Energy, agriculture and health tourism are priority areas that have exceptional potential for the economic growth of Montenegro, said the Minister of Science Sanja Damjanović at the Green Days 2020 conference.
In the Innovation for the Future panel, she pointed out the importance of the Smart Specialization Strategy, which Montenegro, as the first country outside the European Union (EU), adopted last year.
"Montenegro is recognized as a regional Green Hub with a high level of use and potential for renewable sources of energy and mineral raw materials based on the principles of circular economy and sustainable environment," said Damjanović.
The two-day conference Green Days 2020, which the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is organizing online in cooperation with the Government and the Chamber of Commerce (PKCG), started today through a series of online talks.
The Ministry of Science announced that the participants discussed the dynamics of changes spurred by technological progress, but also the impact of innovation and investment in research and development on the country's competitiveness and economic growth.
Damjanović said that the strengthening of organic agriculture and the use of modern technologies for traditional agricultural products put organic and indigenous food at the top of Montenegrin innovation goals.
In addition to energy and sustainable agriculture, one of the priorities is health tourism, where Montenegro has great development potential, thanks to tradition, resources and human capacities.
Apart from the renowned "Simo Milošević" Institute in Igalo, which has a 70-year tradition, Damjanović pointed out the significant role of other medical facilities, such as the Meljine hospital in Herceg Novi and the treatment centers in Risno and Ulcinj, which represent a great potential for prevention diseases and rehabilitation.
During the presentation, she referred to the SEEIIST regional project, which is in line with one of the missions of the next framework program for science and innovation - HorizonEurope.
"That strategic project represents the first green infrastructure for cancer therapy and research in the field of biomedicine, which today represents the most modern and effective method of treating a large number of tumors," Damjanović added.
This way of treating cancer is applied by 12 institutes in the world, and only four in Europe.
"This is a unique opportunity for our region that we need and must take advantage of, and at the same time an added value for Europe, given that it is a technologically advanced design," said Damjanović.
The goal of the conference is to connect change-makers from all over the world who share a passion for creating a better and more sustainable future during the two-day talks.
Bonus video:
