Underwater Sensor Networks (USNs) are becoming increasingly popular due to their advanced capabilities in oceanographic data collection, pollution monitoring, exploration of natural undersea resources, disaster prevention, assisted navigation and tactical surveillance applications. The MONUSEN project will increase research and innovation capabilities of the University of Montenegro (UoM) via links with the internationally leading EU research institutions, University of Zagreb (UNIZG), Newcastle University (UNEW) and National Research Council of Italy (CNR). The project will reduce the gaps and deficiencies between the UoM and its EU research counterparts and improve staff research profiles in the USN field. It will strive for scientific excellence based on the transfer of knowledge and expertise, improved creativity, strong partnerships with the leading research institutions and industry, and improved research management and administration at the UoM. These objectives will be reached through a set of strategic measures: staff exchanges and expert visits for providing knowledge transfer; on-site trainings for providing hands-on experience; joint research actions; research and innovation management trainings; organization of research-industry workshops for strengthening links to marine robotics industry; joint organization of hackathons on topics dictated by industry needs within the scope of the joint research actions; and joint organization of summer schools with strong emphasis on strengthening links to USN end-users from marine biology, marine archaeology, oceanography, marine security, etc.