Six Western Balkans Innovation Awards to be presented tonight

Podgorica – The third annual Regional Butterfly Innovation Forum, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), opened in the Science and Technology Park in Podgorica today. The Forum, gathering region’s top innovative minds, has been opened by Pranvera Kastrati, Head of RCC's Programme Department, and Marija Bajraktarovic Lanzardi, Director of the Directorate for Digital Economy and Technological Development at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro.

“The Western Balkans has made noticeable strides in improving its innovation performance over the recent years, but we are still at less than 70% of the EU’s average. While this highlights the challenges ahead, I choose to focus on the progress we have achieved and the potential for further growth. Through the implementation of the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan, the RCC has supported the regional innovation ecosystem by fostering collaboration across economies, enhancing research and innovation infrastructures, promoting women in STEM, and celebrating achievements through initiatives like the Butterfly Forum and Award,” said Pranvera Kastrati, Head of RCC's Programme Department.

“Looking ahead, our focus will be on strengthening connections between academia and businesses, supporting deep and green tech manufacturing, and driving the effective use of research infrastructures, like the Science and Technology Park in Podgorica where we gathered today, for regional purposes. To truly ignite innovation in the Western Balkans, we must embrace collaboration and partnerships, pooling our resources and expertise to create a thriving innovation ecosystem that benefits us all. Together, we can turn our vision of a more innovative and connected region into reality,” concluded Kastrati.

The Butterfly Innovation Forum is a flagship regional event dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation across the Western Balkans. Organised by the RCC for a third year in a row, the Forum brings together leading experts, policymakers, innovators, and business leaders to explore the latest trends in artificial intelligence, green growth, and innovation-driven competitiveness. With a dynamic agenda featuring flash talks, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, the event showcases the region's potential to drive transformative change through innovation and collective action.

Highlighting the importance of sustainable and smart solutions, the Forum covers a wide range of topics, including enhancing regional collaboration, advancing green AI investments, and leveraging smart technologies to combat climate change. Participants will also explore how to bridge gaps between academia and business, pool resources for greater impact, and celebrate groundbreaking regional innovations at the Butterfly Innovation Awards. The Forum is a testament to the region's commitment to building a resilient and inclusive innovation ecosystem that can compete on a global scale.

After the Forum, on the eve of 26 November, the RCC will award six winners of the Western Balkans Butterfly Innovation Award for their innovative ideas. 

Furthermore, the RCC, in cooperation with UNDP, will host a side event on 27 November in Podgorica, presenting a business self-assessment platform for measuring digital maturity of businesses in the region.

The Butterfly Innovation Forum and Award as well as the Skills for Jobs event are part of the Regional Innovation Area of the Common Regional Market Action Plan.

The Forum and the Award have been established in 2021 to encourage and promote innovative, scalable, market-based solutions from the Western Balkans, and deepen the understanding of current innovation opportunities, improve the performance of the region’s innovation efforts and assist the development of regional innovation ecosystem. These activities are being financed by the European Union.

More information:
https://www.rcc.int/events/1602/regional-butterfly-innovation-forum
https://www.rcc.int/priority_areas/63/butterfly-innovation-award 
https://www.rcc.int/events/1604/skills4jobs-making-the-western-balkans-businesses-more-resilient