Enhancing BSc Education through AI and HPC: Implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Course

As part of the ongoing activities of the National Competence Centre for High-Performance Computing and Artificial Intelligence in Montenegro (HPC NCC Montenegro), a new undergraduate course entitled Artificial Intelligence has been successfully implemented during the current academic year. The course was delivered to students of the Faculty for Information Systems and Technologies (FIST) as well as the Faculty of Applied Sciences – Electrical Engineering and Computer Science programme, further strengthening the AI and HPC components within undergraduate curricula.

AI Education Bridging Academia and Industry

The course was designed as an introductory yet comprehensive overview of fundamental concepts, methods, and applications of artificial intelligence, aiming to provide students with a solid theoretical foundation alongside essential practical skills. The focus was placed on machine learning, data analysis and processing, decision-making algorithms, and the role of AI in digital transformation and real-world problem solving. In addition, ethical challenges and societal implications of AI technologies were explicitly addressed. The course content and learning outcomes were aligned with contemporary academic and industry standards, including hands-on use of tools recommended by the industry experts.

A distinctive feature of the course was its close collaboration with industry partners, fully aligned with the objectives of the EuroCC-2 and EuroCC4SEE projects, which promote strong links between academia, industry, and the HPC ecosystem. Representatives from Alicorn, BixBit, Inovativa, and DigitalSmart actively participated in the course delivery, contributing through guest lectures and weekly discussions with students. This collaboration allowed students to gain first-hand insights into how AI and HPC technologies are applied in real industrial environments.

Through direct interaction with industry professionals, students discussed concrete use cases of artificial intelligence in areas such as data-driven decision making, process automation, intelligent systems development, and scalable AI solutions supported by HPC infrastructures. These exchanges significantly enriched the learning experience, fostering critical thinking, practical understanding of market needs, and awareness of real-world constraints and opportunities.

The implementation of the Artificial Intelligence course represents a concrete example of how EuroCC initiatives contribute to the systematic enhancement of undergraduate curricula with AI and HPC content, while simultaneously strengthening cooperation with industry. In this way, students are not only equipped with fundamental technical knowledge but are also introduced to the broader European HPC and AI ecosystem, gaining a clear perspective on the role of AI and high-performance computing in modern research, innovation, and industry.

EuroCC4SEE Forum on HPC/AI-Enabled Business Innovation & PoC Demonstrations

Short video from the event

On 13–14 December, NCC Montenegro hosted the EuroCC4SEE Forum dedicated to business innovation supported by High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The event brought together representatives from academia, industry, the public sector, and the startup ecosystem, with the aim of strengthening national capacities and supporting Montenegro’s digital transformation.

Welcome note from NCC Montenegro – prof. Bozo Krstajic
We organized networking activities during the breaks

During the two-day program, participants explored practical applications of HPC and AI through Proof-of-Concept demonstrations in the fields of energy, agriculture, health, and mobility, alongside discussions on innovation policies, MLOps approaches, skills development, and business–academia collaboration.

Discussions were focused on AI/HPC driven innovation in business and PoC demonstrators
PoC presentations were based on acamia-industry collaboration

The forum also highlighted the importance of regional and European cooperation, EU funding opportunities, and future activities within the EuroCC4SEE network, contributing to the strengthening of Montenegro’s position within the regional HPC/AI ecosystem. A proceedings booklet with brief elaborations of all covered topics will be made available on the project website.

Group photo from the event
Click to open the Abstract book

EuroCC4SEE Forum on HPC/AI-Enabled Business Innovation & PoC Demonstrations

NCC Monetenegro will host the EuroCC4SEE Forum on HPC/AI-Enabled Business Innovation & PoC Demonstrations on 13–14 December, bringing together representatives from academia, industry, government, and the startup community. The two-day event will highlight how High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can accelerate innovation, strengthen national capacities, and support Montenegro’s digital transformation.

Day 1 will focus on business innovation and policy perspectives, featuring opening remarks from national institutions, a keynote on the role of HPC and AI in economic growth, and a high-level panel on building Montenegro’s innovation ecosystem. The program will also include technical sessions, with PoC demonstrations developed through EuroCC4SEE in sectors such as energy, agriculture, health, and mobility, followed by a session on MLOps approaches moderated by the NCC Montenegro team. A networking and poster exhibition will showcase student work and local startup projects.

Day 2 will shift toward skills, education, and collaboration. Participants will explore national competence development in HPC/AI, talent pipeline building, and business–academia cooperation models through panels and an interactive workshop. The event will conclude with an overview of EU funding opportunities (Horizon Europe, EuroHPC JU, Digital Europe Programme) and a roadmap for further collaboration within the EuroCC4SEE network.

The forum aims to strengthen Montenegro’s position in the regional HPC/AI landscape and foster partnerships that empower innovation and research excellence.

NCC Montenegro Participates in the Second National AI Conference “AI DIRECTLY: Montenegro in the Time of AI Challenges”

The Second National AI Conference “AI DIREKTNO: Montenegro in the Time of AI Challenges” was held on 3 December 2025 at the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, gathering leading representatives from government, academia, health institutions, industry, and the innovation ecosystem. The event was organized by the Association of Managers of Montenegro (AMM), the AMM Academy for Leadership, Management and Corporate Governance, and the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro.

NCC Montenegro took an active role throughout the conference, contributing to discussions on strengthening Montenegro’s AI ecosystem, responsible adoption of advanced technologies, and the importance of high-performance computing (HPC) for research, innovation, and industry. NCC-affiliated representatives participated in panel discussions focused on the practical impact of AI, digital transformation, and new opportunities emerging across sectors.

One of the key contributions came during the panel “A New Era of Business – How AI Is Changing the Rules of the Game”, where Prof. Dr. Tomo Popović (University of Donja Gorica & NCC Montenegro) highlighted real-world AI adoption, the growing need for scalable HPC resources, and the importance of building multidisciplinary teams capable of delivering trustworthy AI solutions. The discussion also featured insights from industry leaders, some of which are already using EuroHPC Ju access, on emerging business models and AI-driven innovation. Agenda avaliable at [link].

The panel included NCC team members and representatives from companies already using EuroHPC resources

Another important contribution from the NCC community was made earlier in the day by Mr. Milutin Pavićević, assistant at UDG and founder of the startup Zuno, who participated in the panel “Application of AI in Education, Healthcare, and Other Sectors.” He emphasized practical challenges startups face in implementing AI-driven products, and the value of national digital infrastructure and research institutions in supporting early innovation.

The other panel focused on AI and Healthcare sector

The conference also included an open talk with the Prime Minister, sector-specific panels on banking, healthcare, and education, and strategic reflections from Montenegro’s growing AI and tech community. NCC Montenegro’s participation reinforces its mission to support the adoption of AI and HPC technologies, strengthen skills development, and build an innovation ecosystem aligned with European standards and capabilities.

The conference also included an open talk with the Prime Minister

CyberCo to Enhance GetMoved AI Capabilities Using EuroHPC LUMI-G Resources

CyberCo, the company behind the GetMoved platform, has been awarded 35,000 GPU hours on the LUMI-G supercomputer through the EuroHPC AI Factory Fast Lane call. This allocation will support the continued development of GetMoved, an AI-powered system and movers marketplace that connects moving companies with end-clients. The application process was suported by NCC Montenegro team from the University of Montengro.

GetMoved uses advanced computer vision models to analyse short user-recorded videos and automatically detect and classify household items, generating a structured inventory that moving companies can use to prepare accurate quotes. In addition to AI-driven inventory creation, the platform enables customers to receive offers from licensed movers, facilitating a transparent and efficient relocation process.

With access to EuroHPC GPU resources, CyberCo will accelerate model training, improve large-scale video processing, and enhance the overall performance of GetMoved’s AI engine. LUMI-G’s computational capacity will allow the team to experiment with advanced techniques and achieve higher accuracy and scalability across diverse home environments.

The awarded resources will help CyberCo advance GetMoved toward production-grade readiness and demonstrate how high-performance computing can drive practical, civilian AI applications in modern logistics.

Strengthening EuroCC4SEE Collaboration: NCC Montenegro Visit to NCC Bosnia and Herzegovina

At the end of November 2025, representatives of NCC Montenegro visited the Verlab Institute and NCC Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo for a two-day working meeting held within the EuroCC4SEE framework. The visit focused on strengthening regional cooperation, supporting twinning and mentoring activities, and expanding joint engagement with academia and industry. The meetings brought together both NCC teams as well as IT industry stakeholders, underscoring the growing importance of SMEs in HPC and AI adoption across the Western Balkans.

Day 1: Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Alignment

The first day centred on aligning the two NCCs on upcoming activities and mapping joint priorities for the next three months. The discussions focused on student engagement, training coordination, and preparation of several regional events.

Continuation of NCC collaboration between NCC Montenegro and NCC Bosnia and Herzegovina

Key outcomes included:

  • NCC BiH participation in the NCC Montenegro Conference (13 December 2025), showcasing HPC/AI proof-of-concepts and project activities.
  • Joint planning of workshops and PoC support for companies, combining experiences from Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and building on ongoing collaborations with NCC Poland and NCC Latvia.
  • Agreement to co-organise major events in early 2026, including the AI in Medicine event in Montenegro and the Žabljak IT Conference.
  • Coordination on joint scientific publications, using existing datasets and aligning research topics across the two centres.

These discussions reaffirmed the value of EuroCC4SEE’s twinning and mentoring model, enabling both NCCs to share practices, strengthen their training pipelines, and streamline outreach to researchers and SMEs.

Both UDG and UCG representatives participated in the meetings with NCC BiH team

Day 2: Knowledge Exchange, SME Engagement, and Practical Collaboration

The second day focused on operational collaboration, with a workshop dedicated to industry outreach and experience exchange related to HPC and AI services. NCC Montenegro shared its methodology for working with companies, including how to communicate EuroHPC JU opportunities and guide SMEs through resource applications.

Day 2 included exchange of experiences, SME engagement, EuroHPC access to resources

A local IT company that already uses NCC BiH resources joined the discussion. Their participation added a practical industry perspective and resulted in commitments to:

  • take part in the AI in Medicine event in Montenegro,
  • join the Žabljak IT Conference,
  • explore deeper involvement in EuroHPC-supported pilot activities.

The workshop also enabled both NCCs to discuss effective utilisation of local HPC clusters, exchange good practices on scaling AI workloads, and review success factors for EuroHPC JU applications based on real user cases.

We discusssed joint PoC activities in medical and healthcare domains

Finally, the partners agreed to jointly explore Horizon Europe funding opportunities related to HPC scalability, applied AI, and capacity building—further extending the collaboration beyond EuroCC4SEE.

A Visit That Strengthened Regional Ties

The meetings in Sarajevo were assessed as highly productive, resulting in clear commitments, strengthened operational cooperation, and a shared plan for the months ahead. By combining training coordination, SME engagement, research collaboration, and strategic event planning, NCC Montenegro and NCC Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to build a more connected and capable regional HPC and AI ecosystem—fully aligned with the mission of EuroCC4SEE.

EuroCC Researchers Participate in the Montenegrin Machine Learning Workshop

Researchers from EuroCC Montenegro participated in the Montenegrin Machine Learning Workshop, a one-day event aimed at popularizing topics related to Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) among students, researchers, and practitioners. The workshop was organized in cooperation with the Montenegrin Artificial Intelligence Association (MAIA) as a satellite event to the EEML summer school. Participants attended lectures covering deep learning and its applications in earth observation, graph neural networks, power grids, biology and genomics.

During the poster session, visitors had the opportunity to learn more about the EuroCC project and its efforts to promote AI and HPC research in Montenegro.