At the session of the Council for Innovation and Smart Specialization, half-yearly reports on the work of innovation working groups (IRG) for four priority areas were adopted, in which the importance of progress in work was noted.
At the fifth session of the Council, which was chaired by the Minister of Science and Technological Development, Biljana Šćepanović, half-yearly reports on the work of IRG were adopted for four priority areas - sustainable agriculture and food value chain, energy and sustainable environment, sustainable and health tourism and ICT .
"We have achieved concrete results that open up new opportunities for the development of the Montenegrin economy based on knowledge and innovation," said Šćepanović and emphasized the importance of regularly holding Council sessions and implementing activities that are in line with the work plan for this year.
At the session, the great contribution of the IRG in defining the proposal for the preparation of the new Action Plan for the implementation of the Operational Program for the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy for the period of this year and the next was highlighted, which is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Science and Technological Development.
"These working bodies have proven to be an extremely good mechanism that enables continuous support for the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy and maintaining the continuity of the entrepreneurial discovery process," the Ministry's announcement states.
The work of the group for Sustainable and Health Tourism is particularly highlighted, where progress is evident when it comes to the normative regulation of this area. Thus, with the proposed amendments to the Law on Health Care, health tourism was defined for the first time in Montenegro.
"Also, this group carried out research with the aim of collecting data related to sustainable and health tourism in the country, its condition and potential, which was done for the first time in Montenegro. At the Council, it was proposed that the results of the research be presented to the Chamber of Commerce ( PKCG), which will soon be implemented," the statement added.
The Council also supported the initiative of the Union of Employers (UPCG) on the greening of public areas at the local level in cooperation with the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro.
At the session, the subjects of the innovation infrastructure - the Innovation Fund, Technopolis and the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro - presented their annual work reports, as well as their plans for this year.
The Ministry presented Information on the preparation of the Action Plan for the implementation of the Operational Program for the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy for the period of this year and the next, which is in the final stage of preparation.
The status of the Strategy of scientific research until 2027 was also presented, where the necessity of passing a new law on scientific research and by-laws was highlighted, which is a key assumption for the faster development of scientific research.
The cooperation of the innovation infrastructure with relevant ministries in the areas of smart specialization was also praised, which, among other things, resulted in the organization of hackathons that give young, creative people and companies the opportunity to compete in the idea of promoting and mapping Montenegro as a health tourism destination.
The council supported the proposal to establish a working group to develop a communication strategy for S3. He also tasked the Ministry to issue public invitations to scientists, researchers, businesses and non-governmental organizations to express interest in membership in the IRG by July 15 this year, which will enable continuity in the work of these bodies as an important segment of the S3 National Implementation Framework.
The next session of the Council will be held by the end of the third quarter
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