Despite the coronavirus epidemic, construction works on the Science and Technology Park, NTP, are going the way we planned, executive director of the Park, Mr Velibor Bošković, told in an interview for Dnevne Novine daily, noting that it will be opened by the set deadline or even before.
Here are the highlights of the interview with Mr Bošković…
The Science and Technology Park has been established as a result of partnership among the govt, the Ministry of Science and the University of Montenegro. What is the aim of the NTP and what activities you have launched for 10 months?
Bošković: The Science and Technology Park was established with the aim of becoming a key generator of innovation processes in Montenegro through support to individuals and companies based on creative, innovation-oriented and high-tech businesses. Through the processes of incubation, acceleration, training, mentoring, connecting with investors and ecosystems of technological innovations, the NTP will support numerous innovative and entrepreneurial ventures. The past 10 months of operations have been marked by numerous activities, of which I would like to single out the completion of all tender procedures and the start of works on the NTP building, then the BoostMeUp program, which is the first pre-acceleration program to support startup teams in Montenegro.
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In addition, the entire NTP team provided support to the Ministry of Science, which drafted two new laws to be applied in many areas of innovative economy and scientific and research activity.
Can you tell us more about these laws?
Bošković: It’s about the Law on Incentive Measures for the Development of Research and Innovation and the Law on Innovation Activity, which will regulate the innovation system of Montenegro in accordance with social needs and international standards. New legislation will provide a good insight into all entities engaged in innovation in Montenegro, entities that provide innovation infrastructure and those that invest in innovation. Also, the law envisages the establishment of the Innovation Fund, which is established for the purpose of efficient implementation of innovation policy, provision and implementation of funds that will more strongly encourage innovation.
The NTP represents one of the most important infrastructure projects of the Ministry of Science and the Government for the development of innovation-business ecosystem. How are the works going, i.e. are they going in line with the planned dynamics or the Covid-19 epidemic greatly affected them?
Bošković: Started works on the NTP building are being carried out in line with plans, which gives us justified optimism that they are going to be completed on time, or maybe even before the set deadline. It is a facility that, according to its technical and technological characteristics, is a novelty for Montenegrin frameworks, so it’s very important to us that each activity is in line with both project requirements and the needs of our future tenants. In this regard, we are satisfied with the relationship that the company ‘Novi Volvox’ has developed towards this project, so that the situation caused by the COVID-19 epidemic has not slowed down or jeopardized the dynamics of work, which is running smoothly from the beginning.
The value of contracted works is nearly eight million euro. What will you gain by building that facility, that is, what is planned in the project documentation? What will the NTP building look like?
Bošković: The building of the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro is in design and form integrated into the environment of the University Campus of Technical and Technological Faculties of the University of Montenegro and is a reflection of modern architecture, designed to attract, motivate and retain its visitors. The project has been adapted and aligned with the needs of the NTP.
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By applying the concept of “smart and energy-efficient”, conditions for the growth and development of all its tenants will be created, as well as new standards in the construction of smart buildings in Montenegro and the region. The building will have various facilities, such as office rooms, congress center, co-working spaces, specialized laboratories, meeting rooms, exhibition rooms, restaurant, gym, “day care” center for children, garage with chargers for electric vehicles, and many other amenities tailored to the needs of NTP tenants.
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Who will be able to use premises of the NTP?
Bošković: The Science and Technology Park will offer its capacities to startups and innovative companies, so that we can work together to create an ecosystem for the development of innovative businesses. Also, the capacities of NTP will be offered to inventors, innovators, freelancers as well as creative teams that develop numerous innovative ideas and projects.
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