Montenegro
Ministry of Science
Higher Education and Research for Innovation and
Competitiveness (HERIC) Project
Study on Research Equipment and Creation of Joint Research Area
July, 2013
Content
List of participants: 26 licensed scientific research institutions in Montenegro
Table 1: Licensed scientific research institutions in Montenegro which participated in the Study
1. Introduction and Background
2.Analysis of data obtained in the course of the on-site assessment
2.1 Existing medium and capital equipment condition at scientific research institutions
2.2 Lacking medium andcapital equipment per scientific research institution
2.3 Requirements and expenses of operating environments in scientific research institutions
2.4 Existing priority research areas in Montenegro
3.Planning of optimized use of the capital and medium scientific research equipment in Montenegro
3.1 Optimal using of the scientific research institutions resources in Montenegro
4.Practical recommendations for the Ministry of Science
4.1 Virtual center for the improvement of scientific research institutions visibility
4.1 Areas where scientific research institutions can significantly maximize productivity
List of participants: 26 licensed scientific research institutions in Montenegro
Table 1: Licensed scientific research institutions in Montenegro which participated in the Study
No* / Institution** / Contact1 / Biotechnical Faculty University of Montenegro / Address: MihailaLalića br. 1, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 268 437
E-mail:
Web:
2 / Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro / Address: Kotor, Dobrota bb
Tel: +382 (0) 32 334 569
Fax: +382 (0) 32 334 570
E-mail:
Director:
Web:
3 / Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology, University of Montenegro / Address: Cetinjski put bb, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 245 406
Fax: +382 (0) 20 245 406
E-mail:
Dean:
Web:
4 / Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro / Address: Kruševac bb, Podgorica
Tel: +382 20 246 651
E-mail:
Dekan:
Web:
5 / Institute for public health / Address: Ljubljanska bb, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 412 888
+382 (0) 20 241 214
Fax: +382 (0) 20 243 728
E-mail:
Director:
Web:
6 / Center of Information Technology, University of Montenegro / Address: Cetinjska br.2, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 414 282
Fax: +382 (0) 20 414 283
E-mail:
Director:
Web:
7 / Faculty of Tourism Bar - MTS - "Montenegro Tourism School", University Mediterranean / Address: Bjeliši bb, Bar
Tel: +382 (0) 30 312 144
+382 (0) 30 303 200
E-mail:
Web:
8 / Faculty of Information Technology, University Mediterranean / Address: VakaDjurovića bb, Podgorica
Doc. drRamoŠendelj
Tel: +382 (0) 20 409 211
E-mail:
9 / Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Montenegro / Address: DžordžaVašingtona bb, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 245 204
Fax: +382 (0) 20 244 608
E-mail:
Dean:
Web:
10 / Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Montenegro / Address: DžordžaVašingtona bb, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 245 003
Fax: +382 (0) 20 245 116
E-mail:
Dean:
Web:
11 / Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Montenegro / Address: DžordžaVašingtona bb, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 245 839
Fax: +382 (0) 20 245 873
E-mail:
Dean:
Web:
12 / The Natural History Museum / Address: TrgVojvodeBećirBegaOsmanagića br. 16
Tel: +382 (0) 20 623 544
Fax: +382 (0) 20 623 933
E-mail:
Director:
Web:
13 / Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Montenegro / Address: Cetinjski put bb, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 244 905
+382 (0) 20 245 014
Fax:+382 (0) 20 241 903
E-mail:
Web:
14 / Faculty of Architecture, University of Montenegro / Address: BulevarDžordžaVašingtona bb, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 269 262
+382 (0) 20 269 287
Fax: +382 (0) 20 269 317
E-mail:
Dean:
Web:
15 / Faculty of Applied Physiotherapy, Igalo / Address: DavaIlića br. 5, Igalo
Tel: +382 (0) 31 658 876
+382 (0) 31 658 845
Fax: +382 (0) 31 332 729
E-mail: ;
Dean:
Web:
16 / 13.JUL-PLANTAŽE a.d. Podgorica / Address: Put RadomiraIvanovića br. 2, Podgorica
Tel/fax: +382 (0) 20 658 028
+382 (0) 20 658 027
+382 (0) 20 444 104
E-mail:
Web:
17 / Institute of Hydrometeorology and Seismology of Montenegro / Address: RadosavaBurića br.2, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 648 146
+382 (0) 20 648 980
+382 (0) 20 647 202
Fax: +382 (0) 20 648 146
E-mail:
Web:
18 / The Ferrous Metallurgy Institute AD Nikšić / Address: VukaKaradžića bb, Nikšić
Tel: +382 (0) 40 203 240
Fax: +382(0) 40 203 203
E-mail:
Web:
19 / Faculty of Marine Studies in Kotor, University of Montenegro / Address: Dobrota br. 36, Kotor
Tel: +382 (0) 32 303 188
+382 (0) 32 303 184
Fax: +382 (0) 32 303 184
E-mail:
20 / Clinical Center of Montenegro - Center for Science / Address: DžonaDžeksona bb, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 412 412
+382 (0) 20 243 726
+382 (0) 20 412 300
Fax: +382 (0) 20 225 284
E-mail:
Web:
21 / Faculty of Information Systems and Technology UDG / Address: DonjaGorica, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 410 777
Fax: +382 (0) 20 410 766
E-mail:
Dean:
22 / Faculty of Polytechnics – UDG / Address: DonjaGorica, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 410 777
Fax: +382 (0) 20 410 766
E-mail:
23 / Faculty for Food Technology, Food Safety and Ecology – UDG / Address: DonjaGorica, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 410 777
Fax: +382 (0) 20 410 766
E-mail:
24 / Faculty of Tourism and Hotel ManagementKotor, University of Montenegro / Address: Stari grad bb, Kotor
Tel: +382 (0) 32 322 686
Fax: +382 (0) 32 325 049
E-mail:
Dean:
Web:
25 / Faculty of Business and Tourism, Budva / Adress: Akademija znanja bb, Budva
Tel: +382 (0) 33 402 250
E-mail:
Web:
26 / Institute of Modern Technologies, Montenegro / Adress: KraljaNikole 347 A, Podgorica
Tel: +382 (0) 20 648 177
Fax: +382 (0) 67 241 056
E-mail:
Web:
27 / Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro / Address: IV Proleterske 19, Podgorica
Tel +382 20 446 500
Fax: +382 20 446 587
Email:
Web:
28 / Center for ecotoxicology investigations of Montenegro / Address: Put RadomiraIvanovića br. 2, Podgorica
Tel: +382 20 658-090; 658-091; 658-108;
Fax: +382 20 658-092
E-mail: .m
Web:
29 / Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, Nikšić, University of Montenegro / Address: VukaKaradžića br. 83, Nikšić
Tel: +382 (0) 40 235 204
+382 (0) 40 235 207
+382 (0) 40 235 200
E-mail:
Dean:
Web:
30 / Faculty of Transport, Communications and Logistics, Berane / Address: DonjeLuge bb, Berane
Tel: +382 (0) 51 238 100
+382 (0) 67 616 135
+382 (0) 67 212 595
E-mail:
Dean:
Web:
* Red denoted text: institutions that did not participated in the Study (their No. will be omitted in the following Chapters)
1. Introduction and Background
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) approved to Montenegro Specific Investment Loan in the amount of 12 M€ (equivalent to 15.98 MUS$) for the Montenegro Higher Education and Research for Innovation and Competitiveness Project (HERIC). The development objective of the Project is to strengthen the quality and relevance of higher education and research in Montenegro through reforming the higher education finance and quality assurance systems and by strengthening research and development capabilities. Component 3 of the Project – Establishing a Competitive Research Environment - aims at awarding grants for the establishment of the first Center of Exellence (CoE) in Montenegro as a pilot for future centers, as well as for the realisation of competitive research programs. The grant for each subproject will finance, inter alia, purchase and maintenance of laboratory, research and pilot plant equipment. The program aims at launching a grants system for the collaborative research subproject to foster an interdisciplinary approach, to promote cooperation with international partners and industryand to generate commercial innovation. Part of this Project includes this Study on the existing research equipment capacity and the creation of a joint research area. Optimal use of research equipment is one of the greatest challenges facing scientific groups. If the equipment is utilized and managed effectively, institutions can increase productivity and reduce operational costs.
This Study was aimed at 30 out the 49 licensed scientific research institutions in Montenegro,selectedbased on priority research fields from which the pilot CoE and research grants will be funded, but also according to capacities of institutions. Of the 30 identified institutions, 26 participated in this Study and presented data are related to these 26 licensed accredited scientific research institutions (given in Table 1, where red denoted text indicated those who did not participated and black text are those who participated in this Study). Of the 26 institutions that participated in this Study, two are located in Nikšić, one in Bar, two in Kotor, and one in Berane, whilst the others are located in Podgorica.
This Study on research equipment is realised in relation to two main directions. The first part was aimed to understand the baseline research activity capacity of the licensed scientific research institutionsas they exists today and to support the creation of a system of joint use of the equipment in order not to double some capital equipment investments while establishing Centre of Excellence and implementing competitive research grants program. The Ministry of Science (MoS) plans to realised the equipment investments through research grants program and through establishing Centre of Excellence in Montenegro. Therefore, the second part of this Study was devoted to investigate the needs of the scientific research institutions, especially with regards to the lacking scientific equipment (both capital and medium equipment, whereat the capital equipment is costing more than 10.000 € and medium equipment is the one with a price between 1.000 and 10.000 €).
In Chapter 2, the Study presents analysis of data obtained in the course of the on-site assessment, through the collection of prepared questionnaires, as well as by field visits to the institutions and personal interviews with management and research teams. The basis for analysis is formed database (in Excel file accompanying this Study) with systematized essential information derived from detailed questionnaires. Two categories were observed separately and comparatively for each participant, namely capital and medium equipment, as well as other related capacities, such as: existing facilities, infrastructure, human resources, partnerships in priority domains, ideas and innovations related to future visions of their management and research teams. The Study showed existing medium and capital equipment condition of each research institution with their users, including the necessary investments in its upgrading, as well as investments for the lacking medium and capital equipment per research institution. Specific requirements (and expense) of operating environments in scientific research institutions were discussed. Existing research areas in Montenegro were identified. Special attention was given to defining the means of cooperation through sharing of the resources (knowledge, equipment and facilities) between scientific research institutions in Montenegro, and ways to improve cooperation, aimed at more efficient and optimal usage of existing equipment, and particularly planned new equipment. Possibilities for optimized use of the equipment are presented in Chapter 3, taking into account the existing conditions in scientific research institutions in Montenegro. Areas suitable for development of collaboration are analysed, taking into account their capacities and priority research fields. Practical recommendations with regards to the current possibilities of collaboration between institutions and official frameworks that might enable increase of the collaboration are given in Chapter 4, as conclusions. Public website with different services aimed at enabling and supporting sharing of resources and improvement of collaboration, is discussed.Also, priority research areas are recommended where scientific research institutions can maximize productivity, taking into account specific visions of development for those scientific research institutionsin Montenegro that participated in this Study.
2.Analysis of data obtained in the course of the on-site assessment
In total, scientific research institutions reported: 126 devices belonging to the category of existing capital equipment (KPP), 310 devices belonging to the category of existing medium equipment (SRP), and expressed the need for 106 devices of new capital equipment (KPN) and 246 devices of new medium equipment (SRN), as shown in Table 2. The largest number of existing equipment (both capital and medium existing equipment) was reported by the Biotechnical Faculty University of Montenegro (100 in total), followed by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Montenegro (56 in total). On the other hand, the highest value of existing equipment is currently present at The Ferrous Metallurgy Institute AD Nikšić (around 3.5 M €, worth equipment, as shown later in Table 4). It must be noted that some institutions did not reported all existing equipment.For instance, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Montenegro did not reported the existing equipment from all of their labs - they enlisted only the equipment from those labs which expressed a need for the new equipment and the labs that did not want to order any new equipment did not collected the lists of the equipment they have. But generally, all other institutions prepared detailed specifications of their equipment in the range of cost above 1.000€.
Table 2: Number of capital/medium equipment per research institution
No.* / Institution / KPP** / KPN / SRP / SRN / Total1 / Biotechnical Faculty University of Montenegro / 18 / 16 / 82 / 56 / 172
2 / Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro / 11 / 13 / 29 / 14 / 67
3 / Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology, University of Montenegro / 15 / 2 / 20 / 7 / 44
4 / Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro / 2 / 0 / 10 / 1 / 13
6 / Center of Information Technology, University of Montenegro / 2 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 4
7 / Faculty of Tourism Bar, University Mediterranean / 0 / 1 / 1 / 3 / 5
8 / Faculty of Information Technology, University Mediterranean / 0 / 2 / 11 / 11 / 24
9 / Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Montenegro / 11 / 0 / 23 / 12 / 46
10 / Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Montenegro / 3 / 8 / 53 / 12 / 76
11 / Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Montenegro / 2 / 21 / 10 / 26 / 59
12 / The Natural History Museum / 0 / 1 / 5 / 2 / 8
13 / Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Montenegro / 12 / 12 / 21 / 27 / 72
14 / Faculty of Architecture, University of Montenegro / 0 / 4 / 4 / 7 / 15
16 / 13.JUL-PLANTAŽE a.d. Podgorica / 0 / 4 / 29 / 10 / 43
17 / Institute of Hydrometeorology and Seismology of Montenegro / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 6
18 / The Ferrous Metallurgy Institute AD Nikšić / 34 / 5 / 2 / 3 / 44
19 / Faculty of Marine Studies in Kotor, University of Montenegro / 6 / 2 / 2 / 0 / 10
21 / Faculty of Information Systems and Technology – UDG / 8 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 12
22 / Faculty of Polytechnics - UDG / 0 / 1 / 0 / 3 / 4
23 / Faculty for Food Technology, Food Safety and Ecology – UDG / 0 / 4 / 0 / 22 / 26
24 / Faculty of Tourism and Hotel ManagementKotor, University of Montenegro / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 2
25 / Faculty of Business and Tourism, Budva / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 4
26 / Institute of Modern Technologies, Montenegro / 0 / 0 / 0 / 11 / 11
27 / Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro / 1 / 2 / 4 / 3 / 10
29 / Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of Montenegro / 0 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 6
30 / Faculty of Transport, Communications and Logistics, Berane / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 5
Total / 126 / 106 / 310 / 246 / 788
*Numbers 5, 15, 20, 28 are omitted because those institutions did not participate in the study (given in Table 1)
*Abbreviations:KPN - New Capital equipment (missing equipment); KPP - Existing Capital equipment; SRN - New medium equipment (missing equipment); SRP - Existing medium equipment
This Study did not take into account minor items of equipment (below 1.000 €, such as personal computers and accessories, lab materials, etc.), because generally, these kind of equipment mainly belongs to a category of consumables and they had especially low value in case when they are older (e.g. more than 5 years in use). Depreciation of scientific instruments, based on their anticipated useful lives, needs to be considered, but since there was no way to determine exact decline in their value over time, existing equipment was assigned their original price (the cost at the time of purchase) and their current condition is noted. On the other hand, some older capital equipment is of the very high value, even after a long time use, because it is unique and of a very high price, such as in case of the TEM microscope at the Ferrous Metallurgy Institute AD Nikšić (the price of such a new instrument is around 1.5 Mil €).
The Study showed that existing equipment in Montenegrin scientific research institutions comprises 6.519.418 € worth existing capital equipment and 1.344.906 € existing worth medium equipment, as shown in Table 3. The institutions expressed the needs for 5.644.994 € total investments in capital equipment (4.671.741 €) and medium equipment (973.253€). They also expressed a strong need for establishing a regular funding of the annual costs aimed for maintenance (calibration, materials needed for testing, regular services, spare parts, necessary upgrades, terrain activities, equipment insurance, etc.) and different laboratory installations.
It could be seen from Table 3 that around 6% of existing capital equipment costs is needed for maintenance of the equipment (378.840 €), on annual level. The significantly higher level of maintenance costs for medium equipment (377.281 € or 39% of total equipment cost),as shown in Table 3, is higher because institutions comprised installation costs for lab conditions within this cost category and otherwise it would also be around 6-10%. This is confirmed by the fact that for lacking equipment annual costs in relation to maintenance expressed by institutions is in range up to 10% of equipment cost (Table 3, lacking equipment, annual costs of the maintenance / installation). Detailed distribution of existing and lacking equipment and their values in € is given in Table 4. It can be seen that institutions mainly requested the equipment depending on the already existing ones.
Table 3: Total costs related to all capital/medium equipment listed in 26 scientific research institutions in Montenegro (€)
Existing equipment (€) / Lacking equipment (€)Capital equipment / Medium equipment / Capital equipment / Medium equipment
Equipment price (€) / 6.140.578 / 967.625 / 4.328.291 / 879.951
Annual costs of the maintenance / installation (€) / 378.840 / 377.281 / 343.450 / 93.302
Total / 6.519.418 / 1.344.906 / 4.671.741 / 973.253
Total / 7.864.324 / 5.644.994
Table 4: Distribution of values (costs) of existing equipment and lacking equipment per 26scientific research institutions in Montenegro (€)
No / Institution / Existing capital equipment, total(EUR) / Existing medium equipment, total
(EUR) / Total value of existing equipment
(EUR) / Lacking capital equipment, total
(EUR) / Lacking medium equipment, total
(EUR) / Total value of lacking equipment
(EUR)
1 / Biotechnical Faculty University of Montenegro / 803.566 / 336.245 / 1.139.811 / 424.420 / 203.351 / 627.771
2 / Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro / 339.870 / 49.605 / 389.475 / 1.055.000 / 55.100 / 1.110.100
3 / Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology, University of Montenegro / 38.000 / 17.950 / 55.950 / 130.000 / 16.300 / 146.300
4 / Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro / 130.745 / 68.122 / 198.867 / 0 / 8.000 / 8.000
6 / Center of Information Technology, University of Montenegro / 42.453 / 0 / 42.453 / 95.000 / 0 / 95.000
7 / Faculty of Tourism Bar, University Mediterranean / 0 / 1.633 / 1.633 / 16.250 / 7.345 / 23.595
8 / Faculty of Information Technology, University Mediterranean / 0 / 21.868 / 21.868 / 48.150 / 45.998 / 94.148
9 / Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Montenegro / 317.090 / 102.750 / 419.840 / 0 / 48.300 / 48.300
10 / Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Montenegro / 248.100 / 469.921 / 718.021 / 348.239 / 7.535 / 355.774
11 / Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Montenegro / 52.320 / 36.879 / 89.199 / 818.109 / 140.503 / 958.612
12 / The Natural History Museum / 0 / 28750 / 28.750 / 22.000 / 8.845 / 30.845
13 / Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Montenegro / 249.250 / 62.200 / 311.450 / 360.170 / 92.585 / 452.755
14 / Faculty of Architecture, University of Montenegro / 0 / 16.800 / 16.800 / 95.600 / 19.127 / 114.727
16 / 13.JUL-PLANTAŽE a.d. Podgorica / 0 / 60.265 / 60.265 / 193.198 / 73.045 / 266.243
17 / Institute of Hydrometeorology and Seismology of Montenegro / 41.000 / 27.500 / 68.500 / 93.300 / 19.600 / 112.900
18 / The Ferrous Metallurgy Institute AD Nikšić / 3.431.624 / 10.181 / 3.441.805 / 197.900 / 21.300 / 219.200
19 / Faculty of Marine Studies in Kotor, University of Montenegro / 335.400 / 15.500 / 350.900 / 472.000 / 0 / 472.000
21 / Faculty of Information Systems and Technology - UDG / 476.000 / 0 / 476.000 / 50.000 / 10.360 / 60.360
22 / Faculty of Polytechnics - UDG / 0 / 0 / 0 / 16.000 / 8.000 / 24.000
23 / Faculty for Food Technology, Food Safety and Ecology - UDG / 0 / 0 / 0 / 143.000 / 97.390 / 240.390
24 / Faculty of Tourism and Hotel ManagementKotor, University of Montenegro / 0 / 2.600 / 2.600 / 0 / 2.200 / 2.200
25 / Faculty of Business and Tourism, Budva / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 10.191 / 10.191
26 / Institute of Modern Technologies, Montenegro / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 32.501 / 32.501
27 / Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro / 14.000 / 6.637 / 20.637 / 29.785 / 11.934 / 41.719
29 / Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of Montenegro / 0 / 9.500 / 9.500 / 60.920 / 12.700 / 73.620
30 / Faculty of Transport, Communications and Logistics, Berane / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 21.042 / 21.042
Total / 7.864.324 / Total / 5.642.294
Interviews with representatives of the institutions indicated the need for providing some kind of joint services for outdated equipment: either to service it and/or upgrade it to be able to function, or to dispose it in some way. There is a certain, not so small number of existing equipment which is out of order (mainly not listed in the database made in scope of this analysis) that could be repaired and put into function again. But the recognised common problem is the lacking of regional service companies that would be able to provide those scientific instruments repair. Such services with companies throughout the world are too expensive and very time consuming and cannot be justified, leaving these instruments out of order, even though they might be fixed if there were some cost-efficient options of servicing it in the region.
The majority of scientific research institutions expressed the need to obtain personal computers, either new ones because they lack them in general, or to renew the existing outdated computers and accessories. Also, the equipment related to internet access (wireless) and videoconferencing rooms have been recognised as necessities for more efficient work and especially for the sharing of resources. Also, they expressed the need for establishment of the official legal regulative at the universities related to the transfer of research results to market applications, which should be, by its nature, realised jointly and supported by the Ministry of Science.
2.1 Existing medium and capital equipment condition atscientific research institutions
Field visits showed environments, conditions and demands specific to each research institution that participated in this Study and details are shown in Table 5. Until now, there was no need for greater sharing and collaboration among them, except in a several cases of larger equipment. But they all expressed a willingness to jointly realise projects, find ways to share equipment and resources, in general. However, certain conditions must be defined in order to fulfill necessary conditions for proper functioning of the equipment, such as: safety aspects, one responsible operator per each instrument, definition of users' responsibilities and protocols for testing. There is a strong need to define official legal frameworks for equipment sharing, as well as protocols for the transfer of research results into practical applications, in all relevant cases of collaboration between research units and economy (small and medium enterprises, SMEs, entrepreneurs, and industry in general).