Program for encouraging innovations in the function of energy efficiency in industry 2024.

The Innovation Fund of Montenegro launched the 2024 Public Call for Participation in the Programme for Supporting Innovations in the Function of Energy Efficiency in Industry on 1 October 2024. The Programme represents a continuation and further development of the activities initiated under the corresponding 2023 programme.

The Programme is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, and the Ministry of Energy, and is implemented by the Innovation Fund of Montenegro. Its objective is to improve energy efficiency in the manufacturing industry through the application of modern technologies and innovative solutions. The Programme also exemplifies the synergy between innovation, industrial, and energy policies aligned with the priorities of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), highlighting the importance of interinstitutional cooperation in creating added value for the economy.

A total budget of EUR 2,300,000.00 was allocated for the implementation of the Programme in 2024, financed from two sources:

• EUR 1,177,140.02 from the national budget, provided by the Ministry of Economic Development;
• EUR 1,122,859.98 in unspent funds from the 2023 Programme, originating from the Current Budget Reserve under the IPA III direct budget support package of the European Commission to Montenegro for addressing the energy crisis, which were transferred to the Innovation Fund of Montenegro.

By the closing date of the Public Call on 11 November 2024, a total of 32 project proposals had been submitted. Following the administrative eligibility check, 25 projects were forwarded for international evaluation carried out by three independent experts selected from the Fund’s pool of evaluators and approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors.

During the first stage of the evaluation process, the Evaluation Committee assessed the submitted project concepts against the established selection criteria. Upon completion of this stage, 14 projects met the minimum threshold and were referred to selected technical consultants for the preparation of feasibility studies. The complete project documentation, including budgets and feasibility studies, was subsequently submitted to the expert evaluation panel for the second stage of the evaluation.

Following the second evaluation stage, all 14 project proposals achieved the minimum passing score of 3.50 points, thereby qualifying for funding.

Based on the final evaluation results, a ranking list of 14 projects was established and recommended for funding, with a total approved grant amount of EUR 2,058,166.31.