The Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) is constituted by the Law as the supreme national institution in the field of science and arts in Montenegro, of particular national and state interest. The Academy unites scientific potentials; organizes, encourages and develops scientific, artistic and cultural creativity; affirms Montenegrin spiritual, national and state tradition from Duklja to contemporary Montenegro; and contributes to the overall progress of Montenegro.

The Academy:

• strives for freedom of science and art;
• organizes, initiates and implements the scientific research, independently or in cooperation with other scientific institutions;
• organizes, independently or in cooperation with others, scientific meetings, symposia, scientific debates, consultations and exhibitions, and promotes the results of scientific and artistic creativity;
• supports individual scientific and artistic work of its members as well as in other institutions;
• takes part in establishing the programmes of scientific and artistic importance for the country;
• assists in training and professional development of young scientists and artists;
• issues publications in the field of science and arts;
• stimulates and cherishes scientific and artistic critique;
• collects, arranges and studies materials in the field of science and arts;
• participates, as necessary, in assessing the results of scientific and artistic creativity;
• initiates, proposes and provides opinions to state authorities and other policy makers on improvements of problem solving and social development in the country;
• cooperates with scientific, educational, cultural, economic and professional organizations and institutions in the country and abroad.

In performing its activities, the Academy:

• organizes and implements, independently or in cooperation with other scientific institutions, the scientific research of importance for the cultural, economic, political and overall social development of Montenegro;
• organizes scientific consultations and discussions on current issues and problems of social development of Montenegro, as well as scientific conferences, consultations and other meetings of scientists and artists in the country and abroad;
• considers the situation in the field of science and art in Montenegro and, accordingly, proposes and provide opinions to state authorities and other policy makers, on its own initiative or on their request, on their further improvements and development, in accordance with the highest achievements and standards in that field;
• participates, at the invitation of state authorities and institutions, in preparation and implementation of projects of national and state importance;
• cooperates with and represents Montenegro in foreign Academies and international associations of national and state Academies, as well as in other scientific and cultural institutions abroad, and participates in joint projects;
• supports scientific and artistic work in other scientific and artistic institutions in Montenegro;
• follows and stimulates the development of young scientists and artists, and assists in professional development and affirmation of young scientists and artists;
• collects and studies materials in the field of science and art;
• prepares the Encyclopedia of Montenegro and other national encyclopedias in the field of science and art, issues publications of the most significant scientific and literary works in Montenegrin or languages in official use, as well as works in other languages significant for Montenegro, significant musical works and the most important works of legal tradition;
• organizes presentations of its scientific results, book and artwork exhibitions, issues permanent and occasional publications in the field of science, culture and art, and exchanges them with appropriate organizations and institutions in the country and abroad.

The MASA performs its activity through Departments, Institutes, Centres, Boards and other working bodies.

The MASA includes four departments:

• Department of Natural Sciences
• Department of Social Sciences
• Department of Humanities
• Department of Arts

Scientific-research units within the Academy are:

• Institute for Language and Literature “Petar II Petrović Njegoš”
• Centre of Lexicography
• Centre for Energy and Ecology – ENEKO
• Centre for Young Scientists

Special units within the Academy are:

• Library with Archive
• Gallery with art collection