Montenegro 2026

High-Level Operational Conference on EU Integration and Programme Participation

28 April 2026 | Podgorica, Montenegro

From Commitment to Delivery

High-Level Operational Conference on EU Integration and Programme Participation

28 April 2026 | Podgorica, Montenegro

Maximising EU Participation

28 April 2026 | The Science and Technology Park of Montenegro

Turning Commitments into Measurable Results

What This Conference Delivers

Join us in Podgorica on 28 April 2026 for a defining high-level operational conference shaping Montenegro’s path to EU membership. This event transform ambition into execution.
For Policy Makers: Move beyond formal alignment and establish functioning “pipeline engines” that deliver measurable EU integration results.
For Business Leaders & Innovators: Go beyond narratives and enter real opportunities. Engage directly in sector-based project pipelines aligned with upcoming EU calls, positioning your organisation within concrete funding and partnership frameworks.
For Academia & Research: Secure structured entry into European consortia and funding programmes, increase funding success rates, and progress into leading roles in EU-funded projects
Participants will leave with a clear role, partners, and a concrete plan to secure and deliver EU projects.

Where Debate Meets Delivery: The Program

Opening Ceremony & Keynote Addresses | 09:30 – 10:05

The conference will open with a high-level introductory session that sets the operational tone for the day. Rather than formal keynote messaging alone, this segment brings together national leadership and EU institutional perspectives to frame Montenegro’s transition from commitment to delivery.
It will establish a shared understanding th

The conference will open with a high-level introductory session that sets the operational tone for the day. Rather than formal keynote messaging alone, this segment brings together national leadership and EU institutional perspectives to frame Montenegro’s transition from commitment to delivery.
It will establish a shared understanding that the next phase of accession is defined by measurable performance, absorption capacity, and implementation credibility within EU programmes and reform processes.
Contributions from senior representatives of the Government of Montenegro, the EU Delegation, and key institutional actors will combine strategic direction with practical expectations - clarifying priorities, reinforcing accountability, and aligning stakeholders around a results-driven agenda for 2026–2027.
This opening will anchor the conference not in general support, but in a clear mandate: to move from political alignment to structured execution.

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Panel 1: Montenegro in EU Programmes: Performance, Gaps and Acceleration Targets 2026–2027 | 10:05 – 11:00

This session establishes the analytical foundation of the conference, providing a clear, data-driven assessment of Montenegro’s participation in EU programmes and its readiness for the next phase of accession.
Rather than a chapter-by-chapter review, the focus is on performance - how effectively Montenegro is translating access to EU inst

This session establishes the analytical foundation of the conference, providing a clear, data-driven assessment of Montenegro’s participation in EU programmes and its readiness for the next phase of accession.
Rather than a chapter-by-chapter review, the focus is on performance - how effectively Montenegro is translating access to EU instruments into concrete results, and where structural gaps persist.
The discussion will analyse participation across key programmes, benchmark Montenegro against regional peers and comparable EU Member States, and identify the underlying causes of limited coordination roles, fragmented engagement, and weak pipeline continuity.
It will move beyond general assessments to define measurable acceleration targets for 2026–2027.
The objective is to establish a shared, evidence-based baseline that grounds the entire conference - shifting the focus from aspiration to performance, and from narrative to clear, actionable direction.

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Panel 2: Fixing the Support System: How Technical Assistance and National Support Structures Become 'Pipeline Engines' | 11:20 – 12:15

This session shifts the focus from diagnosis to system performance, examining how Montenegro’s support structures can evolve into effective “pipeline engines” for EU programme participation.
Rather than assessing individual policy areas, it addresses the core question: why participation remains fragmented despite available instruments and

This session shifts the focus from diagnosis to system performance, examining how Montenegro’s support structures can evolve into effective “pipeline engines” for EU programme participation.
Rather than assessing individual policy areas, it addresses the core question: why participation remains fragmented despite available instruments and institutional frameworks.
The discussion will analyse the current landscape of technical assistance, national support mechanisms, and innovation intermediaries - identifying gaps in call targeting, partner mapping, proposal preparation, and coordination.
It will define what is required to move from sporadic applications to structured, continuous pipeline development aligned with EU deadlines and consortium dynamics.
The objective is to outline a concrete operational model for a functioning support ecosystem - one that systematically generates high-quality project pipelines, strengthens Montenegro’s positioning with EU coordinators, and directly increases participation performance across programmes.

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Panel 3: Leadership Reality and Positioning Strategy: Where Montenegro Can Lead and Where It Must Integrate | 12:15 – 13:10

This session defines Montenegro’s strategic positioning within the EU funding ecosystem, establishing a realistic pathway from participation to performance and, over time, to selective leadership.
It moves beyond abstract ambition to clarify how Montenegro can build credibility through concrete roles in EU programmes.
The discussion will a

This session defines Montenegro’s strategic positioning within the EU funding ecosystem, establishing a realistic pathway from participation to performance and, over time, to selective leadership.
It moves beyond abstract ambition to clarify how Montenegro can build credibility through concrete roles in EU programmes.
The discussion will address a central constraint: most national actors are not yet positioned to coordinate large-scale EU projects. Instead, the focus is on how institutions, companies, and research organisations can integrate as high-value partners - delivering pilots, data, infrastructure, and operational components within major consortia - while progressively building the capacity for coordination where feasible.
The session will map where Montenegro can credibly lead, where it must integrate, and how to structure this progression across sectors and programmes.
The objective is to establish a shared national positioning doctrine - grounded in realism, aligned with EU expectations, and designed to systematically strengthen Montenegro’s role in European project ecosystems.

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Panel 4: Eight Strategic Project Pipelines for Full EU Programme Integration | 16:15 – 17:45

This session constitutes the operational core of the conference, translating Montenegro’s accession ambition into eight structured project pipelines aligned with the 2026–2027 EU funding architecture.
The focus shifts from analysis to execution—defining where and how Montenegro will engage across key EU programmes.
Each pipeline is built a

This session constitutes the operational core of the conference, translating Montenegro’s accession ambition into eight structured project pipelines aligned with the 2026–2027 EU funding architecture.
The focus shifts from analysis to execution—defining where and how Montenegro will engage across key EU programmes.
Each pipeline is built around concrete entry points: relevant calls, realistic national roles, and identifiable assets that Montenegro can contribute to EU consortia.
The discussion will connect strategic sectors with specific instruments, clarifying pathways for participation, integration into larger projects, and selective leadership where capacity allows.
The objective is to move from fragmented engagement to a coordinated national approach - establishing clear, actionable pipelines that link policy priorities with funding opportunities and position Montenegro as a credible partner in EU programme implementation.

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Panel 5: Innovation Ecosystem, SMEs and Startups: From Fragmentation to Structured Support into EU Projects | 15:40 – 16:30

This session focuses on the innovation ecosystem as the engine that feeds Montenegro’s EU programme pipelines with project-ready partners.
It shifts attention from institutional frameworks to the practical question of how SMEs, startups, academia, and industry are prepared and integrated into European project ecosystems.
The discussion wil

This session focuses on the innovation ecosystem as the engine that feeds Montenegro’s EU programme pipelines with project-ready partners.
It shifts attention from institutional frameworks to the practical question of how SMEs, startups, academia, and industry are prepared and integrated into European project ecosystems.
The discussion will examine current fragmentation—limited continuity between innovation support, proposal readiness, and EU-level positioning—and define structured pathways for participation.
This includes both direct access to SME-focused instruments and integration into larger consortia as specialised technology providers, pilot partners, or solution developers.
The objective is to establish a functioning support logic that moves from isolated initiatives to continuous deal-flow - equipping Montenegro’s innovation actors to enter EU projects systematically, contribute to high-value consortia, and translate innovation capacity into measurable participation and impact.

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Confirmed Speakers & Moderators

Valentina Radulović

Executive Director, Science and Technology Park Montenegro

Valentina Radulović - Naučno tehnološki park

Radivoje Drobnjak

Valentina Radulović

Program Manager, Science and Technology Park Montenegro

Radivoje Drobnjak - Naučno tehnološki park

Srna Sudar

Valentina Radulović

Katarina Lalović

Director of the Technology Transfer Office, Science and Technology Park Montenegro

Srna Sudar - Naučno tehnološki park

Katarina Lalović

Valentina Radulović

Katarina Lalović

Acting Executive Director, Innovation Fund of Montenegro

Katarina Lalović | LinkedIn

Saša Ivanović

Aleksandra Martinović

Ekaterina Paniklova

Head of Department for strategic planning and international cooperation, Innovation Fund of Montenegro

Sasa Ivanovic | LinkedIn

Ekaterina Paniklova

Aleksandra Martinović

Ekaterina Paniklova

UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro

Resident Representative UNDP

Aleksandra Martinović

Director, Centre of Excellence for Food Safety Risk Assessment

Aleksandra Martinovic | LinkedIn

Ramo Šendelj

Aleksandra Martinović

Research chair for cyber security at the University of Donja Gorica

RAMO ŠENDELJ

Gordana Đurović

Boško Nektarijević

Tanja Radusinović

President of the Montenegrin Pan-European Union

Gordana Djurovic | LinkedIn

Tanja Radusinović

Boško Nektarijević

Tanja Radusinović

Director, Project Department, Chamber of Economy of Montenegro

Tanja Radusinovic | LinkedIn

Sören Haar

Boško Nektarijević

Managing Partner, European Affairs Consulting Group

Soeren Haar | LinkedIn

Boško Nektarijević

Senior Expert, European Affairs Consulting Group

Bosko Nektarijevic | LinkedIn

Secure Your Position in Upcoming EU Funding Pipelines

Practical Information

Conference Fee: The standard participation fee is €89. Reduced rates of €59 are available for group registrations, students, and upon justified request.The conference fee includes: Full-day access to all conference sessions, conference materials, a networking coffee break with refreshments (11:00), and lunch (13:10).
Working Language: The working language of the conference will be Montenegrin. Interpretation into English will be provided for international participants.

Event Venue

Science and Technology Park Montenegro

The country’s leading hub for innovation, technology development, and high-growth entrepreneurship. It supports the creation and growth of innovative companies through incubation, funding, mentoring, and integration into regional and global ecosystems.

As a platform connecting research, business, and public institutions, the Park plays a key role in developing and commercialising innovative ideas, making it a highly relevant and forward-looking venue for EU project development.

Bulevar Mihaila Lalića b.b., 81 000 Podgorica, Montenegro

Montenegro 2026

From Commitment to Delivery

Maximising EU Participation

Turning Commitments into Measurable Results

What This Conference Delivers

Where Debate Meets Delivery: The Program

Opening Ceremony & Keynote Addresses | 09:30 – 10:05

Panel 1: Montenegro in EU Programmes: Performance, Gaps and Acceleration Targets 2026–2027 | 10:05 – 11:00

Panel 2: Fixing the Support System: How Technical Assistance and National Support Structures Become 'Pipeline Engines' | 11:20 – 12:15

Panel 3: Leadership Reality and Positioning Strategy: Where Montenegro Can Lead and Where It Must Integrate | 12:15 – 13:10

Panel 4: Eight Strategic Project Pipelines for Full EU Programme Integration | 16:15 – 17:45

Panel 5: Innovation Ecosystem, SMEs and Startups: From Fragmentation to Structured Support into EU Projects | 15:40 – 16:30

Confirmed Speakers & Moderators

Valentina Radulović

Valentina Radulović

Valentina Radulović

Radivoje Drobnjak

Valentina Radulović

Valentina Radulović

Srna Sudar

Valentina Radulović

Katarina Lalović

Katarina Lalović

Valentina Radulović

Katarina Lalović

Saša Ivanović

Aleksandra Martinović

Ekaterina Paniklova

Ekaterina Paniklova

Aleksandra Martinović

Ekaterina Paniklova

Aleksandra Martinović

Aleksandra Martinović

Aleksandra Martinović

Ramo Šendelj

Aleksandra Martinović

Aleksandra Martinović

Gordana Đurović

Boško Nektarijević

Tanja Radusinović

Tanja Radusinović

Boško Nektarijević

Tanja Radusinović

Sören Haar

Boško Nektarijević

Boško Nektarijević

Boško Nektarijević

Boško Nektarijević

Boško Nektarijević

Ivana Vojinović

The full list of speakers

Ivana Vojinović

Milica Mandić

The full list of speakers

Ivana Vojinović

Irena Fatić

The full list of speakers

The full list of speakers

The full list of speakers

The full list of speakers

The full list of speakers

The Countdown Has Started

Secure Your Position in Upcoming EU Funding Pipelines

Register early for pre-event briefings and EU programme insights

Practical Information

Event Venue

Science and Technology Park Montenegro

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