The final meeting of the Steering Committee for the project of “Strengthening National Participation in Horizon 2020” held

Today, on 2 November 2017, the Ministry of Science organized the final meeting of the Steering Committee for the project of “Strengthening National Participation in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation – Horizon 2020”.

Head of the Section for International Programmes and European Integration in the Ministry of Science, Ms. Smilja Kažić Vujačić, welcomed the attendees and pointed out the positive results of the project and significant efforts of the expert team aimed at successful implementation of the planned activities, as well as excellent joint cooperation of all project partners, focused on strengthening national participation in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation – Horizon 2020.

The head of the expert team of the IBF consulting company, Mr. Alex Percy Smith, presented the activities implemented on the project, which form part of the Final Report of the project, pointing out the support provided for the development of project ideas for ten Montenegrin institutions, as well as the fact that more than 80 people were trained through six general training cycles for Horizon 2020.

Special attention in the presentation of Mr. Smith was devoted to expert support in the area of ​​development of concrete project proposals, especially those that would soon be submitted for consideration by the European Commission. The expert also expressed his satisfaction with the organization and content of the Final Event, which was held yesterday on the occasion of the finalization of project activities on this Framework Agreement, as well as with the review of project activities provided by all its participants.

He also pointed out the lessons learned during the implementation of the project itself, based on which recommendations were made for future activities in this segment.

In addition to representatives of the Ministry of Science and the head of the expert team, Mr. Alex Percy Smith, the meeting was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Finance – the Directorate for Contracting and Funding through EU Assistance Funds, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of European Affairs and the representatives of the Delegation of the European Union in Podgorica.

The Framework Agreement for Strengthening National Participation in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation – Horizon 2020 is implemented within the framework of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), through Component IV – Human Resources Development Operational Programme 2012–2013.

The total value of the project amounts to EUR 299,000.00.