Agreement signed on scientific and technological cooperation between Montenegro and the Czech Republic

 

Minister of Science in the Government of Montenegro, Dr. Sanja Damjanović, and Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Montenegro, H.E. Karel Urban, signed today, on 10 June 2019, the Agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the Czech Republic on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. The signing ceremony took place at Vila Gorica, during the official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, H.E. Tomáš Petříček, to Montenegro.

   

Before the official ceremony, Minister Damjanović met with Minister Petříček, exchanging information on science and research systems in Montenegro and the Czech Republic, with particular reference to the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), modalities of cooperation between the academic community and the business sector through the establishment and operation of Science and Technology Parks, as well as on the regional project of establishing the South East European International Institute for Sustainable Technologies (SEEIIST).

   

In this regard, Minister Damjanović informed her counterpart about the challenges that Montenegro had to face as a small country on its path to the EU in the field of science, research and innovation. According to her, with a view to tackle those challenges and to identify its advantages, Montenegro has finalised its Smart Specialisation Strategy, whose adoption is expected by the end of the month. “The link between the academic community and the business sector is particularly important, with a focus on the need for greater private sector investment in science and research, and for this reason Montenegro has commenced the establishment of the first Science and Technology Park (STP) in Podgorica. Better networking and internationalisation process strengthening is provided through the membership of Montenegro in many international scientific institutions, as well as through the regional project of establishing the South East European International Institute for Sustainable Technologies (SEEIIST), which would also contribute to reducing brain drain and boosting the economic prosperity of this region”, the minister said.

   

Minister Petříček emphasised the unambiguous support of the Czech Republic to Montenegro on its European path, reflecting on the experience of his country in the implementation of the Smart Specialisation Strategy, as well as on the experience gained in terms of the relationship between the academic community and the business sector. In this regard, he agreed with Minister Damjanović on the need to strengthen cooperation between Czech and Montenegrin companies, especially within the framework of the STP concept, as well as through the possibility of joint implementation of projects in S3 priority areas: health tourism, agriculture, energy and ICT. Furthermore, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic pointed to the need to strengthen university cooperation, in particular through the ERASMUS+ programme. In the context of the SEEIIST project, Minister Petříček indicated a possibility of cooperation with the Prague Institute of Physics, noting that his country would support the inclusion of the SEEIIST on the European Roadmap (ESFRI). Finally, both sides supported the idea to jointly announce a call for submission of bilateral scientific research projects, with a special focus on large research projects.

The signed Agreement enables Montenegrin researchers to work in research centres and institutes in the Czech Republic, facilitating the use of state-of-the-art technologies and modern laboratories, exchange of knowledge and experience through joint research projects and the possibility of training for masters’ and doctoral candidates engaged in projects. It also allows for greater joint participation in international and European projects, especially Horizon 2020.