Montenegro is beginning to place artificial intelligence within its economic-development agenda as policymakers search for growth sectors less dependent on tourism, real estate and construction.
President Jakov Milatović met Peter Sarlin, founder of Silo AI and a professor at Aalto University, to discuss links between Montenegrin talent and European technology centres, support for domestic technology companies and the potential use of artificial intelligence in public institutions.
No investment programme, funding commitment or new institution was announced following the meeting. The discussion nevertheless reflects a growing recognition that Montenegro needs to compete for higher-value digital activity.
The country has several potential advantages. It has a relatively small public administration, widespread use of the euro, improving digital connectivity and a diaspora with experience in European and North American technology markets.
Its size can also make experimentation easier. Public services, tourism systems and municipal databases can sometimes be modernised more quickly in a small country than in a large, decentralised administration.
Artificial intelligence could have practical applications in tourism forecasting, traffic management, electricity demand, tax-risk analysis, healthcare administration and digital public services. Banks, telecommunications companies and large retailers can use similar tools for fraud detection, customer management and operational planning.
The main economic opportunity, however, lies in building exportable services rather than simply purchasing imported software. Montenegro would need companies capable of developing, integrating and maintaining AI systems for regional and European clients.
That requires a stronger relationship between education, applied research and private business. Universities can train engineers and data specialists, but graduates need local projects and employers if they are to remain in the country.
Montenegro competes with much larger labour markets for experienced software developers. Remote work gives local professionals access to international employers without leaving the country, but it can also make it harder for domestic companies to match global salaries.
A realistic technology strategy would therefore focus on specialised niches where Montenegro already has usable data and commercial demand. Energy, tourism, maritime services, environmental monitoring and public administration offer more credible starting points than an attempt to replicate the broad technology ecosystems of larger countries.
The development of AI services also brings infrastructure requirements. Data quality, cybersecurity, cloud access, reliable electricity and clear public-procurement rules will determine whether projects can move beyond demonstrations.
Government institutions must also avoid treating artificial intelligence as a substitute for basic digitalisation. An organisation with fragmented records, incompatible systems and poor data governance cannot become efficient simply by adding an AI application.
The meeting with Sarlin is best understood as an early policy signal. Montenegro has not yet established a large AI investment platform, but it is beginning to connect its economic-diversification debate with technology, talent and European research networks.
The country’s opportunity lies not in presenting itself as the next global technology centre, but in building a small number of credible, export-oriented businesses around sectors where it already has knowledge and demand.
