Continuation of successful cooperation between Montenegro and the World Bank

Washington D.C, the United States (31 March 2016) -- Minister of Science Sanja Vlahović met, during her stay in Washington, the Senior Director for Education at the World Bank Claudia Costin.

In accordance with the results of HERIC, the sides expressed satisfaction with job done through this project. Thanks to the support of the World Bank, Montenegro received significant support in upgrading the system of higher education and research capacity, through the infrastructure construction and staff training. Specifically, through the HERIC project, Ministry of Science funded the first Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics BIO-ICT in the amount of EUR 3.4 million and 8 large collaborative grants of EUR 2.6 million, that helped building and equipping more than 10 laboratories in Montenegro. These grants are aimed at the research commercialisation, which means that through research and innovation we create new products and services and thus become more competitive on the European market, and reduce the gap between business and science. Also, the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Education for the second year in a row publicise the National scholarship programme for master's, doctoral and postdoctoral students, entitled "National Scholarship for Excellence", which last year funded 38 master's, 25 doctoral and 4 postdoctoral students at prestigious institutions of higher education and science worldwide.

Minister Vlahović thanked the World Bank for its continued support to Montenegro, both through programmes and projects, and engagement of professional and expert assistance as well. Vlahović took the opportunity to talk with director Costin on the continuation of cooperation through the World Bank's support in the new cycle 1917-2020. Considering that HERIC project had the task of raising the scientific research system in Montenegro, logical sequence would be support of the World Bank in establishing Science and Technology Park in Montenegro, as well as new centres of excellence, and encouraging innovation through incentives for the formation of innovative start up and spin off companies.

Director Costin provided full support to the presented concept and expressed expectations that Montenegro, in cooperation with the World Bank, as one of its priorities, will identify the development of science, technology and innovation, bearing in mind that this is fully in line with the priorities of the World Bank for the upcoming cycle (2016-2020).

Zorica Kalezić, former representative of Montenegro in the World Bank and now representative in the International Monetary Fund, also attended the meeting.