EIB Grants €2M for Digital Transformation in Montenegro’s Schools

EIB Grants €2M for Digital Transformation in Montenegro’s Schools

(IN BRIEF) The EIB, through its Economic Resilience Initiative Fund, has granted €2 million to purchase digital equipment for schools under the Montenegro Education Programme. This funding, part of a broader €29 million investment by EIB Global in Montenegrin education, aims to improve digital literacy, enhance learning environments, and promote youth employability. The grant supports the acquisition of a variety of digital tools and builds on earlier investments, including loans, EU grants, and technical assistance. EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot and Montenegro’s Minister Anđela Jakšić Stojanović highlighted the initiative’s role in fostering a future-ready workforce through improved educational infrastructure.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 2-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Under the Economic Resilience Initiative Fund provided by the EIB, a new grant will facilitate the acquisition of digital equipment for schools as part of the Montenegro Education Programme. This investment is aimed at promoting digital education and skills development to boost youth employability and drive digital transformation, ultimately leading to enhanced productivity. To date, EIB Global has committed €29 million to upgrading the education sector in Montenegro.

At a ceremony held at the EIB Global headquarters in Luxemburg, EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot and Montenegro’s Minister of Education, Science and Innovation Anđela Jakšić Stojanović signed a grant agreement worth €2 million. The funds are designated for purchasing digital devices such as tablets, laptops, desktop computers, projectors, interactive whiteboards, printers, scanners, and servers, all intended to improve learning conditions and elevate digital literacy among students and teachers.

This grant builds on previous investments in the Montenegro Education Programme, which include an €18 million EIB loan, an €11 million EU grant under the Western Balkans Investment Framework, and a €2.5 million technical assistance grant provided through the Economic Resilience Initiative. Combined with teacher training and upskilling initiatives, the new digital equipment will facilitate the integration of digital tools into classrooms and ensure equitable access to digital learning resources for all pupils.

EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot, who oversees operations in Montenegro, commented, “As a long-standing partner of the Montenegrin Ministry of Education, we are delighted to support this new initiative. The ICT equipment funded by this grant will foster increased digital usage and skills, broaden access to learning, and create a more engaging educational environment. This will not only enhance the quality of education but also contribute to a future-ready workforce that meets market demands.”

Montenegro’s Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation, Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, emphasized that the new computer equipment lays a solid foundation for digitalizing the educational process and equipping young people with essential 21st-century digital skills. “This agreement is a significant milestone in improving the Montenegrin education system. Enhancing our learning conditions is paramount, and continuous quality improvements at all levels of education are critical to our society,” she stated.

Background information

About EIB Global

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives.

EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of Global Gateway. We aim to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027 — around one-third of the overall target of this EU initiative. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the EIB Group closer to people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world. High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

About the Economic Resilience Initiative Fund

The Economic Resilience Initiative Fund, which backs this grant, was established by the EIB in 2017 to channel donors’ resources to impactful projects in the Southern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans to help meet the challenges posed by forced displacement and migration. The fund donors are Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland and the United Kingdom.

About the EIB in Montenegro

The EU bank has been an active partner of Montenegro, providing almost €1.1 billion in loans to the country, mostly in support of SMEs, education and transport infrastructure. For more information on EIB projects in Montenegro, visit https://www.eib.org/en/projects/regions/enlargement/the-western-balkans/montenegro/index.htm.

About the EIB in the Western Balkans

The EIB is one of the leading international financiers in the Western Balkans. For detailed information on the EIB’s activities in this region, visit www.eib.org/en/publications/the-eib-in-the-western-balkans.

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SOURCE: European Investment Bank