Public call for consultation of the interested public – drafting the Proposal for a Law on Innovation Activities

Pursuant to Article 12 of the Decree on the appointment of representatives of non-governmental organisations to the working bodies of state administration bodies and the conduct of public consultations in the process of drafting laws and strategies (Official Gazette of Montenegro 41/18), the Ministry of Science announces a Public call for consultation of the interested public on Proposal for a Law on Innovation Activities.

The new legal regulation of innovation activities in Montenegro defines the national innovation system more clearly; there are provisions defining the entities performing innovation activities and entities providing innovation infrastructure; the role of the Innovation Council is prescribed and a new implementing body is established – the Innovation Fund, which should implement innovation activity programmes within its jurisdiction and monitor the implementation of activities and achievement of operational goals defined by the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) and other relevant national strategies and programmes.

In this way, the existing 2016 Law on Innovative Activities is improved and aligned with the EU legislative and strategic framework and international standards in this field.

Through the two laws, the new Law on Innovation Activities and the Law on Incentives for Research and Innovation Development as a lex specialis, the Government of Montenegro plans to promote the area and to encourage the development of national innovation system. Public consultations have been opened for both laws.

The consultation process implies giving initiatives, suggestions, remarks and comments in the initial stage of drafting the laws.

The process will be opened in the period from 15 May to 1 June 2020.

The person responsible for coordination of the consultation process is Branka Žižić, Director-General for Innovation and Technological Development, e-mail: branka.zizic@mna.gov.me.