The Innovation Fund of Montenegro has published the results of the 2025 public call for the Programme for Strengthening Innovation of MSMEs. Following a competitive evaluation process, 14 projects were selected for co-financing with a total approved amount of EUR 2,435,454.15.
The funded projects represent a diverse cross-section of the Montenegrin economy, spanning advanced manufacturing, software development, food processing, maritime technology and digital services. Each project will receive between EUR 50,000 and EUR 200,000 in grant support, covering up to 70% of total eligible costs.
The selection was made by an independent international evaluation committee that assessed each proposal on the basis of innovation level, technical feasibility, team qualifications, market potential and financial sustainability of the applicant.
Implementation periods range from 12 to 18 months. The Innovation Fund will conduct regular progress reviews throughout the project lifecycle to ensure proper use of funds and achievement of planned outcomes.
The complete list of selected projects and beneficiaries is published on the Fund's website at fondzainovacije.me.
Winners
Project name
Smart Port Logistics Management System
Project description
Development of an integrated logistics management platform for small and mid-size Adriatic ports, enabling real-time cargo tracking and automated documentation. The system consolidates data from vessel scheduling, customs clearance, warehouse management and transport coordination into a single interface accessible to port operators and logistics partners. A predictive berth allocation module reduces vessel waiting times by optimising the use of available quay space based on expected arrival patterns. The platform is being developed in partnership with the Port of Bar and will be packaged as a scalable SaaS solution suitable for other regional ports in the Adriatic and Mediterranean.
Project name
Biodegradable Packaging from Agricultural Waste
Project description
Research and scale-up of a production process for compostable food-packaging materials derived from corn husks and sunflower stalks. The project combines enzymatic pre-treatment with a compression-moulding process to produce rigid trays and flexible wrapping films that meet EU food-contact safety standards. A lifecycle analysis conducted in the first phase confirmed that the resulting packaging has a carbon footprint 65% lower than conventional petroleum-based alternatives. Monteko is working with three local food producers to validate the packaging under real production conditions and is pursuing certification under the EN 13432 standard for industrial compostability.
Project name
BIM-Integrated Quality Control for Construction
Project description
A platform integrating building information modelling (BIM) with on-site inspection data to flag defects early and reduce rework costs in construction projects. Site supervisors capture photos and measurements using a mobile app that automatically links observations to the relevant BIM element, creating a live quality log accessible to the entire project team. A rule engine checks recorded values against design tolerances and contract specifications, generating non-conformance reports and assigning remediation tasks with deadlines. A pilot carried out on two residential developments in Podgorica demonstrated a 22% reduction in defect-related rework, validating the commercial case for broader adoption across the construction sector.
Project name
AI-Driven Radiology Reporting Assistant
Project description
A clinical decision support tool that analyses X-ray and CT images using deep learning and generates structured radiology reports, reducing turnaround time in hospitals. The model was pre-trained on a dataset of over 200,000 annotated studies and fine-tuned on images from Montenegrin clinical centres to account for local equipment characteristics. A web-based reporting interface allows radiologists to review, edit and approve AI-generated findings with a single click, cutting average reporting time from 35 minutes to under 10 minutes per study. DigiHealth is collaborating with the Clinical Centre of Montenegro to conduct a prospective clinical validation study prior to CE marking and regulatory approval.
Project name
Underwater Drone for Aquaculture Monitoring
Project description
Development of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with computer vision for monitoring fish farm cages, detecting disease signs and measuring biomass. The drone navigates pre-programmed inspection routes around sea-cage aquaculture installations, capturing high-resolution video and depth sensor data that are processed by onboard AI to identify skin lesions, parasites and abnormal swimming behaviour in real time. A cloud dashboard aggregates inspection results across multiple cage sites, providing farm managers with early warning alerts and trend analysis to support rapid treatment decisions. The project is being tested at a sea bream and sea bass farm on the Montenegrin coast, with plans to expand to salmon farm operators in Norway and Croatia following commercialisation.
