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The two-day Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation, organised by the European Commission, the EU Council Presidency and Montenegrin Government received good media coverage, mostly online on various portals (such as CdM, Vijesti, RTCG, AntenaM, Pobjeda, DanOnline, mina.news, Gradski, Aktuelno, Standard, E, rtnk, Analitika, VolimPodgoricu, BiznisCG, mportal, Dan).
On the first day, news portals frequently highlighted European Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva and EU Ambassador Johann Sattler, who welcomed the ministers to Podgorica, describing the meeting as a crucial opportunity to strengthen cooperation in research and innovation between the European Union and the Western Balkans. The media reported about the importance of transforming the region’s scientific and entrepreneurial potential into economic growth, based on a press release issued by the Montenegrin Ministry. Coverage of the second day focused on a bilateral meeting between Commissioner Zaharieva and Montenegro’s Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Andjela Jaksic-Stojanovic, attended by Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorcevic. According to the Ministry’s press release, the Commissioner reiterated that the EU and Montenegro are strong partners in research and innovation. She noted Montenegro’s significant progress since joining EU programmes in 2008 and highlighted its distinction as the first non-EU country to adopt the Smart Specialisation Strategy, facilitating access to European funds and fostering collaboration between academia and industry in key development areas.
Summary of key points based on the media articles
- The Ministerial Meeting served as a platform for high-level dialogue between EU officials, ministers from the Western Balkans, and representatives from scientific, innovation, and business communities, aiming to strengthen cooperation in research and innovation and accelerate EU integration.
- Montenegrin ministers emphasised the country’s ongoing commitment to “smart specialisation” strategy, advancement of research infrastructure and innovation-driven transformation, presenting tangible investments of 168 million euros to date, including launching the Innovation Fund, Science and Technology Park Montenegro in Podgorica, Technopolis Nikšić etc.
- Montenegro was noted as the first non-EU country to adopt a Smart Specialisation Strategy and is working on a renewed strategy for 2026–2031, seen as key for accessing EU structural funds and competitive positioning in the European Research Area.
- Regional officials and EU Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva applauded the significant scientific progress since 2008, highlighting successful participation in EU research programmes.
- Further priorities outlined include: closer academia-industry ties, addressing the challenges of green and digital transitions, leveraging artificial intelligence in science, and increasing public investment in R&I towards the 3% of GDP target (currently between 0.2–1%).
- All parties underscored the transformative power of R&I for supporting EU accession, economic growth, sustainable development and societal cohesion in the Western Balkans.
Coverage also touched upon the study “Startup Ecosystem in the Western Balkans at a Crossroads”, noting strong entrepreneurial energy but obstacles such as limited private investment, skills gaps, brain drain, and regulatory fragmentation. Planx for a regional excellence programme (RISE) have been mentioned, providing mentoring, training and early-stage funding for innovative startups.
Examples: Crna Gora na mapi evropske nauke: Infrastruktura, inovacije i pametna specijalizacija u fokusu ministarskog sastanka u Podgorici – Gradski portal; Kapetanović: Regionalna saradnja može pretvoriti značajan startup potencijal u mjerljiv rast – Gradski portal; MPNI: Infrastruktura, inovacije i pametna specijalizacija u fokusu ministarskog sastanka u Podgorici; MPNI: Infrastruktura, inovacije i pametna specijalizacija u fokusu ministarskog sastanka u Podgorici | Portal ETV; Infrastruktura, inovacije i pametna specijalizacija u fokusu ministarskog sastanka u Podgorici – Radio-Televizija Nikšić; Kapetanović: Regionalna saradnja može pretvoriti značajan startup potencijal u mjerljiv rast – Radio-Televizija Nikšić; Ministarstvo prosvjete, nauke i inovacija: Crna Gora i EU produbljuju partnerstvo u istraživanju i inovacijama – CdM; Jakšić-Stojanović: Cilj nam je više projekata sa mjerljivim uticajem, uključujući koordinatorske uloge crnogorskih partnera; Crna Gora i EU produbljuju partnerstvo u istraživanju i inovacijama; Crna Gora i EU produbljuju partnerstvo u istraživanju i inovacijama :: Društvo :: RTCG – Radio Televizija Crne Gore – Nacionalni javni servis; Zaharijeva: Crna Gora je ostvarila impresivan napredak; ДАН – MPNI: Crna Gora i EU produbljuju partnerstvo u istraživanju i inovacijama; Crna Gora i EU produbljuju partnerstvo u istraživanju i inovacijama ; Zaharijeva: Crna Gora od 2008. ostvarila impresivan napredak; Zaharijeva: Crna Gora od 2008. ostvarila impresivan napredak | Portal ETV; Ministarstvo prosvjete, nauke i inovacija: Crna Gora i EU produbljuju partnerstvo u istraživanju i inovacijama – Volim Podgoricu; https://bizniscg.me/crna-gora-i-eu-produbljuju-partnerstvo-u-istrazivanju-i-inovacijama/; Crna Gora i EU produbljuju partnerstvo u istraživanju i inovacijama – Radio-Televizija Nikšić; Zaharijeva: Crna Gora je ostvarila impresivan napredak | M portal Crna Gora | mportal.me