The President of the Board of the non-governmental organization ICT Cortex, Baranimir Bukilić, emphasized that Cortex has been organizing the Cortex Academy for the fourth consecutive year — a nine-month educational program designed for high school students, university students, as well as adults who wish to acquire knowledge in the field of information technology.
“The member companies of CORTEX organize themselves to provide free mentoring support. Today, we attended the final competition for high school students, which they usually participate in with the support of their teachers. The companies assign mentors who work with the students for a period of three to six months. During that time, the mentors give them access to modern technologies, guidance on testing, code organization, design, as well as suggestions on how to best present their solution. This is an excellent initiative because it allows students to experience real work within business entities, understand the challenges of that environment, take on additional responsibility, and gain valuable knowledge through informal education. These are students who are genuinely interested in the field of software development,” Bukilić emphasized.
He also added that the quality of the competition has been increasing year after year, with the competition becoming stronger, reflecting the growing interest of young people in the IT field:
“This year as well, we had the opportunity to see inspiring solutions. Although they are not yet professional, that is not the goal at this stage – what matters more is that the participants gain new knowledge, experience, and build connections with one another.”
Among the awardees, a team from the “Vaso Aligrudić” Electrotechnical School in Podgorica stood out, winning first place with their application “NestAndRest”, created by Ivan Nikčević and his colleagues. The application operates similarly to platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com.
“We integrated advanced technologies that caught the jury’s attention. I had the opportunity to learn many things that can’t be found on the internet. The experience we gained through collaboration with mentors and the companies that are part of the Academy was especially valuable. I would recommend the Cortex Academy to anyone who wants to pursue a career in IT,” said Nikčević.
Another interesting solution was presented by the team from the Secondary Vocational School in Nikšić, who developed the application “Click and Stay.” According to Vuk Todorović, the app was designed to help users find quality vacation options, as, in his words, “it’s becoming increasingly difficult nowadays to find time for a break from work and everyday obligations.”
“The process was challenging because we had to research and follow global trends in order to develop a solution that provides users with easy access. We received excellent training with our mentors and had great opportunities, as well as additional motivation to continue researching on our own. The Cortex Academy gave us an incredible opportunity — through courses, mentorship, and collaboration with some of the most successful IT companies in Montenegro,” added Todorović.
This year, participants of the Cortex Academy included students from the Secondary Electro-Economic School in Bijelo Polje, the Secondary Vocational School in Berane, the Secondary Vocational School in Nikšić, the “Vaso Aligrudić” Electrotechnical School, and the “Slobodan Škerović” Gymnasium. Throughout several months of work, the students were supported by mentors from the companies Bild and Data Design, both members of the non-governmental organization ICT Cortex.
The teams’ projects were evaluated by a professional jury consisting of Nada Rakočević, Secretary of the ICT Committee of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro; Aleksandar Plamenac, professor at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Montenegro; and Omar Đečević, backend developer at Codeus.
The program was supported by Crnogorski Telekom, the ICT Committee of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, and the Čini Dobro Foundation, all of whom recognized the importance of investing in young IT talent and connecting them with the real sector.
The Cortex Academy continues to serve as a bridge between education and industry, enabling young people across Montenegro to step into the world of IT through hands-on experience, mentorship, and the creation of innovative solutions.
