Montenegro on its way to becoming a global destination for remote work – From Niksic to Herceg Novi, an ecosystem for digital nomads is emerging

However, in order for Montenegro to fully benefit from this trend, additional campaigns and strategic support are needed. IPC Technopolis is an institution that was among the first in the country to recognize the importance of digital nomads and has been actively working on positioning Montenegro as an attractive destination for this target group for years.

- Montenegro is slowly establishing itself as a destination for digital nomads, primarily thanks to its natural beauty, affordable living costs and a growing IT scene. The trend of digital nomadism in our country is still in development, but there is an increasing interest of local communities, coworking spaces and tourism actors to adapt to this global phenomenon. However, it is necessary to further educate and inform the general public and decision-makers about the possibilities that digital nomads bring, as well as to implement a large promotional campaign so that Montenegro becomes a more recognizable destination for this target group - says Jelena Popivoda from IPC Technopolis.

The first coworking space in Niksic, opened in 2018, was a key step in creating the conditions for their arrival, according to our interlocutor. Today, it has 30 workplaces, a meeting room, a multimedia room, high-speed Internet and accompanying facilities.

Popivoda also announces the opening of a new coworking space with 60 seats in the House of Digital Revolution, as well as coworking outdoors, where digital workers will be able to work in a natural environment.

Apart from the space, Technopolis connects the local community with nomads through workshops, meetups and the international Cross Border Coworking Conference (CBCC). This year`s edition, CBCC25, will be held from October 14 to 17 in Herceg Novi, and will gather experts and digital workers from all over the world.

- For the fifth year in a row, the conference is a meeting place for nomads, startups and decision-makers, and at the same time, it is a great opportunity for Montenegro to show its potential. The conference is part of the STAR project, which is funded by the European Union through the IPA III CBC Program BiH - Montenegro 2021-2027, and which Technopolis realizes in cooperation with the INTERA Technology Park from Mostar and the National Tourism Organization of Montenegro - Popivoda points out.

Additionally, within the same project, Technopolis actively works with tourism operators and service providers, providing them with education and advice on how to adapt their offer to digital nomads.

According to our interlocutor, digital nomads bring global perspectives and experiences, and their presence can stimulate innovation, new business opportunities and the internationalization of startups, and also contribute to the development of an ecosystem that is attractive to international investors.

- Through conferences, workshops and meetups, digital nomads share their knowledge and experiences which help the local community improve competitiveness, access to technologies and innovation, thus becoming active actors in the development of the startup ecosystem in Montenegro - she points out.

According to the interlocutor of eKapija, Montenegro can be positioned as a destination that offers balance between work and life, combining natural beauty, quality of life and developed coworking infrastructure.

- It is important to use the stories of successful digital nomads, local projects and innovative communities, but also to actively connect digital workers with local entrepreneurs and startups. Branding includes cooperation with the tourism and IT sectors, visibility in the media, digital campaigns and initiatives such as CBCC, which promote Montenegro as a recognizable and attractive destination for working and living remotely - Popivoda says.

The plans of IPC Tehnopolis are aimed at the further development of coworking infrastructure and programs, community strengthening and cooperation with institutions in order to create additional incentives for the arrival of nomads.

- If we manage to connect the natural beauty of Montenegro, the quality of life and modern infrastructure, we can become a globally recognized destination for working and living remotely - Popivoda concludes.