Making Research & Higher Education a Priority on the Political Agenda: Difficulties and Necessity

1. Making Research & Higher Education a Priority on the Political Agenda: Difficulties and Necessity Dražen Vikić-Topić State Secretary for Science and Technology Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia Graz, June 30, 2007

2. PART 1

3. Largest Croatian Research Inst. Employed 830 Academic Staff 513 296 Researcher 189 Ph.D. Students 28 Postdoc. Fellows Total No. of Research Articles 578 (1,13 article per Res/Year) 5% of Croatia Researchers at RBI Produce 27% of Croatian World Recognized Scientific Publications Ruđer Bošković Institute 2005

4. 1989 Postdoc - Ljubljana, Slovenia 1990 Guest Researcher – India 1990/93 Visiting Researcher - NIH, USA 1993/94 Senior Res. – Mayo Clinic, USA 1999 Visiting Prof. – Ljubljana, Slovenia 2001 Founder of NMR Center 2002 Adviser of DG-RBI for Organizational Issues 2004 Chairman of Scientific Council of RBI 2005 Adviser of DG-RBI for Science & Education 2005 State Secretary for Science & Technology Dražen Vikić-Topić, Ph.D. ChemistryNuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

5. PART 2

6. Croatian Goverment is Strongly Determined that Education and Science are not Expenditure but the Investment for the Future

7. “a small country with great knowledge” Visionof Croatia

8. to built a more efficient communication & cooperation system between state administration & scientific institutes / universities To achieve it we have

9. academic community and state administration have different ways of thinking & behaviour, in fact different cultures We are aware that

10. considerable differences also exist: between institutes and universities, among different research fields, etc. Inside Academic Community

11. to establish a new culture of collaboration and partnership between academic community and state administration Therefore we have

12. human resourcing soft skills public awarness knowledge-cleverness-wisdom more experts and professors in government and governmental decision making and policy making bodies There is no recipe for it but we have to do more on

13. PART 3

14. Educational System in Croatia

15. Reform of Primary Education - HNOS (Croatian National Educational Standard) Compulsory High School Education State Exam in High Schools (Matura) Reforms of Educational System

16. Reform of Vocational Studies Bologna Process – Improving of Tertiary Education and Reform of Doctorial Studies Agency for Adult Education, May 2006 Reforms of Educational System

17. Law on Adult Education, Feb 2007 Center for Mobility and EU Programmes (Longlife Learning,YOUTH, ERASMUS, LEONARDO), May 2007 National Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes, in 2007 Reforms of Educational System

18. Universities 7 Public Institutes 26 Research Centers in Industry 11 Academies 3 Schools of Professional HE 20 (9+11) Polytechnics 10 Other Scientific Entities 50 Military Research Centers 1 Technology Centers 5 The Croatian Science & Technology Base

19. 26 Public Institutes 1,400 M.Sc./Ph.D. 7 Universities 7,219 M.Sc./Ph.D. 8,619 M.Sc./Ph.D. in addition 1,542 B.Sc. Public Sector Total 10,161 Researchers Number of the Registered Researchers in the Public Sector

20. Public Sector 8,619 Industry (Public and Private) and SMS 3,679 Retirement 2,325 Total 14,623 Number of M.Sc./Ph.D. in Croatia

21. Steering of the Tertiary Education System 2005 Croatian Government Croatian Parliament Ministry of Science, Education and Sports Committee for Ethics in Science and Higher Education National Council for Higher Education Science and Higher Education Agency National Council for Science Science and Higher Education Funding Council Council of Polytechnics and Colleges Rectors’ Conference TEI Polytechnics Universities Schools of Professional Higher Education Public Institutes

22. Decision structure in S&R Area Committees Academy of Sciences and Arts Committee for Ethics in Science and HE Science and HE Funding Council Institutes Area Councils Universities National Council for Science Government MSES Parliament Faculties SRCE Agency for science and HE National Foundation for Science CARNet Programmes Projects Grants Equipment Infrastructure Conferences Publications Young Researchers Projects Grants Conferences Publications

23. Agency for Vocational Education Agency for Adult Education (concept of Lifelong Learning) National Centre for External Evaluation of Education Education and Teacher Training Agency (former Institute for Education) National Council for Curriculum National Council for Pedagogical Standard Agency for Science and Higher Education Croatian Institute of Technology (HIT) National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development NEW INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES IN THE EDUCATION AND SCIENCE SECTORS

24. Education, Science and Technology Strategic Documents

25. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY 2006 – 2010 • Loan from World Bank • for • Science & Technology Project • € 31 mil.

26. Main Goals Increasing investments into research and development and the increase of their efficiency Restructuring Croatia's science system Strengthening cooperation between science, government and industry in creation of new knowledge and goods Increasing participation of Croatian scientists and other entities in EU Framework Programs Science & Technology Policy of the Republic of Croatia 2006-2010

27. Other Goals Stimulating scientific excellence and enabling the transfer of knowledge and results of scientific discoveries to industry and business Increasing competitiveness of the Croatian economy Generating sustainable economic growth and productivity Science & Technology Policy of the Republic of Croatia 2006-2010

28. Research Priorities Criterion of Research Excellence Criterion of National Importance Balance of Basic and Applied Research Introduction of Research Programmes Frequent Calls for Research Projects BetterSystem of Evaluation GreaterParticipation of Foreign Referees S&T Reform (1)

29. Greater Support to Interdisciplinary Programs / Projects Better Financing of the Programs / Projects Between Universities and Public / Private Institutes, Between Institutes Greater Financing for the Inter-regional and Multi-regional Pograms / Projects Reorganization of Public Institutes S&T Reform (2)

30. Croatian Institute of Technology, March 2006 (HIT Ltd., Hrvatski institut za tehnologiju) New Technology Council, 2007 Governmental Body for S&T Policy, 2007 Dept. for Analysis, Evaluation and Foresight of Technological Development at MSES, 2007 S&T Reform (3)

31. Knowledge-driven Basic Research Environment Protection and Economy, Develompment of Karst Regions, Adriatic Coast, Sea and Islands Agriculture, Biotechnology, Food Health Information and Communication Technologies Nanoscience, New materials, Constructions and New Production Processes Energy:Alternative and Renewable Energy Resources, Transport, Security Social and Human Sciencies Social Integration, Pedagogics and Education, Lifelong (Permanent) Learning Long-term Priorities of Croatian S&T

32. 1. Environment (Adriatic & Karst Region) 2. Health (Food; Biotechnology) 3. Energy & Materials (Renewable Sources; Bio-nanomaterials) 4. Croatian Identity (Contribution to Culture, Religion, Art and Sciences; Croatian Language) Short-term Priorities (2006-2010) of Croatian S&T

33. 1. MSES 2. NFS 3. HIT / BICRO Three Pillars forFinancing Higher Education, Science and Technology in Croatia

34. Research Grants Periodical Calls, Pear Review Equipment Grants Annual Calls Reviewed by Study Section Technology-Development Grants For Applied Research Fellowships for Young Researchers (Res. Novices) ProvidesSalary up to 10Years (6 PhD+4 PostDoc) Currently ca.2700 Young Researchers Linked to Research Grants International Mobility Grants For Young Researchers MSES Funding Instruments

35. Total Expenditure in R&D from the State Budget and Private Sector (in 2004 Croatia 1.24 % BDP- Eurostat 2006) % BDP “Research and development and innovation is to be given a boost. The overall spending on these should be increased to reach 3 percent of GDP by 2010. Two-thirds of this investment should come from the private sector!”

36. Participation of a Private Sector in R&D Expenditure % GDP

37. Since 2003, based on the Act on Execution of the State Budget, a VAT refund is provided for purchase of equipment for science and technology projects. 2003 - 2006:ca. 78 million kn provided through VATrefund. According to priorities of individual HE, S&R, R&D institutions the refund is invested in scientific infrastructure and purchase of new equipment. Tax Brakes for Investments in Science

38. Financing Allocated to the MSES (mil. kn)

39. Five key innovations: 1. Stimulating concentration of research projects to programmes, supporting scientific cooperation between researchers within Croatia and with Croatian diaspora. 2. Stimulating and rewarding excellence in project results. 3. More adequate system of evaluation with significantly higher participation of foreign evaluators (Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Ireland). 4.Integrated information system for management of application and evaluation process. 5.Publication of key data on positively evaluated projects and programmes. Science Projects 2006

40. Science Projects • 46% more projects submitted in 2006 than in 2002 • 123% more referees (2458) in 2006 than in 2002, from which 30% foreign referees (in 2002 it was 1100 referees) • 5638referee reports in 2006

41. Financing of Science Projects • For financing of science projects in 2007 in State budget is reserved 142.5 mil. kn • Increase of financing in 2007 for 48.7 mil. kn in comparison with 2002 i.e. increase for 52%in 2007 v.s. 2002 Sredstva za znanstvene projekte iz proračuna MZOŠ-a, u mln. kuna:

42. The central network portal with content and services intended for Croatian scientists, together with information on their work and science and technology projects. Its goals is to consolidate information useful to scientific community, enable linkages between Croatian scientists in Croatia and abroad and encourage their cooperation. Croatian Science Portalwww.znanstvenici.hr

43. It consists of 4 sub-projects: 1. Who-is-who in Croatian science 2. Croatian science bibliography – CROSBI 3. Promotion of open access in Croatia 4. Croatian publications portal HRČAK The project is financed by the MSES and it is administered by Ruđer Bošković Institute, University Computing Centre (SRCE), National and University Library and Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNet). Croatian Science Portalwww.znanstvenici.hr

44. Technology Policy in Croatia PROGRAM HRVATSKOG INOVACIJSKOG TEHNOLOGIJSKOG RAZVITKA (HITRA) Program of Croatian Innovation and Technological Development (2001) TEhnologijskoiSTraživačko-razvojni projekti (TEST) Technology-Related Research and Development Projects RAzvojnaZnanju UteMeljenih poduzeća (RAZUM) Development of Knowledge-Based Companies

45. Cooperation of Different Ministries in Technological Development MINISTRY OF THE ECONOMY, LABOUR AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TEST RAZUM MSES MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND WATER MANAGMENT First program of the Government which supports and provide financing for development of knowledge-based economy

46. Technology and Innovation Centers 5 Centers (Zagreb, Rijeka, Split, Ston & Osijek) HIT, Ltd. (TEST) (Croatian Institute of Technology) BICRO, Ltd. (RAZUM) (Business Innovation Center of Croatia) Instruments for Technological Development

47. HITRA TEST-Transfer of Technology (Types of projects: TP, STIRP, JEZGRA) (HIT Ltd.) RAZUM-Development of Konwledge-Based Firms (Commercialization, Start-ups / Spin-offs) (BICRO Ltd.) Technology in Croatia

48. BICRO was established by the Croatian Government in 1998. HITRA (Croatian Programme for Innovative Technological Development) was started bythe Croatian Government in 2001→ the first Croatian programme aimed at developing a knowledge-based economy. HITRA Programme encompasses two sub-programmes: 1.TEST – Technology-Related Research and Development Projects (with an additional sub-programme - JEZGRE) 2.RAZUM– Development of Knowledge-Based Companies (small and medium-sized enterprises). Implemented by BICRO. Financing - Combination of commercial and conditional loans and non-returnable grants. - Guarantee required (70% of loan for newly funded companies, 100% for existing companies), 2 year grace period, 5 year amortization, 4.5% interest rate. BICRO Business Innovation Centre of Croatia

49. TehCro – Technology Infrastructure Development Programme (program razvoja tehnološke infrastrukture)Aims to ensure a sustainable increase in the number of knowledge-based SMEs(14.8 mln kn) VenCro – Venture Capital Programme (osnivanje fonda rizičnoga kapitala)Government will match up to 30% of other investors’ capital(34 mln kn) IRCro – Research and Development Programme(program istraživanja i razvoja) Is intended to encourage and stimulate demand for services of public research institutions, as well as to encourage SMEs to invest in R&D activities(11 mln kn) KonCRO – Business Competitiveness Upgrading Programme(program unaprjeđenja poslovne konkurentnosti) Assists SMEs to become more competitive by increasing productivity(11 mln kn) BICRO

50. 3 March 2006: The Institute for Technological Policy and Development – ITP d.o.o was transformed into CROATIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – HIT d.o.o. because of its expanded scope of work and new activities: 1. Administration of financial support for technology based and innovative enterprises. 2. Coordination and organisation of institutions aimed at development, transfer, application and financing of the network of technology institutions at national level. 3. Consulting in the filed of technology transfer and know-how, technological development and R&D. 4. Development of Business Intelligence and Technology Foresight systems. By a new Directive the administration of TEST Programme was transferred from MSES to HIT. The acceptance rate of HITRA Programme is continually approaching world standards and in 2005 – 2006 period it was 33.34%. Croatian Institute of Technology – HIT