What sounded almost utopian three years ago is now a reality. Cortex Village, the first residential complex in Montenegro built for employees in the ICT sector, has officially opened its doors. On the plateau in the heart of the complex, on June 4, 2026, starting at 7:00 p.m., the non-governmental organization ICT Cortex and partners in the “Cortex Village” project celebrated the ceremonial move-in of this complex, which is now home to 115 families of IT professionals.
The housing project was first presented to the public in April 2023, as a joint initiative of the economy where 19 IT companies that gather the ICT Cortex cluster decided to help their employees solve one of the most important life issues. The goal was clear from the beginning: to reduce the departure of IT experts from Montenegro and create an environment in which young people see their future at home. A little more than three years later, the first tenants moved in, and today, three years after the first presentation of the project, all 115 apartments have been moved in and furnished, and the complex is starting to live a full life.
"When we went public with the idea of Cortex Village three years ago, we knew we were offering something that didn't exist on the market. What we didn't know was how many challenges would stand between that idea and the moment the first tenants took possession of the keys. At the beginning, we had no partners, no banks, no locations, no investors — we started practically from scratch. However, it was precisely these challenges that motivated us further, because from the beginning we believed that what we were building had meaning for the people who live here, and for Montenegro as a whole. Today, when I see 115 families in this complex, I know that every obstacle overcome was worth the effort. Cortex Village is proof of what a community can achieve when companies stop being competitors and become partners."- Branimir Bukilić, President of the Board of Directors of the ICT Cortex Cluster.
As a responsible business entity aware of the importance of this project for the wider economic context, NLB Bank made the decision to support the project, which was still in the conceptual phase at the time, and offered exceptionally favorable conditions. These are reflected in a fixed interest rate of 4%, no loan processing fee for a period of up to 300 months, with 10% realization after loan approval, 90% after mortgage registration. In this way, NLB Bank enabled significant savings and benefits for employees in IT companies in the cluster and contributed to creating a better future for all members of society.
"At NLB, we are extremely proud to have been part of the Cortex Village project, which best demonstrates how innovative ideas, when they have the right partners, can become reality. From the very beginning, we recognized the potential of this project not only in its uniqueness on the market, but also in the people behind it. Through strong cooperation between ICT Cortex, the cluster member companies, designers and our team, we managed to implement a complex and ambitious project in a relatively short period of time.
We are pleased that as a partner we were able to contribute to this project receiving financial support under competitive conditions and thus becoming more accessible to its users.
It is especially important for us to support projects that create long-term value and contribute to the development of society. Cortex Village is just such an example, aimed at young, educated people who are building the future of Montenegro.” - Chairman of the Board of Directors of NLB Banka, Martin Leberle
The importance of the project was also recognized by the Government of Montenegro. Mr. Slaven Radunović, Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property emphasized the strategic dimension of what the ICT community has managed to achieve: "It is particularly important that this initiative came from the ICT community, which represents one of the key driving forces in the development of the Montenegrin economy. Such projects clearly show how important it is for the profession to take an active role not only in technological and economic development, but also in creating conditions for a better quality of life. In this way, not only are specific development projects being implemented, but one of the strategic goals is also being contributed to - the retention and affirmation of professional staff in the country."
Cortex Village is a complex with five residential buildings characterized by a unique architectural expression. They contain 115 residential units with an average net area of approximately 80 m², on a total of 12.500 m² of gross above-ground area. The settlement was designed "to suit humans" and features low floors, comfortable apartments, high ceilings, large glass surfaces, an underground garage with 120 spaces for tenants and an additional 30 parking spaces for visitors, and on the ground floor there are 4.500 m² of landscaped green areas with over 100 tall plants, a fitness zone, a park, a catering facility for the community, a children's playground and sports and recreational areas. The complex follows modern sustainability standards and includes installations for solar panels, electric car chargers and an independent irrigation system for greenery. Thanks to the favorable construction price, subsidized interest rates and credit terms, the total savings per employee compared to market conditions amount to approximately 162.000 euros.
"Our task was to create a human-sized settlement, with enough light, greenery, space for children and for the community. The greatest reward for an architectural team is not the design, but the moment when you see that people in that space really live, socialize and feel at home. Cortex Village is exactly that." - Miloš Laković, architect on the “Cortex Village” project
"I admit that at the very beginning I was not a great optimist, the project seemed extremely demanding and complex. Today, when I see the apartments moved in and decorated, the families living their daily lives in Cortex Village and the atmosphere that this complex has acquired, I know that every effort made was fully meaningful. We have set construction standards that we are sincerely proud of and we believe that Cortex Village is already changing the perception of modern housing in Podgorica. It is especially important to us that we have created a space that is not just a collection of buildings, but a place of quality and family life." - Zoran Drobnjak, CEO of the construction company Eurozox
In the end, what puts all the numbers and architectural concepts into proper context are the tenants themselves, the ones for whom the complex was built. Vahid Kavazović, one of the first to move in, describes what Cortex Village means to them: “When we first heard about the Cortex Village idea, it seemed almost unbelievable that one business community could jointly solve the housing issue for so many families. Today, we don't just live in apartments here, we live in a community. Children have space to play, all the neighbors know each other, and the feeling of security and belonging has become something that is difficult to find in modern urban environments. As much as 50% of the space is intended for parks and common areas, which is a rare example of humane construction and a quality concept of life in Podgorica. Cortex Village has not only brought us a home, but also a quality of life and a feeling that we can build our future right here in Montenegro.”
The Cortex Village opening ceremony was held June 4, 2026 at 19.00 p.m, on the plateau in the Cortex Village complex in Podgorica. The event brought together residents, representatives of ICT Cortex cluster member companies, project partners and guests from the IT community and the public and private sectors of Montenegro.
ICT Cortex is a non-governmental organization and a Montenegrin cluster for information technology, innovation, education, design and technological development. It brings together the leading IT companies in the country with a common mission of promoting the sector, internationalization, education and digital transformation. The Cortex Village project is one of the most recognizable results of the synergy of cluster members and partners.
( ICT Cortex )
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