SCIENCE POLICY IN CROATIA Franjo Ranogajec Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

1. SCIENCE POLICY IN CROATIA Franjo Ranogajec Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

2. Facts about Croatia • Geopolitics Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia (45 N, 15,5 E) Area: 56,542 km2 Population: 4,44 mil. (2001) Capital: Zagreb, 970.000 (region)

3. Capital Zagreb City of Zagreb is cultural , scientific, economic, political and administrative center of the Republic of Croatia.

4. The Research and Development (R & D) sector • R & Dand higher education sector in Croatia consists of: • 26 public institutes, • 13 private scientific institutions, • 6 technology and research development centers, • 11 research centers in industry, • 1 military research center, • 7 universities • 16 public colleges and polytechnics. • The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports and the National Science Council monitor the development and quality of R & D sector.

5. The Research and Development (R & D) sector • Research potential (Sept 2006): • 3232 Masters of Science, • 5780 Doctors of Scinece, • 1989 other researchers, • Industry and private companies employ • 2705 Masters of Science, • 976 Doctors of Science

6. Main objectives of science policy • Increasing investments into research and development, and their efficiency • Restructuring Croatia’s science system • Strengthening cooperation betweenscience, government and industry in the creation of new knowledge and goods • Increasing participation of Croatianscientists and other bodies in EUFrameworkProgrammes

7. Increasing investments into R&D and their efficiency • preparation of a national action plan based on3% allocation at GDP level • refinement of the structure of existing funds’ use • annual increase of funds for R&D at the rate of at least 25% • ensure conditions for constant funds inflow to the National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development (NFS) and focus NFS investments into most prominent research

8. Increasing investments into R&D and their efficiency-2 • new expert systems for evaluation of projects and programmes, based on the model of European countries, which would enable greater transparency of scientific research to the public • increase of investment into capital and medium equipment, renewal of the research infrastructure • establishment of legal framework as well as financial / tax regulations that would encourage investment into science, research and human resources • establishing financial and tax regulations that would stimulate public & private partnerships

9. Restructuring Croatia’s science system • programmes for raising awareness on the significance and influence of science and research to society development (through educational system, media and special activities) • interlinking of the research infrastructure with the purpose of more efficient use of potential (centers of excellence) • clustering of existing scientific projects into integrated scientific programmes with the aim of creating internationally recognized and competitive centers of excellence - to join the European network of scientists and businesses

10. Restructuring Croatia’s science system-2 • scientific profiling and integrating of universities, mainly ones outside of Zagreb, according to the needs of balanced regional development of Croatia • reform of doctoral studies into efficient 3rd cycle research studies, which in a given period (3-5 years) promote the student to a science doctorate (Ph.D.) • redefining the mission, role and manner of institutes’ management, and reform of institutes with the aim of stronger orientation towards national research priorities • refining the system of transfer and application of scientific results • education of youth in the spirit of creativity, curiosity and desire to attain new knowledge

11. Strengthening cooperationbetween sicence, government and industry in the creation of new knowledge and goods • creating financial instruments to encourage collaboration between researchers and R&D institutions with the public sector and business • Creating a legal frame that would enable flexibility and appeal of the science labor market, enable tighter cooperation of higher education institutions, institutes, industry and public administration bodies, as well as employment of foreign scientists in the system and of Croatian scientists from abroad, respectively facilitate transfer of knowledge from top-level foreign S&T institutions

12. Strengthening cooperationbetween sicence, government and industry in the creation of new knowledge and goods-2 • Systematic stimulation to gradually increase R&D personnel share in industry and public administration bodies • Positive legal and financial measures with the purpose of increasing the number of junior researchers and highly specialized experts in the enterprise sector

13. Croatian scientists and EU Framework Programmes Goal: Increasing participation • Developing measures of co-financing and stimulating bonuses for cooperation in EU programmes (points for promotion, assigning of extra resources – early stage researchers and equipment, stimulative co-financing of project preparation and bonuses for accomplishments) • Active support for establishing and operating of national technology platforms and their integration into European technological platforms • Establishing an agency for European programmes and significantly increasing the nubmer and competence of professional staff for helping clients

14. Croatian scientists and EU Framework Programmes-2 Goal: Increasing participation • Development of strong departments for international cooperation within universities and institutes • Intensive programmes of knowledge transfer and training for a broad user base • Upgrade of the existing database of Croatian scientific potential

15. National inovation system The strengthening of the national innovation system can be achieved through: • Competent human resources and continuous professional development • Strong scientific and research base at the universities and research institutions • Availability of appropriate technology and business infrastructure to support creation of knowledge-based enterprises • Targeted support programmes which provide early-stage financing to knowledge-based companies

16. National inovation system-2 The strengthening of the national innovation system can be achieved through: • A strong intellectual property regime to provide incentives for invention • Stimulative tax policy to spur investment into R&D • Positive business environment with low regulatory barriers for enterpreneurs and investors, which equals lower costs and a faster road to markets • Promotion of public confidence in science and technology as well as innovation awareness

17. Objectives for Promoting Business Innovation and Technology Development The Government has identified six priority objectives: • Promote creation and growth of knowledge-based enterprises • Create technology infrastructure to support knowledge-based SMEs and technology-based start-ups • Stimulate demand for R&D from business • Manage intellectual property • Diversify funding sources for R&D, attract private sector investments and create risk capital industry • Promote public confidence in science and innovation awareness

18. Scientific Projects in Croatia Financed by the MSES (2005) - Fields

19. Long-term Priorities of Croatian S&T • 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

20. Evaluation of Programs / Projects • Number and quality of scientific articles • Contribution of Program / Project to the Development of Domicil Institution • Greater Support to Interdisciplinary Programs / Projects • Better Financing for the Programs / Projects Between Universities and Public / Private Institutes, Among Institutes • Greater Financing for the Inter-regional and Multi-regional Pograms / Projects

21. Sixth Framework Programme (2002 - 2006) • Represents the main framework of activities in science, research and innovation on European level, and is the third largest item in EU budget: €17.5 billion. • 2002-2005 Croatia participates as a “third country”. • Till now Croatian scientists participate in 68 projects, of approx. value of €5.9 million. • 1 January 2006: Croatia became full member of FP6. Membership fee for 2006 is ca. € 6.6 million (around 50% was covered by pre-accession funds PHARE. • Croatia direct participation was ca. €3.2 million). • Seventh Framework Programme (FP7, 2007-2013) - Focus is on excellence, budged of € 67.8 million.

22. Ruđer Bošković Institute Zagreb, Croatia

23. The name of the Insitute Josip Ruđer Bošković (1711, Dubrovnik – 1787, Milan) Working and living all around Europe (Rome, London, Paris, Vienna) • Ivan Meštrović, • Croatian-American • 1883 - 1962 Activities: physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher Theoria Philosohiae Naturalis 1763, Venice Influence on:Davy, Faraday, Maxwell, Thomson, Bohr

24. IRBcampus Arial view of the IRB campus IRB was founded in 1950.

25. IRBtoday Academic staff 296 – researches 189 – Ph.D. Students 28 - postdoctoral fellows

26. IRBtoday • RBI Mission : • The mission of IRB is to provide the science expertise indispensable for the development, prosperity and well being of Croatia. • Excellence in fundamental research Scientific output in 2005: 578 – research articles 391 – papers in CC journals 48 – B.Sc. 33 – M. Sc. And Ph.D. (5% of the total number of scientists in the country contribute 27% of all Croatian articles in CC journals)

27. IRBtoday RBI Mission : 2. Substantial contribution in high education 80 undergraduate courses 180 graduate courses Mr.sc. thesis Ph.D. thesis 3. Development of new competitive technologies 11 applied and technological projects (World bank, MZOS) • Every year IRB is the host of several important international conferences

28. IRBtoday The organisational structure of the RBI

29. Division of Materials Chemistry • Laboratory for synthesis of new materials • Laboratory for precipitation processes • Laboratory for radiation chemistry and dosimetry • Laboratory for solid state chemistry • Laboratory for complex compounds chemistry Laboratory for radiation chemistry and dosimetry

30. Laboratory for Radiation Chemistry and Dosimetry 2 projects – Ministry of Science, Education and Sport Several international projects: IAEA, EU, Bilateral –Germany, Hungary, Japan, Slovenia, USA, etc. Radiation Chemistry Dosimetry Protection Processing

31. Laboratory for Radiation Chemistry and Dosimetry RADIATION DOSIMETRY Dose range: Gy-kGy Radiation: electromagnetic, electron, neutron, proton, heavy ions Various methods: TL, RPL, various chemical dosimeters based on chlorobenzene : developedin LRKD ISO/ASTM Standard 51538

32. RADIATION DOSIMETRY Adequate infrastructure Various dosimetry systems: TL, RPL, chemical Irradiations: SSDL, panoramic 60Co source, etc

33. Laboratory for Radiation Chemistry and Dosimetry Laboratory staff: 8 scientists 5 Ph.D. students 5 technicians The author is grateful to Chiyoda Technol Corporation, Japan for the support of participation