HPC Training AI Solutions from Innovative SMEs: Practical Examples and Lessons Learned

NCC Montenegro, in collaboration with the NCC Slovenia, organized a collaborative workshop and training AI Solutions from Innovative SMEs: Practical Examples and Lessons Learned on October 7, 2025 in Podgorica at University of Donja Gorica. The workshop focused on the opportunities and advantages of HPC and AI technologies in the business sector and best practices in the industry. Approximately 25 participants attended the workshop, including industry experts who deal daily with research and practical examples in the field of artificial intelligence based on HPC.

Tomi Ilijas, NCC Slovenia, Arctur

Tomi Ilijaš, representing Arctur and the NCC SLING initiative in Slovenia, discussed the emerging opportunities for SMEs within the HPC ecosystem. He introduced support structures aimed at making advanced computing more accessible to smaller businesses and highlighted case studies of SME innovation enabled by HPC services.

Presentation on lessons learned and new opportunities for the industry

Ilijaš highlighted two of Arctur’s valuable use cases, CLASSICA and LLMs4EU. These projects are powered by supercomputers and AI, enabling faster workflows and precise analysis. Use case in tourism LLMs4EU aims to reduce entry barriers for smaller, lesser-known tourist destinations and to break down language barriers, build personalized itineraries and incorporate gamification elements. Based on vertical LLM, designed for integration into existing or newly developed software. The main goal of the CLASSICA project – the use of AI technology for cancer classification in the operating theatre. Ilijaš presented the project activities and highlighted the importance of AI technology for image recognition and tissue classification.

NCC Monteengro moderated the discussion

The second part of the workshop focused on the FFplus call Innovative studies for SMEs. FFplus is a successor to previous Fortissimo projects (Fortissimo, Fortissimo-2, FF4EuroHPC; 2013-2023). Both, NCC Montenegro and NCC Slovenia representatives, explaines and announce to the Montenegrin SMEs the Innovative studies call which will be open in December 2025. This call will support European SMEs and Start-ups already active in the field of generative AI technology, which lack the necessary computational resources to scale up.

Representatives from NCC Montenegro

After the presentation, there were questions and answers sesion. During Q&A sesion representatives from SMEs shared their experiences and highlighted importance of cooperation with NCC Montenegro.

We had a good presence of SMEs interested in new EuroHPC and FFPlus calls
Group photo from the workshop

NCC Montenegro at Infofest 2025

Infofest (Festival of IT Achievements) is a traditional international event in the field of information and communication technologies, organized in Montenegro since 1994.

The aim of Infofest is to bring together experts from academia, industry, and the public sector, as well as technology companies, IT enthusiasts, and the media — to exchange knowledge, present innovative solutions, and initiate discussions on current challenges and perspectives of digital transformation.

NCC Montenegro presenting activities and services offered

Over the years, Infofest has established a strong reputation as a festival that promotes the latest topics in the ICT sector, such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital transformation, regulation and ethics in technology, e-governance, and more.
Infofest 2025 was held in Budva, from September 28 to October 1, 2025.

Dr Sandra Tinaj, NCC Montenegro, UDG

The National Competence Center for High Performance Computing – NCC Montenegro actively participated in Infofest 2025, presenting projects and services in the fields of supercomputing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Dr Tomo Popovic, NCC Montenegro, UDG

Representatives of the University of Donja Gorica, Sandra Tinaj and Tomo Popović, together with Božo Krstajić from the University of Montenegro, delivered a presentation on the activities of NCC Montenegro, with a special focus on the services offered by the Center, as listed and described on the official platform.

Dr Bozo Krstajic, NCC Montenegro, ETF/UCG

During the event, bilateral meetings were held with representatives of IT companies and public sector institutions interested in collaboration and the implementation of HPC and AI solutions in their organizations.

Infofest was attended by the representatives from industry and academia (Montenegro and the region)

By participating in Infofest, NCC Montenegro further strengthens its role in the development of Montenegro’s digital economy and innovation ecosystem, connecting academia, researchers, and industry in a shared mission to advance knowledge and technological progress.

NCC Montenegro at the 13th Science Festival – Supercomputers and Artificial Intelligence

On Friday, September 26, at the Bemax Arena in Podgorica, the 13th Science Festival – “European Researchers’ Night” will take place, organized by the Foundation for the Promotion of Science PRONA (https://festival-nauke.me/).

NCC Montenegro at the 13th Science Festival

The National Competence Center for High Performance Computing – NCC Montenegro (EuroCC2 and EuroCC4SEE), represented through the University of Donja Gorica, will participate in this largest event in Montenegro dedicated to the popularization of science and innovation.

Interaction with the youngest attendees

Through several projects and demonstrations, visitors will see how supercomputers and artificial intelligence (HPC/AI) are shaping the future:

  • Agriculture – the AIMHiGH project applies AI for real-time poultry disease and behavior analysis.
  • Human resources – AI tools for improving business processes and enhancing objectivity in decision-making.
  • Medicine – the AI-AGE project develops AI models for detecting biomarkers of aging from medical imaging.

This event is an opportunity to demonstrate how HPC and AI contribute to sustainable development and the digital transformation of society, while highlighting Montenegro’s active role in the European Research Area.

Through EuroCC2 and EuroCC4SEE, NCC Montenegro continues to build bridges between science and industry, supporting researchers and companies in developing new digital solutions, and positioning Montenegro as part of the European supercomputing and AI community.

Connecting science, innovation and society

The Science Festival once again confirms the importance of NCC Montenegro in connecting science, innovation, and society.

NCC Montenegro at CMBEBIH 2025

Within the framework of the international conference CMBEBIH 2025, organized by the Society for Medical and Biological Engineering in BiH, with the co-organization of Verlab and the University of Donja Gorica, experts from the fields of biomedical engineering, technology, and innovation gathered together.

EuroCC and HPC use cases presentation at the opening ceremony of CMBEBIH 2025

A special segment of the conference was dedicated to the National Competence Centres for High-Performance Computing (NCC HPC), where NCC HPC BiH, NCC HPC Montenegro, and NCC HPC Serbia jointly presented:

  • HPC services available to academia, industry, and the public sector
  • Successful examples of HPC solutions implemented in companies and institutions
  • Opportunities for collaboration, development, and support in digital transformation
Presentation of NCC services and success stories for public sector

This event once again confirmed the importance of regional cooperation among NCCs in Southeast Europe, which, through the exchange of knowledge, experience, and resources, strengthens the region’s technological infrastructure and innovation capacity.

Joint initiatives such as this represent a strong step forward in connecting science, industry, and the public sector through the application of advanced digital technologies.

NCC Montenegro Showcases HPC Solutions at “KOMPakt” Event Organized by the Chamber of Commerce and the Science and Technology Park

The Chamber of Economy of Montenegro (PKCG), in cooperation with the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro (NTP), organized the interactive event “KOMPakt”, bringing together entrepreneurs, SMEs, innovative companies, IT representatives, universities, and institutions. The event served as a platform to present institutional support measures, promote initiatives for digital and green transformation, and connect businesses with new technologies to enhance international competitiveness.

KOMPact- engaging atmosphere

In her opening remarks, the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, Dr. Nina Drakić, emphasized that KOMPakt was conceived as a bridge between business needs and innovative technical solutions, noting that a strong SME sector is essential for Montenegro’s digital and green transformation, European integration, and global competitiveness. Valentina Radulović, Director of the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, highlighted the role of NTP as a hub where ideas, business and technology converge, encouraging participants to harness the country’s innovative potential and create value-added partnerships.

Ready for HPC talks… where ideas meet supercomputers!

NCC Montenegro participated as one of the exhibitors, presenting its activities within the EuroCC2/EuroCC4SEE project. The NCC highlighted opportunities for Montenegrin entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry to adopt HPC and AI solutions—offering customized training, expert consultancy, and access to leading European supercomputers at no additional cost. Visitors engaged in discussion on their project ideas and business needs, ranging from advanced trading strategies for the capital markets, over smart tourism app enhancements, to precise long-term weather forecasting models, leveraging HPC capabilities and NCC support.

KOMPact –opportunity for new productive collaborations

By engaging directly with key national stakeholders and innovative SMEs, NCC Montenegro reaffirmed its mission to drive digital acceleration and enhance industry competitiveness through the powerful convergence of HPC and AI.

https://komora.me/saopstenja/pkcg-i-ntp-organizovali-dogadaj-kompakt-rjesenja-za-modernizaciju-i-unapredenje-poslovanja

https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/ekonomija/774377/rjesenja-za-modernizaciju-i-unapredjenje-poslovanja

https://www.antenam.net/ekonomija/380657-pkcg-i-ntp-na-dogadjaju-kompakt-predstavili-rjesenja-za-unapredjenje-poslovanja-i-digitalnu-transformaciju

NCC Montenegro Presented at EuroCC4SEE Seminar: AI Meets Precision Agriculture

We are pleased to share that Ivan Jovović, MSc, from NCC Montenegro (University of Donja Gorica), delivered an invited presentation at the EuroCC4SEE seminar series titled “AI Meets Precision Agriculture” on July 18, 2025. The event was hosted by EuroCC Turkey and gathered around 20 participants from across the region.

There was about 20 attendess for this presentation

This presentation explored the transformative role of artificial intelligence in modern agriculture, with a focus on how data-driven technologies are redefining farming practices. Ivan highlighted practical applications of AI and machine learning for optimizing crop yields, monitoring environmental conditions, and enabling sustainable resource use. Real-world examples from Montenegrin vineyards and pilot Living Labs were discussed, emphasizing integration of AI, IoT, and edge computing in precision agriculture workflows.

The talk also showcased how HPC resources and national competence centers, such as NCC Montenegro, support the development and scaling of these intelligent solutions for the agri-food sector.

The presentation included HPC powered ML solution for poultry industry

This event is part of the EuroCC4SEE initiative, which promotes knowledge exchange and collaboration among national competence centers in Southeast Europe. We thank the organizers from EuroCC Turkey for the opportunity and look forward to future joint activities!

NCC Montenegro Presents HPC to Startups and Innovators at Science and Technology Park

As part of its mission to promote awareness and adoption of advanced HPC and AI technologies, the NCC Montenegro held an industry workshop at the Science and Technology Park (STP) Podgorica, Montenegro’s flagship innovation hub that empowers innovative companies and startups by offering incubation, training, mentorship, and access to collaborative networks.

The event brought together representatives of the local startup ecosystem and tech-oriented SMEs to explore how data-driven technologies can accelerate business development, supported by EuroCC2/EuroCC4SEE project objectives and NCC Montenegro’s service and training portfolio. Participants were introduced to practical examples of HPC and AI applications across various industry and research domains, including Success Stories from Montenegro. The workshop featured a demonstration of the HPC4SME assessment tool, and offered practical guidance on how interested companies can receive technical consultations, apply for access to top-tier European supercomputers through EuroHPC Calls, and engage in HPC-related funded projects, such as FFplus for Business Experiment Calls.

The event concluded with active Q&A session and follow-up discussions, reinforcing that innovation-driven companies in Montenegro have both the creativity and ambition to thrive in the high-tech arena—and that they value the NCC Montenegro’s opportunities to access powerful digital infrastructure and expertise.

More info : https://ntpark.me/en/news/superracunari-za-pametnije-biznise/