As part of the ongoing EuroCC2 activities, representatives of the HPC National Competence Center (NCC) Montenegro, hosted at the University of Donja Gorica (UDG), visited the private medical institution Poliklinika Filipović in Podgorica. During the visit, the NCC team met with Dr. Verica Stanišić, a radiology specialist at the clinic, to discuss opportunities for collaboration in the application of High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical diagnostics.
The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the clinic to the mission of EuroCC2, and to explore how state-of-the-art computational technologies can support the analysis of medical images, particularly in the context of early detection and prevention of breast cancer. The NCC Montenegro team shared insights into available national and European resources for HPC and AI, and highlighted use cases relevant to image analysis and clinical decision support.
Our host was dr Verica Stanisic
Our hosts presented the work of Poliklinika Filipović and demonstrated some of the latest imaging technologies they employ, including digital mammography, ultrasound, and elastography, which are crucial for early breast cancer detection and monitoring. These technologies are supported by a highly professional team and modern diagnostic infrastructure, forming a strong foundation for innovative clinical research and development.
The meeting concluded with a mutual interest in establishing future cooperation, including the joint exploration of pilot use cases in AI-assisted image interpretation and diagnostics. A follow-up meeting is already planned, where additional team members from both NCC Montenegro and Poliklinika Filipović will join the discussion to define next steps.
Another consultation meeting will be organized soon
This visit represents another important step in building cross-sectoral bridges between the HPC/AI community and healthcare professionals in Montenegro, paving the way for innovations that benefit both clinicians and patients.
FFplus (Fortissimo plus), the European initiative highlighting and promoting the adoption of High-Performance Computing (HPC) by SMEs and start-ups across Europe, has announced its second Open Call to fund business experiments.
Key Call Details:
Submission Deadline: August 26th, 2025 at 17:00 Brussels local time
Expected duration of experiments: maximum 15 months with targeted commencement January 1st, 2026
The indicative total funding budget for all sub-projects funded under this call is € 4M.
This announcement is the second call for proposals to address the uptake of HPC by SMEs in order to solve specific business challenges of SMEs that have had no prior use of, or experience with, HPC services. The resulting sub-projects will perform “business experiments” (also referred just as experiments) that should demonstrate to the broader European SME ecosystem that HPC uptake solves business challenges and leads to positive business impact through the use and deployment of HPC-based computational methods. Thus, their key outputs are success stories that promote, communicate, and disseminate the business impact of HPC uptake to the SME ecosystem.
Proposals are sought that address business challenges from European SMEs from varied application domains, whereby SMEs whose adoption of advanced HPC services will create the highest business impact will be prioritized. SMEs with an academic focus or activities with a potential impact only in the long term are not within the scope of the call.
In the context of the second Open Call for Business Experiments, FFplus offered two webinars to the public to receive all the information concerning the Call and answer questions.
The members of the NCC Montenegro team, Prof. dr. Enis Kočan and Assist. prof. Luka Filipović, have visited the Five Group company on July 18, 2025. At this meeting, the report form for Benchmark projects was presented and instructions were given to the Five Group company on how to prepare and complete this report, since the period of use of the obtained resources on Leonardo HPC for this company expires at the end of July. The members of the NCC Montenegro team have also held consultations with this company on the next steps in the preparation of the new project application. Based on the presented project proposal and the estimated needs of the Five Group company, it was recommended that after submitting the report for the Benchmark project, they prepare an application for the Development open call for the use of HPC resources.
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
