The headquarters of the Science and Technology Park (STP) is not yet ready for occupancy, despite the fact that the works were supposed to be completed at the end of 2021.
"Given the fact that the works were intensified during 2022, the expectation of all actors involved in this project is that all works will be completed during this year and that the Park will receive its tenants in the most modern infrastructure for the development of innovative and startup companies already until the end of the current year", was told to "Vijesti" from NTP.
Work on the building began in June 2020. The then Prime Minister and the Minister of Science attended the ceremony on the occasion of the start of the works Dusko Markovic i Sanja Damjanovic.
The deadline for the completion of the 12 million euro investment is set for the end of 2021.
Since then, two governments have changed. In the meantime, problems were identified that slowed down the works on the reconstruction and adaptation of the building in which three faculties were supposed to be located, caused by imprecise and inadequate project documentation, as well as poorly executed works during the original construction.
The Ministry of Science and Technological Development expected the construction works to be completed by the end of last year, but yesterday's photos show that this was not the case.
The NTP told "Vijesta" that they are not one of the contracted parties, because that is within the competence of the Capital Projects Administration, but that "as an interested party, they monitor the dynamics of work execution every day".
However, NTP decided to trade in the official car until then. On February 14, NTP announced a procedure worth 22.500 euros for the purchase of cars, for which interested parties had a minimum of three days to submit offers.
They invoked the legal right, which allows them to carry out a simple procurement within so many days. Only one offer, worth 22.327 euros, was received for this public invitation.
"The reason for the purchase is the need for more significant activities of the company in the field of the whole of Montenegro, but also in the region through various projects of cooperation of the NTP with many stakeholders of the innovation-entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the expansion of the team (human resources) for the implementation of all activities of our company in anticipation of the opening of the NTP facility until the end of this year", stated in the reply of NTP.
They gave the same number of days to interested persons to advertise on three job advertisements in their team.
"The legislator considered that the period for submitting documentation based on the advertisement of three working days is sufficient considering that it is not necessary to collect complex documentation. Confirmation that the deadline was sufficient is the fact that 19 proper applications were received for the said competition for three positions. All applications are currently being processed, interviews are being conducted, and the decision on the selection of the best candidates with whom the employment contracts will be signed for a fixed period of two years will be made soon", the NTP told "Vijesti".
Bearing in mind that NTP carries out specific activities to support advanced individuals, companies and startups, it takes time to select the best candidates, the answer added.
At NTP, the executive director is currently employed on a fixed-term basis, and the manager for program activities is employed on an indefinite-term basis. In addition to them, four people were hired on a part-time basis who worked on various jobs from administration to project activities financed by the EU and donor projects.
Since its foundation in 2019, NTP has been granted a total of 220.000 euros from the budget of Montenegro, 60.000 euros each in 2020 and 2021 and 100.000 euros in 2022. For the same period, according to the answer, NTP provided donor funds based on various projects predominantly financed by the European Union, but by other donors in the total amount of almost 400.000 euros.
NTP hopes to open its doors at the end of the year to all "individuals, teams and companies who want to turn their ideas, innovations and research into products or services of high added value and with the potential for growth and export, thus contributing to the overall to the development of Montenegro and its economy based on knowledge and innovation".
"This will result in an increase in GDP, a reduction in the foreign trade deficit, and an alleviation or slowing down of the problem of "brain drain" to developed countries. In this way, we are building a knowledge society that is capable of responding to the challenges of modern times, which is under the enormous influence of technological progress and development, which is not easy to adapt to due to the speed and severity of changes that new technologies impose on society in the XXI century", the answer states.
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