Rector Nikolic: Science and Technology Park as a Bind between Academic and Business Sector
Two months ago on September 20th this year – the Park of Science and Technology of Montenegro (STO MNE LLC) founded in the partnership of Government, the Ministry of Science and the University of Montenegro has officially started operating with joint vision to become a crucial site for bonding innovative and creative individuals and projects where academic and business center will work together on development of Montenegrin economics and society using state-of-art technologies, innovations and scientific achievements.
Rector of the University of Montenegro, Danilo Nikolic, PhD in talking with Daily Paper stated that Park of Science and Technology is seen also as bondage among students from different faculties to work on implementation of business and innovative ideas, thus creating a convenient ground for foundation of own companies and initiation of start-ups as the most dynamic part of economies of developed countries.
DAILY PAPER: What can you tell us about the Park of Science and Technology project?
NIKOLIC: The Park of Science and Technology Project of Montenegro represents a significant step forward in strengthening innovation-entrepreneurial ecosystem in Montenegro. I believe that the Park for Science and Technology will be site that will encourage cooperation and strengthen synergy among research sector, economic sector, local community and national institutions, with aim to create an incentive that will result in strengthening competition of Montenegrin economy. Just for these reasons the Government of Montenegro, University of Montenegro and the Ministry of Science recognizing importance of such projects in society, decided to establish the Park for Science and Technology of Montenegro within the central University campus. The location itself of the Park is very attractive, for direct proximity to technological faculties, national institutions, and great number of companies.
DAILY PAPER: What is the role of UMNE in the Park for Science and Technology?
NIKOLIC: The University of Montenegro for the last years has been working intensively on improvement o domain of science research, innovations and cooperation with economy. Exactly in that part I see an important role of our University in the work of Science and technology Park. Through activities of the Park for Science and Technology we want to provide our academic staff that results of science and research get a new dimension and in terms of encouraging innovations and innovative entrepreneurship, i.e. to provide transfer of technologies and competences between academic community and economic sector. On the other side, I find that the Park for Science and Technology will give the opportunity to our students in testing their entrepreneurial ideas providing them gaining practical knowledge and competences helpful for their employment or creation of their own business.
DAILY PAPER: What results and benefits UMNE is expecting from the Park for Science and technology?
NIKOLIC: Next to already stated about the foundation and initiation of a complex project such as the Park for Science and technology of Montenegro, I expect in near future that this institution will manage create a necessary synergy among education, science and economy when it comes to their development and competition dynamics. The practice showed that institutions such as STP create simulative and affirmative working atmosphere, find new and different solutions for obstacles on their way and most importantly create a positive multiplicative effect for economic surroundings. What the University of Montenegro is expecting from the Park for Science and technology is incentive for science and research, stimulating innovative way of thinking, strengthening entrepreneurial capacities and team cooperation of academic staff and students, as well as a successful implementation of results of their work.
DAILY PAPER: How much will the Park for Science and Technology contribute to connecting UMNE with economy?
NIKOLIC: One of crucial goals of the Park for Science and Technology of Montenegro on one place creates atmosphere for connecting science, innovations and economy, with focus on more efficient utilization of research and development potential. Development of new technologies and transfer technologies towards economic sector. Just experiences coming from both developed and developing countries, show that similar forms for technical and technological entrepreneurship and commercialization of innovations are the best way to improve and intensify the stated cooperation.
The Park for Science and Technology of Montenegro will provide us a more efficient distribution of necessary information in both directions with the aim to increase level of competitiveness of both University and our economy.
DAILY PAPER: What else does this project provide for researchers, and what for business sector?
NIKOLIC: Operationalization of activities to be carried out by the Park for Science and technology of Montenegro, our researchers and scientist will be given the opportunity of market validation of scientific ideas and projects, while the business sector will be given a chance for growth and development though exploration of scientific resources. On the very end, I believe that the Park for Science and Technology, with active usage of research resources and innovative potentials of the University will contribute to improvement f business ambient of Montenegro, though stimulating development of start-up and spin-off companies, as one of greatest carriers of technological changes in the world today.
DAILY PAPER: What else are direct benefits from the Park for Science and Technology when we talk about students and their education?
NIKOLIC: The University of Montenegro devotedly works on strengthening quality of knowledge gained by students in our faculties. Having in mind the condition of our labor market, we devotedly work on establishing systems to give our employers necessary personnel for challenges ahead. When we talk about the Park for Science and Technology of Montenegro and its importance for education of our students, first of all I mean the part important to all of us, strengthening entrepreneurial spirit and acquiring skills. I see the Park for Science and Technology of Montenegro as bond of cooperation of students from different faculties, who will create interdisciplinary teams, work on implementation of business and innovative ideas, thus creating a convenient ground for initiation of entrepreneurial initiatives and foundation of start-up companies, as the most dynamic part of economies of developed countries. I will say again, with the support of research and science achievements, derailed analyses of market requirements and innovative approaches, I believe that the Par for Science and Technology of Montenegro will be the site for creating new values founded on knowledge that will have a great importance for our society.