HPC Montenegro @ STP: Connecting with Innovative Companies and the Startup Ecosystem during Open Day

On April 3, 2025, representatives of HPC NCC Montenegro attended the Open Day hosted by the Science and Technology Park (STP) of Montenegro, seizing the opportunity to connect with innovative companies, startups, and entrepreneurs with the potential to leverage HPC for AI-driven projects.

Paid MNE

Among the STP residents who participated in the event and presented their ideas were ONEAI, Artificial Intelligence Software Solutions, Azoteq, G Consulting, the Institute of Contemporary Technologies of Montenegro, Logik Montenegro, Modrone, Montezuma, Uhura, Paid.mne, Ninamedia Clipping, Sjever.me, the Center for Finance, and Web Falcon.

One AI

It was inspiring to hear testimonials from Uhura, Paid.mne, and ONEAI, who already benefit from access to leading EuroHPC supercomputers, including LUMI and LEONARDO. These success stories are the result of fruitful collaboration with NCC Montenegro and the support received through Development Calls.

Uhura

In this vibrant setting, HPC NCC Montenegro representatives engaged with prospective companies and innovative teams to raise awareness of the Montenegrin NCC and European HPC resources, explore potential collaborations and training opportunities, and support access to advanced computing infrastructure for research, development, and innovation.

The NTP Open Day proved to be a dynamic platform for identifying HPC/AI potential, strengthening partnerships, and accelerating digital innovation in Montenegro [link].

Empowering the Future with AI: Workshop on Chatbots and LLMs at NCC Montenegro

As part of the ongoing H2020-MSCA TRACEWINDU initiative to foster digital innovation and transparency across value chains, a hands-on workshop on chatbot development using Large Language Models (LLMs) and the Azure platform was held at the National Competence Center for High-Performance Computing (NCC Montenegro), hosted by the University of Donja Gorica (UDG).

This workshop was implemented as a cross-collaboration of TRACEWINDU and EUROCC2/EUROCC4SEE ptojects

The workshop brought together a vibrant group of PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor students, alongside AI and HPC researchers and mentors from UDG—key TRACEWINDU and EUROCC4SEE project partners—highlighting the growing interest and expertise in cutting-edge AI technologies across disciplines.

Leading the session were Ms. Daliborka Nedić and Ms. Senka Gajinov from DunavNET, an innovation-driven technology company and core partner in the TRACEWINDU consortium. Their expert lecture provided attendees with valuable insights into the rapidly evolving world of generative AI and practical guidance on building intelligent chatbot solutions using Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI services.

Around 20 people attended, mostly PhD, MSc and BSc researchers interested in AI and HPC

The workshop covered key concepts such as:

  • The fundamentals of Large Language Models (LLMs) and their applications in chatbot development
  • Integration of LLMs within the Azure AI ecosystem
  • Best practices in prompt engineering and knowledge grounding
  • Real-life use cases aligned with transparency, automation, and user engagement in value chains

Beyond chatbot development, the discussion extended to the integration of computer vision models—particularly those aimed at automating data collection in value chains—and the use of HPC resources to support their deployment. Participants explored ideas for combining conversational AI interfaces with real-time computer vision capabilities, opening up possibilities for smarter, more interactive systems across agri-food and other sectors.

This collaborative brainstorming set the stage for future joint initiatives, where chatbots could serve as intuitive front-ends to complex AI models running on high-performance computing infrastructures—bridging accessibility and computational power for impactful solutions. This workshop is part of a broader capacity-building effort within TRACEWINDU and EUROCC4SEE, designed to empower young researchers and professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to innovate responsibly in the age of AI TRACEWINDU continues to bridge digital technologies and real-world value chain transformation.

Ms Daliborka Nedic and Ms Senka Gajinov from DNET at UDG

Exploring AI and Misinformation: Workshop and Panel Discussion

A workshop and panel discussion on the topic of AI and Misinformation took place at the University of Donja Gorica (UDG) on March 27th. The event was organized in collaboration with the Montenegrin EU House, the Young European Ambassadors (YEA) for Montenegro, and NCC Montenegro. The event brought together students, faculty, and youth ambassadors in an engaging and insightful session led by young AI expert Igor Ćulafić. Opening remarks were delivered by prof. Tomo Popović (NCC Montenegro, UDG) and Dado Dervanović, a representative from the EU House, setting the tone for a stimulating evening of discussion.

Event took place at UDG, opening remarks by prof. Tomo Popovic and Dado Dervanovic

Igor Ćulafić’s presentation delved into both the constructive and malicious uses of artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on how AI can be misused for spreading misinformation. Through vivid examples, including several from his own work, Ćulafić demonstrated the power of AI-generated content and the importance of digital literacy in an AI-driven world. The talk also highlighted how advances in HPC have accelerated the capabilities of AI models, making them more powerful and accessible — but also more susceptible to misuse.

There was around 60 attendees

A key message of the event was the importance of education and awareness in combating misinformation. Attendees were introduced to practical methods for identifying manipulated content online and were inspired to think critically about the information they consume and share. Ćulafić also emphasized the empowering aspects of AI, encouraging students not to fear these tools but rather to explore how they can be used for innovation and societal benefit. In this context, HPC plays a crucial role in supporting large-scale data processing and training of AI models, providing the necessary infrastructure for research, experimentation, and development of trustworthy digital tools.

Kee messages were to promote responsible AI adoption and utilisatino of powerful technology such as HPC

The event exemplified EUROCC2’s mission to promote responsible AI adoption, HPC awareness, and digital skills among young people in Montenegro. By fostering dialogue between experts, students, and institutions, it highlighted the importance of collaboration in building resilience to online threats while unlocking the positive potential of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing technologies.

Meeting between IEC Tehnopolis and NCC Montenegro

On March 25, 2025, representatives of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) Tehnopolis Nikšić welcomed a NCC Montenegro.

At IEC Tehnopolis, we were greeted by Željko Lučić and Đorđe Brkuljan, who provided an presentation on their center’s activities, support programs, and the startups they mentor. They highlighted the role of IEC Tehnopolis in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Montenegro.

Luka Filipović, representing NCC Montenegro, shared an overview of our activities, training programs, and success stories, emphasizing how high-performance computing (HPC) is driving innovation and development. He also presented the opportunities available through NCC Montenegro, including access to EuroHPC resources, training, and expert support.

Presentation of NCC Montenegro activities

The discussion focused on identifying opportunities for collaboration, particularly how NCC Montenegro can support startups led by Tehnopolis in scaling their development efforts. By leveraging EuroHPC infrastructure and expertise, startups can accelerate their innovation processes and enhance their competitiveness.

Workshop: Artificial Intelligence and Media Literacy

The University of Donja Gorica, in cooperation with EU House and Young European Ambassadors, is organizing a workshop and panel discussion on the topic “Artificial Intelligence and Media Literacy”. The event will be moderated by Igor Culafić, assistant at the UDG, master student in the “Artificial Intelligence” program and Young European Ambassador.

Workshop: Artificial Intelligence and Media Literacy

The workshop will demonstrate practical examples of using AI and HPC tools for creative and productive purposes, the presence of disinformation on the internet, how AI affects disinformation and how to recognize it. The presentation will take place on March 27 at 9:45 am, in the amphitheather A4 the University of Donja Gorica.

We invite students and all interested parties to attend this event and take the opportunity to develop practical skills in a critical approach to AI/HPC tools and become active participants in creating an ethical framework for the use of new technologies!

NCC Montenegro Supported Paper to be presented at the INFOTEH conference

At the 24th International Symposium INFOTEH-JAHORINA (March 19-21, 2025), the paper “Transforming Matrix Problem Solving with Intelligent Tutoring Systems” will be presented. It explores the use of OCR and NLP technologies for automated matrix processing through an intelligent tutoring chatbot.

This effort was supported by the NCC Montenegro and resulted in a system that utilizes EasyOCR and the Qwen2-Math-7B-Instruct model for matrix operations with 95% accuracy. Implemented on our HPC cluster, it enables fast and precise processing of user queries, enhancing learning through AI-powered tools. The paper will be presented by Ms. Enisa Trubljanin and Mr Elvis Taruh, students at the Master AI program at UDG.

Click on image for sessions schedule for accepted papers.

Annual Review of the EuroCC2/EuroCC4SEE Project: A Year of Impactful Progress

In 2024, the EuroCC2/EuroCC4SEE project reached a new milestone, with 34 National Competence Centers (NCCs) showcasing significant achievements. This year’s review highlighted the collective drive to advance HPC, HPDA, and AI, strengthening competencies, capacities, and collaboration across Europe.

NCC Montenegro at the annual review meeting
NCCs form 34 countries participated

A key focus in NCC presentations was user engagement, particularly with industry/SMEs. Through real-world HPC and AI use cases, Proofs of Concepts, and Success Stories, NCCs have bridged the gap between cutting-edge technologies and practical applications, fostering innovation across industries, academia, and the public sector. End-users have benefited from expert training, technical support, and subsidized access to EuroHPC supercomputing resources.

Great opportunity to exchange experiences and lessons learned

Collaboration remains central to EuroCC2/EuroCC4SEE. NCCs have deepened ties with other NCCs, CoEs, and EDIHs through mentoring, twinning, training and workshops. Joint initiatives, supported by EuroCC2 PMT and CASTIEL 2, have facilitated knowledge exchange, best practices, and white papers, accelerating Europe’s HPC/HPDA/AI ecosystem development. Training programs have equipped researchers, engineers, and industry professionals with essential skills to leverage these technologies effectively. The success stories presented reaffirm the project’s impact—enhancing scientific research, optimizing industry workflows, and improving public sector efficiency through smart solutions.

All NCCs presented what worked what did not in the precvous period

NCC Montenegro showcased Montenegrin companies, including UHURA, PAID MNE, IHMS, successfully utilizing European supercomputers to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of their innovative applications, complex simulations and advanced AI models. Additionally, the NCC Montenegro’s representative shared valuable insights on conducting HPC/AI study and training programs aligned with Smart Specialization strategy and highlighted successful collaborations with over 10 NCCs and CoEs in capacity building, industry practices and HPC awareness raising.

EUROCC4SEE and NCC Montenegro report

The 2024 review underscored EuroCC2/EuroCC4SEE’s role as a cornerstone of European HPC+ progress, driving user engagement, technological innovation and international collaboration. Looking ahead, the project remains committed to scaling impact, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring HPC and AI technologies remain accessible and beneficial to all.

Good opportunity for networking with EUROCC2/EUROCC4SEE representatives