The four-day PASTECHL Podgorica 2025 Conference was ceremonially opened with the presentation of the Green Sport Awards 2025 and certificates of appreciation to partners who supported the event, organized as part of the Festival of Art, Science and Culture – FUNK 2025 of the University of Montenegro.
Since its establishment in 2022, the Green Sport Awards have recognized individuals and organizations in Montenegro whose work has contributed to promoting health, sports, and sustainable lifestyles. This year’s laureates include Professor of Sports and Nutritionist Marko Vukotić, who has inspired citizens to adopt healthier habits through his Simple Lifestyle program and media engagement; basketball legend Vlado Šćepanović, founder of the Kolašin 2025 basketball camp that gathered hundreds of young athletes; and the Montenegrin Student Sports Association, which promoted inclusivity and active student life through volleyball and 3×3 basketball tournaments, as well as hiking, cycling, and kayaking programs.
At the opening ceremony, it was announced that participants would hear from scientists from Europe, Asia, and North America, who would present their latest research in the fields of sports, technology, public health, artificial intelligence, and behavioral sciences. “We will address topics such as the application of artificial intelligence in sports, biomechanics, childhood obesity, aging, and digital health solutions, all with the aim of improving physical activity at the population level,” said Professor Stevo Popović, Conference President and Co-Director of the Balkan Institute for Science and Innovation.
Popović added that, in addition to its scientific program, the conference also features networking events, a gala dinner, a blood donation campaign, and the children’s workshop ‘Science Isn’t Scary’, reminding everyone that “science is most powerful when it serves society.” Special appreciation was extended to the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, as well as to more than 30 partners and collaborators, who received certificates presented by Miodrag Zarubica, Executive Director of PASTECHL.
“The PASTECHL Conference reminds us that innovation is most powerful when it serves people, and that knowledge has its greatest value when shared and applied for the benefit of the community,” said Marica Melović, Director General of the Directorate for Scientific Research at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation.
The Chair of the Scientific Committee, Professor Selçuk Akpınar, Dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Nevşehir University (Turkey), welcomed participants and highlighted PASTECHL’s evolution into a dynamic platform for innovation, collaboration, and scientific excellence. This year’s theme, “Shaping Future Systems for Sport and Health Monitoring” focuses on fostering interdisciplinary knowledge exchange and showcasing the latest achievements in digital transformation for healthy lifestyles.
The conference aims to strengthen regional and international cooperation in the fields of sport, health, and technology, while also supporting young researchers and the development of innovations that enhance quality of life and contribute to sustainable development. It is organized by the PASTECHL, with support from the University of Montenegro and numerous domestic and international partners, including the Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro, the European College of Sport Science, and institutions from across Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Italy, Hungary, Germany, and the United States. Additional speakers have joined from Norway, the Czech Republic, Turkey, China, and South Korea.