MSc Thesis Defence: Quantization of Edge AI Models in IoT Systems

On June 29, 2026, an MSc thesis entitled “Quantization of Edge AI Models in IoT Systems” by Mr. Zarko Perunicic was successfully defended within the Artificial Intelligence Master’s programme at the University of Donja Gorica. Through its participation in the programme, mentoring activities, and support for practical research in AI, HPC, and IoT, NCC Montenegro contributes to developing advanced competencies in the efficient deployment of artificial intelligence models on resource-constrained devices. The thesis addresses an important Edge AI challenge by evaluating model quantization strategies for computer vision applications in IoT environments.

Mr. Perunicic after the defence

ABSTRACT – Edge AI systems in Internet of Things (IoT) environments require artificial intelligence models that are sufficiently small, fast, and reliable to operate on resource-constrained devices. This thesis examines how quantization, as a model optimization method, affects the performance of a computer vision model in the task of grape leaf disease classification. MobileNetV2 was used as the reference model, and its optimized variants were then prepared in the TensorFlow Lite environment using FP16 and INT8 quantization modes, including dynamic INT8 quantization, full INT8 quantization based on a representative dataset, and an INT8 variant obtained through quantization-aware training (QAT) on an additional, more challenging dataset. The experiments were conducted on cleaned and restructured subsets, following quality control of publicly available datasets and the removal of redundant and visually equivalent samples. Under controlled conditions, latency, execution stability, peak RAM usage, model size, and accuracy were analyzed.

On the more controlled dataset, full post-training INT8 quantization achieved the most favorable balance among efficiency, stability, and model size while preserving accuracy, whereas dynamic INT8 quantization, despite reducing model size, can measurably slow down model execution. On the more challenging field dataset, this pattern changed partially: although full INT8 quantization remained the fastest variant, the INT8 model obtained through QAT provided the most favorable overall balance between accuracy, model size, and latency. The results show that the effect of quantization depends not only on numerical precision, but also on data characteristics, the calibration procedure, and the compatibility of the model with the execution environment. It is therefore concluded that the choice of quantization strategy should be empirically validated for a specific application scenario rather than assumed in advance.

MSc Thesis Defence: Synergy of Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing in Tuberculosis Diagnostics and Education

On June 29, 2026, MSc candidate Nikola Kavarić successfully defended his thesis entitled “Synergy of Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing in Tuberculosis Diagnostics and Education” within the Artificial Intelligence Master’s programme at the University of Donja Gorica. Through its support for the programme, mentoring activities, and development of competencies in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, NCC Montenegro contributes to preparing young researchers to develop interdisciplinary AI solutions for healthcare. The thesis investigates the combination of computer vision and Retrieval-Augmented Generation approaches for detecting signs of tuberculosis and providing educational explanations of medical findings.

Mr. Nikola Kavaric during the defence

ABSTRACT – The aim of this thesis is the development and evaluation of a system that combines computer vision and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) models for the automatic detection of signs of tuberculosis in chest X-ray images and the educational explanation of findings. The initial hypothesis was that it is possible to develop a functional prototype capable of recognizing pathological changes in X-ray images and generating informative, literature-grounded responses for users. Within this research, a CNN model for binary classification and YOLO models for the localization of pathological changes were developed and evaluated. The CNN model achieved an accuracy of 97% on the test set, representing a solid and measurable contribution. The YOLO models adequately demonstrated the concept of localization, with certain limitations related to dataset size and class imbalance. In addition to the visual module, a RAG prototype was implemented, utilizing a local medical document base to generate responses to user queries. The integration was implemented at the prototype level, without clinical validation. Based on the obtained results, the hypothesis was partially confirmed — to a significant extent for the CNN classification component within the test dataset used, while the YOLO and RAG components, due to dataset limitations and the absence of expert-verified reference answers, should be treated as proof-of-concept components. The thesis demonstrates that a modular combination of these technologies can serve as a useful foundation for the development of educational tools in the field of medical diagnostics.

MSc Thesis Defence: Machine Learning and AI Model Development for Medical Applications

On June 29, 2026, MSc candidate Anesa Abazović successfully defended her thesis entitled “Machine Learning and AI Model Development for Medical Applications” within the Artificial Intelligence Master’s programme at the University of Donja Gorica. Through its support for the programme, mentoring activities, and development of competencies in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, NCC Montenegro contributes to preparing young researchers to apply advanced AI methods in medicine and other socially relevant domains. The thesis investigates the application of machine learning and deep learning to medical image analysis and clinical data classification, while also considering the technical, ethical, and practical challenges of integrating AI systems into healthcare.

Ms Anesa Abazovic durign the defence

ABSTRACT – This thesis explores the potential of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models in the detection of ovarian cancer and the prediction of pneumonia. In the first part, a YOLO model was used to identify tumor lesions in medical images, while in the second part, XGBoost, Random Forest, and neural network models were applied for the classification of clinical data. Model performance was evaluated using metrics such as precision, recall, accuracy, specificity, F1-score, ROC-AUC, MCC, mAP50, and mAP50-95. The experimental analysis demonstrated that AI models can achieve promising performance in both clinical scenarios, with certain limitations that require further validation. In addition to technical aspects, ethical considerations were also examined, including model interpretability, data privacy, and the integration of AI systems into healthcare information systems. It is concluded that AI can provide significant support to modern diagnostics, with the need for further improvements and clinical validation.

New HPC podcast episode: AI for football

This episode’s guest is ⁠David Sumpter⁠, Professor at ⁠Department of Mathematics; Statistics, AI and Data Science⁠ at Uppsala University in Sweden. He’s also the co-founder of Twelve Football, a company that helps football clubs understand all metrics better and make smarter decisions. We discuss the relation between math and football, their successes and challenges with working with football clubs and their AI product Earpiece.

Listen to the full episode in your favourite podcast app:  

🎧 Listen to the full episode in your favorite podcast app: 
 ⚪ HPC in Europe Portal: https://hpc-portal.eu/news/podcast
🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LLxGvTSlp8AwYgH31g7vS?si=e3f01caa3eca4ce8
🟣 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ai-for-football-david-sumpter-twelve-football/id1768782069?i=1000773951352
⚫️ RSS feed: https://anchor.fm/s/f01f82a4/podcast/rss

National Competence Centre of Montenegro (NCC Montenegro) and EuroCC3 Project Presented at the Montenegro STEM & Finance Forum 2026

At the Montenegro STEM & Finance Forum 2026, successfully held on June 10th 2026 at the University of Donja Gorica, participants were introduced to the National Competence Centre of Montenegro (NCC Montenegro) within the framework of the international EuroCC3 project. The STEM & Finance Forum 2026 was an event dedicated to young innovators, entrepreneurs, and teams developing solutions in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), finance, circular economy, and social innovation.

The presentation of NCC Montenegro and the EuroCC3 project was delivered by Prof. Dr Milica Vukotić, Vice-Rector of the University of Donja Gorica and the NCC Montenegro member, who highlighted the importance of developing advanced computing capacities and artificial intelligence as key drivers of Montenegro’s digital transformation.

NCC Montenegro represents a key infrastructure for the development of advanced computing technologies in Montenegro. Through the EuroCC3 project, the centre supports businesses, research institutions and the public sector in accessing high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence and big data analytics. The establishment of NCC Montenegro opens new opportunities for innovation, digital transformation and increased competitiveness of the Montenegrin economy on the European and global market, while also strengthening the link between science and industry through the joint development of solutions based on the most advanced technologies.

The Forum was organised by Junior Achievement Montenegro in cooperation with Chamber of Economy Montenegro and CKB bank in Montenegro and brought together representatives from academia and the business sector.

As part of the training programme, NCC Montenegro members, Arnad Lekić, Igor Ćulafić and Dr Stevan Čakić delivered a training session on the topic “The Use of AI Tools in Active Projects”, providing participants with insight into the practical application of artificial intelligence tools in real project scenarios and day-to-day work.

Dr Bojana Mališić delivered a training session on applying for EU projects, equipping participants with practical knowledge and guidance on accessing European funds and international financing programmes.

The presentation of NCC Montenegro at this event for young innovators and entrepreneurs reaffirms the University of Donja Gorica’s commitment to making advanced computing technologies and the outcomes of international projects accessible to the broader academic and business community in Montenegro.

NCC Montenegro Announces Short Course: 3D Printing, Generative AI & HPC-Enabled Design

The National Competence Center for High Performance Computing (NCC Montenegro) is launching a short course dedicated to the emerging intersection of 3D printing, generative artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing (HPC). The course is designed to provide participants with practical insight into the full digital fabrication pipeline — from concept and model creation to the production of a physical prototype.

During the two-day program, participants will learn the fundamentals of 3D printing technologies, CAD-based modeling, and model preparation for printing, while also exploring how Generative AI tools can automatically generate and enhance 3D models. A special segment of the course will focus on the role of HPC infrastructure in enabling advanced generative design workflows, including the training and deployment of AI models for complex design generation and optimization.

Designed for students, researchers, and professionals

The course combines theoretical lectures with hands-on sessions, allowing participants to experiment with AI-assisted model generation and prepare designs for 3D printing. The program culminates in a final project where participants implement the complete workflow — from AI-generated concept to printed prototype.

The course is intended for students, researchers, engineers, makers, and professionals interested in digital fabrication, AI-assisted design, and advanced computational technologies. The course will take place on March 26th and March 30th.

Link for registration: https://forms.gle/c1vhhJZRcoXe2Br87

PhD Defence at UDG: Advancing AI and HPC in Precision Agriculture

The University of Donja Gorica, through the Faculty for Information Systems and Technologies, proudly announces the successful PhD defence of Mr. Stevan Čakić, focused on the application of Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing in precision agriculture.

The research addresses key challenges in modern agriculture, particularly in poultry farming, by leveraging deep learning and computer vision models for real-time monitoring, early disease detection, and improved farm management. The models were developed and trained using HPC resources, enabling efficient experimentation and achieving high prediction accuracy exceeding 92% . A significant contribution of this work lies in the integration of HPC-based model development with deployment on edge devices in real farm environments, demonstrating a complete AI-to-industry pipeline. The research also explores the use of generative AI and synthetic data to reduce dependency on large annotated datasets, accelerating innovation cycles.

mr Stevan Cakic presenting his PhD Thesis on AI/HPC in precision agriculture

Importantly, part of this research was conducted in synergy with the FFplus experiment and in direct collaboration with industry partners, highlighting the role of HPC in enabling real-world, industry-driven AI applications. This achievement further demonstrates the impact of the NCC Montenegro and EuroCC2 & EuroCC4SEE initiatives in supporting advanced research, fostering academia-industry collaboration, and promoting the adoption of HPC technologies in strategic sectors such as agriculture.