HPC Montenegro - Page 20 of 64 - National Competence Centre for High-Performance Computing

27.03.2025.27.03.2025.

Meeting and Initial Consultations with BIXBIT

On March 27, 2025, representatives from BIXBIT, a Montenegrin IT company specializing in software development, AI applications, and outsourcing, met with the NCC Montenegro team to explore opportunities for collaboration and access to high-performance computing (HPC) resources. We were welcomed at BIXBIT by Stevan Šandi, Andrea Krivokapić and Luka Krsmanović. The NCC Montenegro team – Božo Krstajić, Tomo Popović and Enis Kočan—presented the mission, services, and ongoing activities of the NCC, highlighting how local companies can benefit from the support provided through the EuroHPC ecosystem.

We introduced the EUROCC2/EUROCC4SEE project activities and services

The discussion focused on potential use cases where BIXBIT could leverage HPC infrastructure, particularly for AI and generative AI applications, such as computer vision, chatbots, and other machine learning-based solutions. The NCC team presented available EuroHPC calls, including the FFPLUS Open Call, and explained the process of applying for computational resources. Several success stories from both Montenegro and the EU were shared to illustrate the impact and value of HPC-driven innovation.

We went over the options for applying for EuroHPC HPC resources

Beyond technical collaboration, the two teams discussed possibilities for co-mentoring students, organizing joint training activities, and hosting events to promote digital transformation and AI adoption in Montenegro. A follow-up consultation is planned, with a focus on helping BIXBIT prepare a concrete application for HPC access, potentially starting with a proof-of-concept project. This marks another important step in strengthening the link between industry and research through NCC Montenegro’s support.

We also discussed options for FFPlus calls, POC support, use cases with potential for success

27.03.2025.27.03.2025.

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.

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.

26.03.2025.28.03.2025.

Online course registration: Prompt Engineering

Interested in Artificial Intelligence? Want to learn how to communicate with advanced AI models like GPT-4?

Apply for a free online course in Prompt Engineering organized by the University of Donja Gorica (UDG) and the NCC Montenegro.

Registration open until April 1st, the coures will take place during April.

Course description:
Prompt Engineering is a cornerstone technique for effectively interacting with advanced language models such as GPT-4, LLaMA, and beyond. This course equips students with the knowledge and skills to harness the transformative potential of AI technologies, emphasizing innovative, responsible, and industry-relevant applications.

In the era of digital transformation, where real-time decision-making and intelligent automation are reshaping industries, the demand for High-Performance Computing (HPC) is critical. By exploring advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) models, students will not only develop effective prompt techniques but also gain insight into the computational demands and infrastructure required to implement these solutions at scale.

Application deadline: April 1st, 2025
Register here: [link]
Open to all interested students and high school learners, others welcome, as well!
Join the community shaping the future through AI and HPC.

25.03.2025.27.03.2025.

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.

22.03.2025.25.03.2025.

Presentation of the EuroHPC calls for HPC resources to Čikom

The continuation of the consultations of the NCC team of Montenegro with the company Čikom and its sister company ITAS, was carried out on Friday, March 21, at the premises of the company Čikom. The meeting was attended by the CEO of the company Čikom, Vladan Tabaš, and the CEO of the company ITAS, Ivan Bošković, as well as representatives of the NCC team of Montenegro, Prof. Dr. Božo Krstajić and Prof. Dr. Enis Kočan. On February 1, the company ITAS began the implementation of the project “AI system for pathological analysis of adenocarcinoma (PathAI)”, which is co-financed by the Innovation Fund of Montenegro, and whose main goal is to improve the accuracy and efficiency of pathological analysis by applying innovative AI solutions. The ITAS team expects to collect and scan the first samples by the end of April, and the obtained images would then need to be processed on HPC resources. The NCC team recommended that ITAS apply to the call for HPC resources during the month of April, and presented the resources that can be obtained, the procedure for applying to the call and completing the application. It was agreed that the NCC team would be available to the ITAS company during the application period.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Cikom2-1024x658.png — NCC team from UoM meets with Cikom and ITAS

19.03.2025.19.03.2025.

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.

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!

11.03.2025.11.03.2025.

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.