4. BBF - Panel no. 3 : "New opportunities for development based on knowledge and innovation"

English

Details: 27 July 2023

The topic of "New opportunities for development based on knowledge and innovation" of the Bjelo Polje Business Forum was discussed by the Minister of Science of Montenegro, Dr. Biljana Šćepanović, the Executive Director of IPC Tehnopolis, Đorđe Malović, and the Executive Director of the Innovation Fund, Dr. Bojana Femić Radosavović.

Dr. Biljana Šćepanović, Minister of Science, spoke about the Smart Specialization Strategy and four priority areas - sustainable agriculture and food value chain, energy and sustainable environment, and sustainable and health tourism.

She emphasized that development based on one's own potential is the essence of smart specialization.

- We all have a common task, which is the implementation of a knowledge-based strategy - said Šćepanović, adding that Montenegro is the first country outside the EU to adopt the Smart Specialization Strategy in 2019.

According to her, Montenegro is working very successfully on its implementation, which is confirmed by numerous bodies of the European Commission.

- The joint action of sector policies and synergistic work on projects with other institutions are extremely important in order to develop more efficiently and smarter - she said.

At the end, Šćepanović said that we should all see innovation as a great opportunity for development, and especially the North, so that it would use its advantages and potentials as a whole, stressing that innovation is something that is given, not imposed.

- In all countries, innovations are a chance for development and the key to the transformation of less developed economies, and the engine of their competitiveness and progress - she concluded.

Executive Director Bojana Femić Radosavović presented the role of the Innovation Fund in financing innovative projects.

- The Fund is a fairly young institution, and we are already recognized in domestic and international circles as an institution that provides extremely high-quality support to innovative companies - she said.

According to her, there is no excuse why not to work on innovative projects, because there is more and more money, and there is great interest in such support programs.

- We have three times more projects from our applicants than we can finance, and that's why we choose the best ones - said Femić Radosavović.

He believes that it is very important in the North to spread knowledge about programs and the culture of innovation. That is why he invites the municipalities of this region to jointly organize promotional events about innovations and applying for funds ranging from 8,000 to 200,000 euros. According to her, the fund is also trying to open the doors of the EU for businessmen who receive their grants, because they skip the first round of procedures for European funds, which are measured in millions of euros.

- It is very important that we open the door for EU funds and prepare companies for their use - concluded Bojana Femić Radosavović, adding that education is key to obtaining as many quality projects as possible.

The focus of the presentation by Đorđe Malović, executive director of IPC Tehnopolis, was on the creation of the Montenegrin innovation ecosystem and business based on new, innovative ideas and technologies.

He briefly presented this center, pointing out that it, as a symbol of Nikšić, was created as a precursor to all subsequent infrastructure segments in the innovation ecosystem of Montenegro.

- Technopolis represents the most important center for the development of startup companies and entrepreneurship in Montenegro, and it tries to help in numerous ways, first of all the local Nikšić community, but also all other municipalities - said Malović.

According to him, as one of the key actors in the creation and transformation of the Montenegrin innovation ecosystem, Technopolis provides a series of infrastructure and support measures that enable the opening of new companies and the development of business based on new, innovative ideas and technologies.

- With our activities, project implementation and cooperation with more than 150 partners, we support the improvement of the innovation system and infrastructure for the overall sustainable economic development of Montenegro - he pointed out.

In the end, Malović said that it would be extremely important to create similar regional centers, in cooperation with other local communities, in order for the innovation ecosystem to develop evenly.

According to him, as one of the key actors in the creation and transformation of the Montenegrin innovation ecosystem, Technopolis provides a series of infrastructure and support measures that enable the opening of new companies and the development of business based on new, innovative ideas and technologies.

- With our activities, project implementation and cooperation with more than 150 partners, we support the improvement of the innovation system and infrastructure for the overall sustainable economic development of Montenegro - he pointed out.

In the end, Malović said that it would be extremely important to create similar regional centers, in cooperation with other local communities, in order for the innovation ecosystem to develop evenly.

During the second day of the Forum, several panel discussions will be organized on current economic topics: "What the state and the municipality should do to encourage a large investor to invest in one of the municipalities of Northern Montenegro", then "Women and young people as beginners in business", and "Human capital as the backbone of economic development - the challenge of labor force outflow, ways to overcome it through education".

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

APPLICATION FORM FOR BUSINESS ZONES

CONTACT:

OFFICE FOR LOCAL ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT

TelL: +382 69 840 551

E-mail: kler@bijelopolje.co.me

REAL ESTATES

ACCOMODATION:

e-CADASRE

e-LICENSE

USFULL LINKS:

Municipality of Bijelo Polje

Municipal Assembly of Bijelo Polje

Secretariat for the regulation of the area of Bijelo Polje Municipality

Government of Montenegro

Investment Development Fund

Tourist organization Bijelo Polje

Tourism organisation of Montenegro

Chamber of economy of Montenegro

UNDP

Union of municipatilies

Secretariat for Development Projects

Montenegrin employers federation

Employment Office of Montenegro

Portal Prekoveze

Portal zaposli.me

Association of montenegrin managers

Association of business women of Montenegro

Association of Entrepreneurs of Montenegro

BIJELO POLJE WEATHER

R E L I E F S:

Municipal Decision on tax reliefs

Article 4

Companies and entrepreneurs referred to in Article 3 shall be introduced and identified the following financial incentives:

exemption from payment of communal fee for construction land,
exemption from payment of the fee for the use of municipal roads,
exemption from payment of surtax on personal income tax,
exemption from paying tax on real estate above 0.1% of the market value of the real estate.

Article 5

The tax exemption from Article 4 item 1 investor (company and entrepreneur) is realized in the amount up to 7,000.00 euros per one newly employed worker, or newly opened workplace, and can be used only if by investing, it increases the number of employees for 5 or more employees.

The incentives referred to in Article 4 item 2, 3 and 4 of this Decision shall also apply to existing companies and entrepreneurs in the area of the Bijelo Polje municipality for the extension of the economic activity referred to in Article 3 of this Decision, and can only be used if the expansion increases the number of employees for 5 or more workers and is valid for a period of 3 (three) years.

Note: The new Regulation on Business Zones was adopted on December 13, 2016 and was published in the Official Journal of Montenegro, No. 77/2016.

The municipality is obliged to until 21.06.2018, in accordance with the Government Regulation, adopt a new Business Zone Decision.

We are also referring to the Decision on the fee for communal equipment for construction land that was published on 29.12.2015. in the "Official Journal of Montenegro - Municipal Regulations" No. 48/15.

Tax reliefs – New Government Regulation on business zones

Article 15

For employed people working in a business zones, the business zone user does not pay:

1) Contributions for compulsory social insurance for salaries (contributions for pension and disability insurance, contribution for health insurance, unemployment insurance contribution) and contributions for the Labor Fund;

2) Personal income tax;

The amount of the relief referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article can not exceed the maximum allowable aid intensity of 60% for medium and 70% for small companies, in accordance with the regulations governing state aid.

The user of the business zone may use the incentives referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, for a maximum period of five years from the date of employment of persons in the business zone.

For the employee referred to in paragraph 1, item 1 of this Article, the user of the business zone calculates, suspends and pays the employee from the earnings of the employee: the contribution for the pension and invasive insurance at the rate of 15,0% contribution to health insurance at a rate of 8.5% and contribution to insurance against unemployment at a rate of 0.5% upon payment of earnings.

The basis for calculating the contribution referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be gross employee earnings.

The user of the business zone pays the calculated surtax of income tax.

In addition to the relief referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the beneficiary of the business zone shall also exercise the right to other incentives in accordance with the law and special regulations governing state aid, although they must not exceed the maximum allowable amount of incentive in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.

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