MER: Numerous newspapers for the IT community, the delay was caused by an omission in the work of Damjanović

The Ministry of Economic Development has prepared numerous newspapers for the innovative community, which will be presented to the public in September, its representatives announced.

"We want to inform the innovation community that certain delays in the application of the law on innovation activity and incentive measures for the development of research and innovation occurred due to numerous omissions in the work of former minister Sanja Damjanović," the announcement states.

The government department said that the letter, which Damjanović received from the World Bank on July 20 last year (SB), clearly indicates numerous shortcomings of the law and major challenges in its application, which the former minister, as the MEK claims, was informed about before the law was adopted.

"Unfortunately, the minister at the time did not do anything about it, instead she put the bad law in the parliamentary procedure without caring that it harms the innovative community." It is obvious what the motive was, bearing in mind that the laws were adopted in an election year," claim the MEK.

The Ministry reminded that the SB clearly warned that the mentioned laws are not precise enough and do not effectively target innovative companies and activities, but are very broadly set and potentially applicable to a large number of companies that do not engage in innovation, which could have significant fiscal consequences.

"The problems identified by the SB and the clear deafness of the previous government to them were communicated to MER, which since then has been working diligently to mitigate those shortcomings through the implementation of new and better by-laws. To correct these, as well as many other mistakes of the previous government, unfortunately, there is no magic button, but serious and hard work of the MEK is hidden behind them," the announcement states.

The Ministry said that the application of the law through new by-laws is expected by the end of September, about which the public will be informed at a special event that the government department will organize together with partners.

Damjanović: Milatović is sending populist messages, the IT and start-up community has no patience to wait

Former Minister of Science Sanja Damjanović said that the reduction of taxes and contributions, tax exemption for a period of five years for startups, and many other attractive instruments are part of the great Law for the promotion of innovation that was adopted more than a year ago.

"While Minister Milatovic is sending populist messages related to 2022, it would be better for him to finally do something, first at least read the laws, then push the button and release the by-laws that have already been prepared for him. The IT and start-up community has nothing of mundane populism or patience to wait. Every day, numerous smart companies leave Montenegro and start their business in other countries," said Damjanović.