and on 15 July in a virtual format as an incentive for potential applicants to apply for non-refundable financial support.
The acting Director General of the Directorate for European Integration, Programming and Implementation of EU Funds and International Cooperation in the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Goran Drobnjak expressed his wish for as many researches as possible, primarily young ones, to find themselves in the field of innovation and research through work and professional engagement in the economic and academic sector.
"I expect that the application of potential applicants, as well as the implementation of all four thematic priorities of the Smart Specialisation Strategy will exceed the success of the current grant scheme from the EU-Montenegro Programme for Education, Employment and Social Policy, and that it will be another step in adopting European values in science and research and one significant step towards the future use of structural funds," said Drobnjak.
The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and the Delegation of the European Union in Podgorica, prepared a Grant Scheme in the amount of € 1,176,470, ie individual grants ranging from €80,000 to €125,000. The realisation of the projects themselves will provide increased mobility for young researchers, improve their technical and commercial skills by working in the private sector, but also strengthen research and development capacities by working in the academic sphere.
"We have a responsibility to the young researchers of this country to create the best possible conditions and help them with the development of practical skills, knowledge and creative thinking. The European Union is therefore pleased to have committed one million Euros to this grant scheme, encouraging cooperation between science and industry. The Montenegrin industry must now increase investment in research and development and cooperate more with research institutions and researchers. The European Union will continue to support Montenegro on that path," said Audrone Urbonaviciute, Deputy Head of Cooperation Section at the EU Delegation to Montenegro.
Project proposals in the grant scheme "Scientific potential in the service of innovation" must relate to at least one of the four areas listed: sustainable agriculture and food value chain, energy and sustainable environment, sustainable and health tourism, and information and communication technologies (ICT). Project proposals can be submitted by all scientific research institutions licensed by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports; public or private universities or faculty units; registered micro, small or medium enterprises; business support organisations (such as entrepreneurship centres, innovation centres, innovation entrepreneurship centres, etc.); and NGOs. It is important that all of these organisations have the status of a legal entity.
Projects cannot last shorter than 18, nor longer than 24 months and all project activities must take place in the territory of Montenegro. Detailed information, and all documents required for submission of applications are available on the website of the Directorate for Financing and Contracting of EU Assistance Funds of the Ministry of Finance.