SEE Ministerial Round Table and Expert meeting – Sarajevo, 22-23 November 2012

1. Intervention by the Minister of Science, Education and Sports, Mr Željko Jovanović
(Republic of Croatia)
Distinguished colleagues,
As the minister of science, education and sports of the Republic of Croatia, I am
honored to have been invited to join you at this Ministerial Round Table and to be able
to contribute to the discussion on science, technology and innovation developments
within South Eastern European countries.
Croatia has recognized the importance of research and innovation for the development
of economy and we are trying to implement measures to create new institutional
capacities in science and innovation system and strengthen those already in existence.
The main challenge has been a major structural improvement of the system which
should be implemented through efforts in reaching the following objectives:
• to increase overall R&D investments,
• to increase business sector expenditures on R&D,
• to increase the level of commercialization of research results,
• to overcome brain drain that affected Croatia’s pool of human resources, and
• to improve the management of the public research system at the institutes
and universities.
Due to fiscal consolidation, the level of investment in research has not been increased
over the last years and remains at the level of 0,75% of GDP. When it comes to
tackling the aforementioned objectives, we have designed several funding schemes to
cover different stages of the “innovation value chain”. Starting from mechanisms
aimed at encouraging private investment in R&D, through financing joint research
between the private and public research organizations, and between scientists in the
country and our scientific diaspora. The schemes were used to respond to high demand
for innovation financing in the business sector in Croatia.

2. I would like to point out a number of legislative changes and initiatives set out to
further align the domestic science system with the principles of the European Research
Area. Amendments to the Croatian Science Foundation Act were adopted by the
Parliament in July 2012 aiming at further strengthening the Croatian Science
Foundation, and thus positioning it as the major funding body for research and
scientific activity/projects in Croatia. Another round of public discussion took place
on the proposed Act on the Changes to the Act on Scientific Activity and Higher
Education, which focuses largely on introducing incremental but necessary changes to
the science system, and creating an adequate legislative framework for program-based
funding of research institutions (in a form of 3-year contracts).
The Ministry published the official Guidelines for the development of the new
Education, Science and Technology Strategy, which should replace the now expired
Science and Technology Policy 2006-2010 in directing further actions in the area of
science and research. The Ministry is also currently working, together with the
Ministry of Economy and the OECD, on drafting the National Innovation Strategy for
the period 2013-2020, as well as on designing the Western Balkans Regional Strategy
on R&D for Innovation, that should set the framework for innovation, research and
development at a broader, regional level.
In terms of international cooperation, I am proud to point out that Croatia has been a
regular participant in a number of R&D aimed EU initiatives for years now. Our
success rate in Seventh Framework Programme is more than encouraging: partners
from Croatia have so far signed 218 agreements in the amount of 53,9 million EUR,
which surpasses the amount of the national contribution paid by over 17 million EUR.
The donor community, and in particular the European Union, is supporting Croatia in
its efforts to improve the innovation climate, and to encourage the commercialization
of research results. EU assistance is channeled through a number of IPA-funded
projects, namely, through the Regional Competitiveness Operational Programme
under IPA IIIC Component. Ministry of Science, Education and Sports is responsible

3. for the measure “Technology transfer and support services for knowledge-based start-
ups” made up of three operations: Science and Innovation Investment Fund grant
scheme in the amount of over 10 million EUR which seeks to build entrepreneurial
and intellectual property management skills in public higher education institutions and
public research organisations. Building and equipping of Biosciences technology
commercialization and incubation centre, first of its kind in the region is the second
Operation. It is a major project in the amount of over 16 million EUR which seeks to
support the creation and growth of technology and knowledge-based spin-offs,
particularly for high value added sectors like biosciences and biotechnology.
Furthermore, efforts are currently being put into preparation for the usage of the EU
Structural Funds. Taking into account high absorption capacities and recognized
needs, desired way of directing available funds would be through financing various
stages of innovation process, from strategic research and increase of research and
innovation capacities, through proof-of-concept activities to prototyping and
commercialization activities, at research institutes, universities and private companies.
Following the successful closure in May 2011 of the Croatian Science and Technology
Project funded through the loan of the World Bank, the Government of the Republic
of Croatia signed in April 2012 an Advance Agreement for Preparation of a Second
Science and Technology Project with a focus on preparing for the absorption of EU
Structural Funds. We are continuously taking measures to strengthen human resources
capacities. In that respect, we are proud to announce that the Ministry has been
granted a 7 million EUR worth mobility-fostering project to be funded through the
FP7 Marie Curie COFUND action. The project should foster career development of
young researchers.
Taking into account the presented developments within Croatia, which clearly reflect
our enforced orientation towards the European Research Area’s goals, we are certain
to have a sustainable base for long-term progress in all branches of science, focusing
both on basic and applied research, and are working hard on coordinating and

4. directing available potentials towards the needs of the societal development and
sustainable economy.
Dear colleagues, thank you for your attention.