Croatia

The responsibility for research and innovation in Croatia is shared among several key organizations and government ministries. Some of the key organisations working in this area are listed below. 

• The Ministry of Science and Education (MSES) is a pillar institution of the science system in Croatia. It bears responsibility for all the stages of education, research and promotes research-based technology development and communication and information activities. Its main mission regarding scientific research is to create and implement national scientific research policy as a framework for overall development of science in Croatia. MSE takes decisions on allocation of the State budget resources to national scientific research organisations.
• The Strategic Committee on Research Infrastructures is an advisory and coordinating body of the Ministry of Science and Education with designated experts from different fields. Its tasks are to provide guidance, recommendations, assessments and advice on research infrastructures. Additionally, one of the tasks of this Committee is to propose guidelines for the Republic of Croatia Research Infrastructure Development Roadmap in accordance with the relevant national and European strategic documents.
• The National Council for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development (NCSHETD) is the highest advisory body for scientific research, higher education and technology in Croatia. Besides being the principal advisory body for the respective domains, the Council commonly performs other activities, such as: proposes budget for scientific and higher education activities; gives approval on the establishment of Centres of excellence; establishes requirements to be fulfilled by PROs and HEIs in order to obtain authorisation for selecting and awarding scientific titles and teaching positions in accordance with the Law on Science and Higher Education.
• The Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds is responsible for planning and implementing the regional development policy; improving cross-border, interregional and transnational cooperation and preparation of strategic documents regulating the national development objectives. The Ministry participates in the preparation of priorities and annual and perennial strategic and operational documents for the use of EU funds and other international sources. It sets up priorities for the use of ESI funds available for Croatia and monitors the implementation of measures and activities set out in strategic documents.
• The Croatian Science Foundation was established in December 2001. Its mission is to promote science, higher education and technological development in Croatia in order to ensure the development of economy and to support employment. The Foundation provides support to scientific, higher education and technological programmes and projects, fosters international cooperation, and helps the realisation of scientific programmes of special interest in the fields of fundamental, applied and developmental research.
• The Ministry of Finance carries out tasks related (but not limited only) to: the development and competitiveness improvement of the Croatian economy, instruments and measures of the economic policy; industrial policy and innovation and new technologies policy; managing a guarantee fund for the promotion of industry; implementation and use of intellectual and industrial property rights; energy policy; mining; FDI and exports strategy. The Ministry plays an important role in the preparation of the Smart Specialisation Strategy of Croatia. It is responsible for the coordination of the absorption of ESI funds within the thematic objective 1 - Strengthening research, technological development and innovation.
• The Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure is the state administration body responsible for maritime, inland waterways, road, rail and air transport, cableways, postal services, electronic communications and pertaining infrastructure. The Ministry is also responsible for the protection of sea from pollution from ships and maritime domain. It prepares strategic documents and legislative proposals concerning the mentioned areas, monitors the implementation of the legislation in those areas and organises preparation of strategic infrastructure projects and programmes for all transport modes, that are considered of special importance for the Republic of Croatia.

(Last updated: 04/11/2024)