Minister Jakšić-Stojanović and a humanoid robot opened the 2026 Science and Innovation Festival

The 2026 Science and Innovation Festival was officially opened with a ceremonial event at the Cultural Center in Bar, and one of the biggest surprises of the evening was a humanoid robot that, together with the ceremony participants, marked the start of this year's Festival. "And to understand the most important thing, which is that every discovery can find its application in everyday life," said Jakšić-Stojanović, emphasizing that engaging in science requires not only knowledge but also courage, boldness, curiosity, perseverance, and the ability to learn from mistakes. Of course, with the expansion of artificial intelligence tools that everyone uses today, all of this can serve as a good engine to accelerate both economic development and social progress across all segments," said Šoć, adding that such development requires connecting education, society, and industry. This year's Festival features 15 exhibitors selected through a competition by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation, with participation from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Montenegro, the Innovation-Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis, and the Montenegro Science and Technology Park. The Festival brings together numerous institutions, companies, educational institutions, researchers, innovators, and young people, aiming to bring science, technology, and innovation closer to the public through practical demonstrations, interactive exhibits, and direct experiences. Special emphasis was placed on encouraging visitors not just to observe science but to explore, try out, and experience it through various content in robotics, artificial intelligence, engineering, digital technologies, and other modern scientific disciplines.