The third edition of Montenegro’s leading technology conference — IT SPOT 2025 — was officially opened today in Podgorica. The non-governmental organization ICT Cortex is hosting this event, which has become a must-attend gathering for the tech and business community of the country and the region. Following the success of the previous edition, today’s and tomorrow’s program, on October 31, at the Music Centre of Montenegro, offers a blend of inspiring talks, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities, providing participants with an experience to remember.
IT SPOT 2025 was opened by Branimir Bukilić, Chairman of the Board of the ICT Cortex cluster, who highlighted the significance of this prestigious conference.
“This is a place where we can exchange experiences, where we talk about technology and shaping our digital space in Montenegro and the region. I believe IT SPOT should be a place where new communities and new ideas are born. My heart is full to see such interest in these topics in our small country, as the IT sector is one of the leading economic sectors in Montenegro. We are committed to continuous improvement. We want to create better conditions for IT companies to achieve goals that will enable digital and AI transformation for all of us,” Bukilić stated.
This year’s edition of the IT SPOT conference is being held with the support of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, the Ministry of Culture and Media, the Central Bank of Montenegro, and the Innovation Fund.
The Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro (CCM) also expressed its pleasure in participating as a partner in organizing IT SPOT this year. Nina Drakić, President of CCM, particularly emphasized the importance of discussions on artificial intelligence.
“This year’s focus of the conference on artificial intelligence comes at a time when the world is rapidly changing the way we do business, communicate, and make decisions. AI is no longer a topic of the future, but a reality of the present. Today, it affects almost every sector of the economy, from energy and tourism to finance and education. The Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro recognizes that this change presents an opportunity for our economy. Through projects such as eKomora and MontEDIH, we are creating an environment in which digital solutions become accessible and applicable, and collaboration between the IT sector and other industries gains a new quality. Montenegro has the knowledge, energy, and potential to seize this moment,” Drakić stated.
She emphasized that the Chamber of Commerce will continue to serve as a bridge between knowledge and business, between vision and implementation.
“We believe that success in the digital age does not depend on the size of the economy, but on the willingness to collaborate, openness, and collective action. And that is why the message we send from this gathering reminds us of what connects us all: the strength is within all of us,” the President of CCM concluded.
The numerous guests at the IT SPOT conference were also welcomed by the Minister of Culture and Media, Dr. Tamara Vujović.
“IT SPOT 2025 symbolizes a fundamental progress in how we perceive and shape our society and economy. By focusing on topics such as artificial intelligence, fintech solutions, and cybersecurity, this conference provides an opportunity to connect with global trends and innovations. I encourage all participants to continue building a digitalized Montenegro — a country that will use new technologies for the benefit of its citizens, thereby strengthening the economy and preserving its cultural heritage,” Vujović emphasized.
She highlighted the significant impact of digital transformation on Montenegro’s economy.
“According to current data, Montenegro’s digital sector is growing at a rate of eight percent annually and contributes around five percent to the GDP. Thanks to the intensive development of 5G infrastructure, the digitalization of public services, and support for innovative entrepreneurial ideas, more than 1,200 new jobs are created each year, positioning Montenegro as an important regional player in digital technology,” the Minister emphasized.
After the opening remarks, an engaging presentation on the impact of artificial intelligence on cybersecurity was delivered by Vlada Sebastiao, Solutions Engineer at Cloudflare.
“Since 2022, AI and tools like ChatGPT have had a significant impact, enabling ordinary users to harness artificial intelligence. This has led to the democratization of AI, making it an important part of our daily lives. We are now concerned about the automation of certain processes and granting AI the authority to act independently. We use very powerful tools that require an equally intelligent security system,” Sebastiao emphasized, presenting the cybersecurity tools offered by Cloudflare.
As part of the panel on Responsible AI and Regulation, Dr. Irina Mirkina, Chief AI Scientist at Fugro and former Head of AI at UNICEF, highlighted that over the past year there has been a growing number of examples of AI being integrated into business processes and various aspects of daily life.
“Some of these examples are impressive and well-received, but they also come with security risks, exposure, data leaks, misinformation, and bias — issues we ideally want to avoid. The more we see AI being adopted, the greater these challenges become. What is changing is that both the public and businesses are shifting the way they think about AI. Today, there is much greater awareness of what AI truly means. It is necessary to demonstrate to businesses that AI genuinely contributes to operations, clients, and customers,” Mirkina explained.
Dr. Balázs Hohmann, a docent at the University of Pécs, noted that new legal regulations are needed for the development of AI.
“If artificial intelligence comes into contact with EU citizens, websites, and markets, AI data must be regulated by law. The Artificial Intelligence Act is paramount. It is a difficult task for developers to adapt to all the obligations. I think if you want to meet these obligations, you have to follow European, but also national AI legislation, which is very difficult. In the artificial intelligence sector, we want to think about the future, but it is very challenging with such old-fashioned regulations,” Hohmann stated.
Aleksandar Anđić, Head of the Directorate for Project Management and Standardization at the Ministry of Public Administration, pointed out that the regulation of artificial intelligence in Montenegro must be adapted to the AI Act, public expectations, and trust in the process.
“The government must carefully implement these AI tools into the private sector for the benefit of all citizens and industries in our country. The government must respond systematically and strategically so that we can build the first national AI strategy in Montenegro. We have formed a working group of individuals from various sectors – state institutions, the private and public sector, as well as the academic community. We have tried to find people who will contribute to this process so that we have a good foundation for the first national strategy,” Anđić explained.
Aleksandar Plamenac, a teaching associate and PhD candidate at the Faculty of Science and Mathematics at the University of Montenegro (UCG), pointed out that it is high time to create legal regulation for AI because artificial intelligence has become an integral part of people’s daily lives.
“Responsible AI is a common topic for universities, the academic community, the government, and industry. I think that only together can we lead innovation in the right direction. The university used to be a closed community, but I see that it is opening up and that there are many people who want to take action. Universities can offer guidance on how to approach AI, that is the space where I see the university community can cooperate with the industry,” Plamenac stated.
