The Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, Mr. Šime Erlić, visited the Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI) today to inspect the ongoing construction work as part of the strategic O-ZIP project (Open Scientific Infrastructural Platforms for Innovative Applications in the Economy and Society).
Minister Erlić was accompanied by RBI Director Dr. David M. Smith, Deputy Director Dr. Ivanka Jerić, Dr. Marijeta Kralj, Assistant Director Dr. Vilko Smrečki, and Scientific Council President Dr. Ivančica Bogdanović Radović, along with other collaborators.
During his visit, Minister Erlić highlighted the Croatian Government’s strong commitment to supporting research and development initiatives. He emphasized the vital role of EU funding in boosting Croatia’s investment in science and innovation, particularly since the country joined the European Union.
"The Government and the Ministry support various research and development initiatives, and EU funds are a cornerstone of these efforts. Since our accession to the EU, Croatia has made significant progress in R&D investments, both in terms of the number of researchers and the projects implemented. By 2030, our National Development Strategy sets an ambitious target to allocate 3% of GDP to research and development. Institutions like RBI, with their exceptional track record in implementing EU projects, play a crucial role in achieving this vision," said Minister Erlić.
The O-ZIP project, a capital initiative valued at over €100 million, aims to create a multidisciplinary environment for cutting-edge research and development. The project will significantly enhance the Institute's scientific capabilities, positioning it as a key player in both national and international research endeavors.
Dr. David M. Smith, Director of RBI, detailed the Institute’s achievements in leveraging EU funds, stating: "In the last EU financial perspective alone, we implemented 14 cross-border projects, over 30 projects within the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion, and numerous Horizon Europe initiatives. These projects demonstrate our strategic focus on EU collaboration and our commitment to advancing science."
The visit concluded with a tour of two major O-ZIP construction sites: A0 – BioMed Platform, dedicated to scientists in the fields of chemistry and molecular medicine and A1 – ICST Platform, designed for researchers specializing in computational sciences.
The O-ZIP project represents a landmark development in Croatia’s scientific infrastructure, promising to bolster innovation and foster collaboration between academia and industry.
