Third Meeting of the Horizon Europe EU-Montenegro Joint Research and Innovation Committee

The third meeting of the EU-Montenegro Joint Committee on Research and Innovation under the Horizon Europe Association Agreement was held in Podgorica on June 13, 2024. The meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Marijeta Barjaktarović-Lanzardi, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation, and Ms. Anne Haglund-Morrissey, Deputy Head of the Horizon Europe Association Unit, European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.

The meeting offered a good occasion for the EU to recall the importance of the Horizon Europe programme for the country’s researchers and its innovation ecosystem, especially in the context of Montenegro being an EU candidate country.

Both parties expressed satisfaction with the increased participation in this programme, particularly noting that Montenegro is already at the level of participation achieved over the entire duration of the previous Horizon 2020 programme. 

The Montenegrin side pointed out significant ongoing R&I policy reform activities in Montenegro, including the preparation of the new Smart Specialization Strategy, the final phase of preparing the Scientific Research Strategy 2024-2028, the Roadmap for Research Infrastructure until 2028, and the Law on Scientific Research Activity. These efforts are fully integrated into Montenegro's Reform Agenda within the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

The EU side positively acknowledged the steps forward that Montenegro has made in line with the Commission’s strategic priorities, especially as regards to innovation and technology transfer. Furthermore, the steps towards the adoption of the Strategy for Scientific Research, mapping of research infrastructure, and the development of the new cycle of the Smart Specialization Strategy were emphasized. Additionally, the efforts in the area of academia-business cooperation were positively noted, along with the good progress in the area of innovation in Montenegro, acknowledging the commitment of the actors in the Montenegrin innovation and scientific research ecosystem to further boosting the participation in the Horizon Europe programme. The European Commission is ready to continue to assist Montenegro notably through support to its integration into the European Research and Innovation Areas. 

Some of the key highlights and conclusions of the Joint R&I Committee Meeting included measures  encouraging participation across the various areas of Horizon Europe, such as enhancing cooperation through Missions and Partnerships, collaboration with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, IPR valorisation, strengthened cooperation with the European Innovation Council, and with the Commission‘s  Joint Research Centre, as well as national efforts in widening participation in the European Research Area. Special attention was given to the implementation of Reform Agenda activities on research and innovation related to the Growth Plan.

The next meeting of the Joint Committee will be held in Brussels in 2025.

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