ITAS is in the implementation phase of the project “AI system for pathological analysis of adenocarcinoma (PathAI)”, co-financed by the Innovation Fund of Montenegro, when processing the collected images requires GPU resources that exceed locally available resources, so the application to the EuroHPC JU Development call was recognized as the optimal solution. To this end, the Director of ITAS, Ivan Bošković, requested assistance from the NCC Montenegro team in preparing the application.
Prof. Enis Kočan, a member of the NCC Montenegro team, visited ITAS on Tuesday, June 24, and provided all the information and technical details necessary for preparing the application to the EuroHPC JU Development call. ITAS will apply for the necessary GPU resources to the Development call by the end of June.
prof. Enis Kocan (UCG) and mr Ivan Boscovic (ITAS)
In addition, during the meeting, other projects that ITAS is currently working on were discussed, as well as possibilities for cooperation with the NCC Montenegro team. Prof. Enis Kočan presented to Director Bošković the second open Fortissimo plus call for Business Experiments, intended for small and medium-sized enterprises.
We are pleased to announce that two Montenegrin SMEs, Recrewty and DigitalSmart, have been awarded access to the Leonardo Booster at CINECA, one of Europe’s most powerful high-performance computing (HPC) systems. The access is granted under the EuroHPC JU Development Call, providing 12 months of HPC resources to support advanced AI development and innovation.
The awarded project, HPC4HR – High-Performance Computing for Human Resources, aims to revolutionize recruitment processes in the Western Balkans through the integration of generative AI (GenAI) and HPC technologies. The project focuses on analyzing multimodal data—text, audio, and video—from candidate applications to enable efficient, unbiased, and culturally sensitive hiring processes. The HPC resources will be used in support to their joint FFPlus project GenAI-HPC4WB (link).
The GenAI-HPC4WB project combines GenAI, ML, and HPC to optimize hiring processes and enhance business culture in the Balkan region
To achieve this, the project will leverage cutting-edge AI models such as LLaMA 3.x, Mistral, Wav2Vec 2.x, Whisper, FaceNet, and DeepFace, all fine-tuned using HPC resources at CINECA. These models will be developed to evaluate resumes, analyze psychometric traits from audio recordings, and interpret emotional and behavioral cues from HR data. By utilizing HPC, the project ensures scalability and processing speed, enabling large datasets to be handled efficiently, significantly shortening recruitment cycles and improving candidate matching. In addition to enhancing operational efficiency, HPC4HR emphasizes ethical AI development, aiming to reduce biases in recruitment and promote diversity and inclusion. The expected outcomes include a set of adaptable, high-performance AI tools that set new standards for digital transformation in human resources, applicable across industries and geographies.
Leonardo Booster partition will be used in this project
The success of Recrewty and DigitalSmart reflects the growing impact of NCC Montenegro in strengthening the national HPC and AI ecosystem. By supporting companies in accessing leading European HPC infrastructure, NCC Montenegro continues to drive digital innovation, competitiveness, and technological excellence in the region.
Representatives of the company Deltahes recently visited the National Competence Centre Montenegro @UDGa, to explore potential or collaboration in the fields of digital transformation, industrial automation and high-performance computing. Deltahes is an innovation-driven startup founded in late 2022, specializing in digital transformation through cutting-edge solutions in industrial automation and IT. Their flagship platform, the Common Data Stack, enables seamless integration of production data and customized software systems—like MES, SCADA, and EMS—providing a centralized “cockpit” for efficient, data-driven industrial management.
Meeting with DeltaHes
Aleksandar Duković, founder of Deltahes was introduced to the EuroCC2/EuroCC4SEE project, NCC’s services portfolio, including training programs, technical support, and access pathways to EuroHPC resources for SMEs and innovative companies. Particular emphasis was placed on the opportunities for utilizing HPC infrastructure for industrial innovation, as well as the potential integration of HPC-based analytics within platforms like Deltahes’ Common Data Stack. Both sides expressed interest in further collaboration in applying for EuroHPC resources to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies in Montenegro’s industrial/energy sector.
Žabljak, Montenegro – NCC Montenegro, in collaboration with the 29th IT Conference, successfully hosted a dynamic two-day training event, “HPC and Industrial Cooperation – Opportunities and Perspectives,” on May 29th and 30th, 2025. Set against the stunning mountain ambiance and wild beauty of Žabljak, this initiative, implemented within the framework of the EuroCC2 and EuroCC4SEE projects, aimed to spotlight High-Performance Computing (HPC) as a pivotal instrument for advancing industrial operations. The agenda for the event is available at the following [link].
prof. Bozo Krstajic gave an introdduction the event and workshop at the openning social event
The core objective of the training was to introduce businesses to the transformative potential of HPC. The event saw enthusiastic participation from various industry representatives, including AI One, DigitalSmart, FiveG, Paid ME, Recrewty, Saga, and others. Through a series of presentations, practical examples, and interactive discussions, these participants explored avenues for implementing HPC within their respective companies. The event facilitated the identification of solvable challenges, an understanding of necessary resources, and the establishment of valuable B2B connections with members of NCC Montenegro.
prof. Sandra Tinaj gave an overview of the project, introduiced new opportunities such as Fortissimo calls
The training commenced with a warm welcome and registration, followed by an introductory session on HPC and its critical importance across various industrial sectors. Participants gained insights into the services and support NCC Montenegro offers to firms, under the banner “Count on HPC: Training and Applications.” A significant portion of the agenda was dedicated to showcasing concrete industrial use cases of HPC, demonstrating tangible benefits for businesses. The afternoons fostered engaging discussions on potential HPC applications within the attendees’ companies, alongside an exploration of the support, services, and infrastructure required for effective HPC implementation. The schedule also included valuable networking opportunities, including organized outdoor activities allowing attendees to soak in the natural splendor of Žabljak.
prof. Milutin Radonjic gave a presentation to high school students prof. Luka Filipovic presented NCC Montenegro activities and services
A commendable outreach initiative was the visit to the “SMŠ 17.septembar” high school in Žabljak. Representatives from NCC Montenegro delivered a presentation on HPC to students, aiming to spark their interest in STEM fields and showcase the opportunities arising from digital transformation and high-tech development. This activity also provided a platform for students to engage in discussions, thereby contributing to the local community through knowledge sharing and the application of modern technologies.
prof. Enis Kocan talked about succces stories, open calls for HPC resources
The training also focused on building bridges and planning future actions. Participants had the opportunity for individual B2B meetings and consultations with NCC Montenegro experts. A dedicated session on planning further steps helped outline future collaboration between NCC and industry, including the formation of working teams and implementation plans. The event culminated with participants presenting their preliminary ideas for HPC applications within their firms, followed by a final networking lunch and closing remarks that summarized key takeaways and recommendations for future endeavors.
Local SMEs shared their experiences with previous Fortissimo callsLocal SMEs shared experiences on the use of HPC resources through EuroHPC open calls
This event, enriched by the inspiring Montenegrin landscape, marks a significant step forward in integrating HPC into Montenegro’s industrial fabric. By fostering understanding, collaboration, and inspiring the next generation, NCC Montenegro is paving the way for a future driven by innovation and high-performance computing.
The main workshop took place in the local high schoolUnforgettable ambient of Montenegrin monitains near Zabljak
HPC Serbia organized a face-to-face regional EuroCC4SEE Workshop in Belgrade from 20 to 22 May 2025. NCC Montenegro team members participated in the event and give presentation about National Competence Center in HPC Montenegro.
EuroCC4SEE representatives
The EuroCC4SEE Workshop in Belgrade started today with welcome messages given by Dr. Nadja Schauffler from the High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart, Dr. Antun Balaž from the Institute of Physics Belgrade, and Prof. Miloš Cvetanović from the University of Belgrade School of Electrical Engineering. The first day of the workshop focused on academic topics, showcasing a series of presentations that illustrate the application of HPC, HPDA, and AI in research.
prof. dr Enis Kocan (UCG) gave a presentation on NCC Montenegro and SME collaboration
The first day of the EuroCC4SEE workshop featured a series of engaging presentations highlighting the diverse applications of high-performance computing (HPC) across scientific disciplines.
dr Bojana Malisic giving a statement for the media
The second day of the EuroCC4SEE Workshop in Belgrade began with a session focused on SMEs, while the afternoon session included presentations on the use of HPC in public administration. During second day were discussed the emerging opportunities for SMEs within the HPC ecosystem. Team members introduced support structures aimed at making advanced computing more accessible to smaller businesses and highlighted case studies of SME innovation enabled by HPC services. The afternoon session of the workshop highlighted impactful applications of HPC/HPDA/AI in public administration, showcasing how advanced technologies are being integrated into public services, environmental monitoring, and digital governance.
Exchange of experiences and industry engagement
The EuroCC4SEE Workshop wrapped up on 22 May, showcasing the best practices shared by teams from the regional competence centers. NCC Montenegro team members participated in the event and give presentation – showcase examples of HPC applications in Montenegro with focus on eveloping SME and Startup Ecosystems; on the digitally mature IT sector, PoC prioritization using EuroHPC and national computing infrastructures, enhancing HPC engagement in academia etc.
The workshop aimed to enhance regional collaboration, coordinate training activities, and maximize the impact of NCC’s regional events to promote HPC/AI technologies and advancements across Southeast Europe.
As part of the ongoing industry engagement efforts under the EUROCC2 project, the National Competence Center for High-Performance Computing (NCC Montenegro) visited the Center for Finance in Podgorica.
Ivana, Dejan, Ivan, Tomo, and Ilija at the meeting
We were welcomed by Mr. Ilija Mugoša, Executive Director, and Prof. Dr. Ivana Katnić, Head of Research and Education. The NCC Montenegro team—represented by prof. Tomo Popović, Mr. Ivan Jovović, and Mr. Dejan Babić—presented the objectives and services of the EUROCC2 project, highlighting the role of NCC in supporting the uptake of HPC technologies across sectors. The team shared insights on available HPC infrastructure, training opportunities, technical support, and assistance with applications for access to national and EuroHPC resources. The discussion focused on potential collaborations in applying HPC to the finance domain, including areas such as data-driven risk modeling, algorithmic trading simulations, and AI-enhanced financial forecasting.
Both parties recognized the importance of identifying the right use cases and relevant datasets that could benefit from the power of HPC. NCC Montenegro expressed readiness to support the Center for Finance in exploring these opportunities further—through technical guidance, co-development of pilot simulations, and assistance in transitioning from local development environments to HPC platforms. The possibility of applications for HPC resources and joint research and development project was emphasized as a key next step.
As part of a broader effort to analyze operational patterns in Montenegro’s healthcare sector, a predictive model was developed to estimate indicators related to the quality of healthcare services provided to citizens at the secondary and tertiary levels. The model was initially trained on a sample of 10,000 records and later expanded to over 40,000 records using the HPC cluster at UDG, which enabled the training process to complete in under one minute. All records were fully anonymized in accordance with ethical standards, and the dataset incorporated a wide range of temporal, demographic, and institutional variables relevant to healthcare access and service delivery patterns.
Using AI and HPC to analyze operational patterns in Montenegro’s healthcare sector
The model was implemented using the Random Forest Regressor algorithm, and additional experiments were conducted with alternative modeling techniques and target transformations. The baseline configuration achieved strong predictive performance (MAE ≈ 95 hours, R² = 0.87). While log-transformation and alternative algorithms such as XGBoost were evaluated, they did not yield improvements over the initial approach. Feature importance analysis revealed that factors such as month, weekday, and clinical unit had the highest impact on model outputs. Access to dedicated computing resources has been granted for further development, enabling continued model training and experimentation with advanced algorithms and optimization methods.
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