Overview
Deadline Date: August 31, 2026 The Innovation Fund of Montenegro is inviting applications for the WAVEMAKER Business Creation Award, a regional competition that supports innovative ventures developing scalable solutions for the blue economy. The program focuses on marine and freshwater ecosystem health, water efficiency and circularity, climate resilience of coastal areas and water systems, marine and water monitoring, smart maritime operations, marine robotics, autonomous systems, environmental intelligence, the circular blue economy, innovation commercialization, business creation, and market-oriented solutions. The WAVEMAKER Business Creation Award is designed to identify and accelerate promising ventures that address challenges in the water, marine, and maritime sectors. The competition brings together startups, researchers, and innovators from across the region, providing opportunit
Complete competition details
Full Job Description
Deadline Date: August 31, 2026
The Innovation Fund of Montenegro is inviting applications for the WAVEMAKER Business Creation Award, a regional competition that supports innovative ventures developing scalable solutions for the blue economy.
The program focuses on marine and freshwater ecosystem health, water efficiency and circularity, climate resilience of coastal areas and water systems, marine and water monitoring, smart maritime operations, marine robotics, autonomous systems, environmental intelligence, the circular blue economy, innovation commercialization, business creation, and market-oriented solutions.
The WAVEMAKER Business Creation Award is designed to identify and accelerate promising ventures that address challenges in the water, marine, and maritime sectors. The competition brings together startups, researchers, and innovators from across the region, providing opportunities to strengthen business models, connect with investors, and expand market potential.
The call is open to applicants from Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Montenegro, Cyprus, and other countries in the region. Eligible applicants include startups, research spinouts, small and medium-sized enterprises, researchers commercializing their work, student-led ventures, and multidisciplinary innovation teams with scalable solutions and clear market potential. The working language for both the program and the regional event is English.
The three highest-ranked ventures will be recognized as official WAVEMAKERS and receive a one-year EIT Water membership for 2027, providing access to its European network, partners, programs, and business opportunities. The regional winner will also represent the ADRION region at the EIT Water Launch Event in Málaga on 15 October 2026, where they will compete for the overall WAVEMAKER title and a €5,000 growth award.
Women-led ventures and teams that include members of underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.
For more information, visit Innovation Fund of Montenegro.
Tips for this competition
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- Study the scoring criteria and previous winners before deciding what evidence, prototype, essay, research or portfolio will best support the entry.
- Confirm country, age, team, education and organization restrictions and whether one person may enter multiple submissions.
- Follow the required file format, word/time limits and naming rules exactly; technical non-compliance can disqualify a strong entry.
- Keep proof of submission and submit before the deadline rather than relying on the final hour.
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