Final Conference on Smart Specialisation Strategy: European Commission welcomes achieved results

The progress of Montenegro in the process of adopting the Smart Specialisation Strategy has been recognised by the European Commission, Head of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre Alessandro Rainoldi said today at the final conference S3.me - Smart specialisation: innovation, entrepreneurship and competitiveness.

- I am surprised by the progress of Montenegro so far, Rainoldi emphasised, adding that the Strategy must be accepted by all actors involved in its adoption.

The goal of adopting the Smart Specialisation Strategy is to develop projects that the EU will support, with the focus on applying innovations in production processes; the transformation of good ideas into products, market success; as well as better use of research capacities for the benefit of the economy.

The final conference was opened by Minister of Economy Dragica Sekulić, who pointed out that the work on the drafting of the Strategy in the past period was very successful, where the expert assistance of the European Commission, i.e. the Joint Research Center (JRC) was significant, in order that the Government of Montenegro by the end of the year can adopt a document that will further contribute to the further development of the most perspective sectors of the Montenegrin economy.

- The importance of the concept of "smart specialisation" has been recognised by the Industrial Policy of Montenegro 2018 - 2020. It stimulates structural changes, modernisation of the industry with the aim of adopting new technologies and new products, investing in the development of knowledge and skills, improving innovation and research opportunities, especially through cooperation of science and economy, Minister Sekulić said.

She emphasised that the "smart specialisation" identifies comparative advantages and potentials in certain priority sectors, thus strengthening of innovation capacity, technological or other specialization and achieving recognition and position in the global market and strengthening competitiveness of economy.