Organized by JA Montenegro, in cooperation with CKB Bank and the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, and with the strategic support of the University of Donja Gorica (UDG), the first Montenegro STEM & Finance Forum 2026 was successfully held on June 10, 2026. The event is a national platform dedicated to young innovators, entrepreneurs, and teams developing solutions in STEM, finance, technology, circular economy, and social innovation.
The Forum brought together more than 30 teams of high school and university students from different cities across Montenegro, who had the opportunity to present their business solutions, enhance their knowledge through educational sessions, and connect with representatives of the business sector, academia, and the financial industry.
FORUM OPENED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ACADEMIC AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY
The opening of the Forum featured speeches from:
• Prof. Dr. Milica Vukotić, Vice-Rector of the University of Donja Gorica
• Dr. Nina Drakić, President of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro
• Maja Krstić, Member of the Board of Directors of CKB Bank
• MSc Nikola Mićunović, Executive Director of JA Montenegro
In their addresses, they emphasized the importance of investing in youth, innovation, and entrepreneurship, highlighting that knowledge, creativity, and initiative are key drivers of Montenegro’s future economic development.
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND MASTERCLASS SESSIONS
A key focus of the Forum was strengthening students’ STEM and financial competencies through a series of expert workshops and educational sessions.
The following workshops were held during the Forum:
• “Financial Literacy and Future Technologies” – Dr. Srđan Janković
• “Using AI Tools in Active Projects” – Dr. Stevan Čakić
• “Personal Branding – Professional Positioning” – MSc Danilo Bulatović
• “From Classroom to EU Projects: Step-by-Step Through EU Projects and International Funds” – Dr. Bojana Mališić
Through these sessions, participants gained new knowledge in finance, artificial intelligence, communication, and professional development, as well as insights into opportunities offered by European programs and international funding schemes.
An additional value to the program was the masterclass “Entrepreneurial Communication: How to Present Your Idea and Build a Winning Team”, delivered by Alen Nikezić from ICL Montenegro. Participants received practical advice on presentation and communication skills essential for developing successful business ideas.
WINNING TEAMS ANNOUNCED
The central part of the Forum consisted of presentations of innovative business solutions before an expert jury composed of representatives from the business sector, academia, and international organizations. After evaluation, the best teams were awarded.
• ErgoNEST (Gymnasium “30. septembar”, Rožaje) – best high school project and participation in the International Trade Fair 2026 in Sofia
• LOOP (Gymnasium “Niko Rolović”, Bar) – cash prize of 555 EUR
• Rentuj.me (University of Donja Gorica) – best university project and participation in the International Exchange Program 2026
• Trilith (University of Donja Gorica) – cash prize of 555 EUR
The special recognition “Leader of the Next Generation”, awarded by WeBalkans, went to Helena Čović from the “Vaso Aligrudić” Secondary Electrical Engineering School in Podgorica for her outstanding contribution, leadership skills, and engagement during project development and presentation.
YOUNG PEOPLE AS DRIVERS OF CHANGE
Although awards represented an important segment of the event, the greatest value of the Forum lies in the engagement of all participants who demonstrated readiness to recognize challenges, develop innovative solutions, and actively create new opportunities for themselves and their communities.
The Montenegro STEM & Finance Forum 2026 once again confirmed that there is significant potential among young people in Montenegro to develop innovative ideas and solutions that can contribute to the country’s economic and social development. By combining education, innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, the Forum created a space for knowledge exchange, connecting youth with the business sector, and empowering a new generation of leaders and innovators.