Collaborative Grants for Innovation Program (Montenegro)

Goal

• The main goal of the Program is to encourage micro, small and medium enterprises to actively and meaningfully cooperate with “organizations for research and dissemination of knowledge” or “research organizations”.

Funding Information 

• The Innovation Fund of Montenegro allocated funds in the total amount of EUR 1,000,000.00 for the co-financing of innovative projects under this Public Call.
• The lowest and highest amount of grants that can be awarded to an individual applicant and co-applicant and project amounts to:
  • the lowest amount is EUR 50,000.00 ;
  • the highest amount EUR 200,000.00 .
• The maximum intensity of low-value aid ( de minimis aid) awarded under this Public Call is up to 80% of eligible costs.
• Duration of projects: The period of realization of the selected projects is at least 12 and at most 36 months.

Uses of the Funds 

• Project funds can be used to co-finance technological development phases between TRL 2 and TRL 8 on the scale of the Technological Readiness Level (NTS). Projects must be related to research and development activities, i.e. they must begin with the industrial research phase, which implies a planned research or critical review with the aim of acquiring new knowledge and skills for the development of new products, processes or services, i.e. to achieve a significant improvement of existing products, processes or service (from TRL 2 or TRL 3).
• The immediate results that are expected immediately after the completion of the implementation of the projects are as follows:
  • Improvement of specific staff skills in MSMEs;
  • Increasing the involvement of personnel in MSMEs and IOs in research and development activities;
  • Increasing commercialization of the results of joint research by MSMEs and IOs;
  • Improved cooperation in research activities between IOs and MSMEs;
  • Increased technology and knowledge transfer activities from IO to MSMEs.

Eligibility Criteria 

• Under this Public Call, eligible applicants are MSME as Applicant and “organization for research and dissemination of knowledge” or “research organization”, established in Montenegro as Co-applicant.
• MSMEs that fall into one of three categories are eligible:
  • Medium enterprises
  • Small businesses
  • Micro enterprises
• MSMEs must meet the following conditions:
  • that they are registered in the Central Register of Business Entities of Montenegro;
  • that they are based in the territory of Montenegro;
  • that they have fulfilled all obligations of regular tax and contribution payments;
  • that they are not in pre-bankruptcy, bankruptcy, liquidation proceedings, that they have not suspended regular business activity or the like. in accordance with national regulations;
  • that in the balance sheet on December 31, 2023. have a positive capital value;
  • that they did not use financial assistance from public national and international funding sources, or donor programs for the same activities included in the project application. If the applicant has applied for funds from other providers of state aid for the same justified expenses, it is necessary to submit a statement stating the amount and status of this support.
• Eligible co-applicants are research organizations that must meet two conditions:
  • that they are “organizations for research and dissemination of knowledge” or “research organizations”
  • that they are registered in the register of centers of excellence, licensed institutions and organizational units in accordance with the Law on Scientific Research Activities.

For more information, visit Innovation Fund of Montenegro.