The Mechanical Engineering Faculty Day marked by a round table discussion titled "Reindustrialization and New Products - A Vision for Sustainable Development in Montenegro"

The Mechanical Engineering Faculty of the University of Montenegro celebrated April 15th, marking the day with the first of a series of round tables planned as part of the university’s jubilee year celebrations. This initiative recognizes the unique role and responsibility held by the university as the sole state institution of higher education. The conclusions and recommendations from this and all subsequent round tables will be compiled into a publication titled "Montenegro 2024-2034: Vision and Recommendations of the University of Montenegro." This document will be officially submitted for consideration to the Government of Montenegro and the Assembly of Montenegro, as well as made available to the professional and general public.

Dean Prof. Dr. Radoje Vujadinović expressed the great honor and opportunity for the Mechanical Engineering Faculty to organize the first event, which also commemorates 54 years since April 15, 1970. On this date, the Council of the Technical Faculty in Titograd, chaired by Prof. Milorad Velašević, adopted amendments and supplements to the Statute, recognizing for the first time the Mechanical Engineering section within the Technical Faculty.

Reflecting on the achievements of the Mechanical Engineering Faculty and the importance of its role, he opened the panel discussion on "Reindustrialization and New Products in Montenegro - A Chance for Sustainable Economic Development."

Addressing a full hall at the UCG Rectorate, Dean Vujadinović expressed his certainty that no one present, whether a mechanical engineer or not, was satisfied with the current state of industrial production in Montenegro: "…satisfied with the fact that most factories did not survive the transition period, that new factories are not being opened, that we are unable to utilize our resources, both in terms of raw materials and domestic knowledge and workforce, I am sure you are as dissatisfied as I am that we export raw timber and then re-import it as furniture or other wood products at much higher prices, dissatisfied that we are an extremely import-dependent country, even importing drinking water. I am sure we are not satisfied with the high unemployment rate in Montenegro. If we are not satisfied, it is natural that we want to change this situation.”

This, he explained, was a strong motivation for the Mechanical Engineering Faculty to propose the topic of reindustrialization through the development of new products, which they see as one of the realistic chances for sustainable development of Montenegros economy.

"We want to send a message from the Mechanical Engineering Faculty of the University of Montenegro, which has been a pillar of once strong industry, that in addition to tourism, which is very vulnerable and subject to numerous influences, and slowly growing agricultural production, which is far from being able to meet the states own needs, aside from the production of electrical energy i.e., energy sector, which I personally consider a great development opportunity, and the developing ICT sector, there is also a need for industrial production of new products in Montenegro, through innovative and competitive companies, exclusively on the principles of sustainable development and in compliance with all current EU environmental standards." With these words, Dean Vujadinović introduced the panel discussion and expressed hope that at least some answers would be provided to the many questions that arise.

Panel discussion participants included Maja Jokanović, Head of the Directorate for Industrial Policy and Development, Ministry of Economic Development; Slavica Pavlović, Director of the Association Sector, Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro; Slobodan Stanić, Executive Director, Remid VIS company; and Prof. Dr. Radoslav Tomović from the Mechanical Engineering Faculty of the University of Montenegro.

The moderator of the event was Prof. Dr. Uroš Karadžić, Vice Dean for Research at the Mechanical Engineering Faculty.