News

The acceleration programme promoted by the University of Donja Gorica within the A4SUSTINNO project has officially started this week, involving startups and innovative SMEs from the Montenegro.

In the previous months, the University of Donja Gorica  launched an open call addressed to registered startups and SMEs, and student startups interested in strengthening their innovation capacity and developing sustainable business models. Following the selection process, several companies/startups and student startups in Montenegro were admitted to the programme and have now started the acceleration pathway.

The programme consists of 42 hours of training activities organised into several thematic modules, combining lectures, practical workshops and case studies based on the participating companies. The sessions focus on key topics such as sustainable business development, innovation strategies and digital transformation.

The programme provides non-financial support to help companies:

Strengthen strategic, financial and operational capacities;

Enhance innovation management and market competitiveness;

Integrate sustainability, ESG and quality principles into their business models;

Connect with mentors, investors and innovation ecosystem actors;

Participate in cross-border learning and DLN activities.

The programme also integrates mentoring elements, with experts supporting participating companies in analysing and developing their business strategies.

The first meeting of the programme took place this week on March 17th and 18th, bringing together startups, SMEs and students startups. During the session, the objectives and structure of the acceleration programme were presented.

During the first meeting, alongside discussions with project lecturers and partners, startups had the opportunity to meet and speak with startup expert Bojan Milenković. With more than seven years of experience in designing support programs and creating environments for rapid growth of startups and tech companies, Bojan serves as an Innovation Development Coordinator who leads early-stage startup programs, supports more mature tech companies, builds relationships with VC funds, and runs student programs. His expertise includes Lean Startup, business-idea validation, business model development, pitching, and fundraising, and he holds certifications such as the K-STP program, Strategyzer, MIT Disciplined Entrepreneurship, and Angel Capital Association training.

During the meeting, the participating companies had the opportunity to introduce their projects and begin discussing their business development challenges engaging in targeted discussions to address specific needs. Participants also shared their motivations for joining the acceleration programme and the expected benefits of participation, creating a clear foundation for tailored support and next steps.

Participation in the programme is free of charge, as the activity is funded by the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme within the A4SUSTINNO project.