Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of a country’s economy. It is therefore important to support innovation in SMEs, as more innovative SMEs become more productive. In other words, supporting innovation in SMEs is a key determinant of productivity and inclusive growth.
In order to enhance innovation in SMEs in Montenegro, this project supported the development of infrastructure capacities of the Biochemical Laboratory, Laboratory for Industrial Design and Data Centre. More specifically, the project funded three supply contracts involving the purchase of equipment for these three laboratories. By purchasing equipment and boosting the infrastructure capacities of the three facilities, the project helped strengthen the innovative potential of SMEs in Montenegro and their visibility in the innovation system.
The reinforced infrastructure capacities of the Biochemical Laboratory led to the development of services, such as agroecological analyses in food or molecular diagnostics in plant production. The work of the Laboratory for Industrial Design, which offers access to high quality and up-to-date production equipment and space for rapid prototyping, increased the competitiveness of the private sector in the country. The new equipment in the Data Centre opened up the possibilities for providing services such as data backup and disaster recovery.
In short, this project resulted in the creation of an innovative platform to support new services, products and competitiveness of existing SMEs, while also helping develop brand new, technology-oriented SMEs in Montenegro.
