CROATIAN INNOVATORS WIN 17 MEDALS AT PITTSBURGH EXHIBITION

ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - Seventeen Croatian innovations and new products were awarded among 2,000 from 35 countries at INPEX, the world's largest innovation exhibition, which was held in Pittsburgh last week. The 17 medals, which include nine gold, five silver, one bronze, and two special ones, have returned Croatia to the top in world innovation, said Zlatko Pavicic, a representative of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce and head of Croatia's delegation of innovators at the exhibition. Dragutin Jazbec of Zagreb was Croatia's most successful exhibitor at INPEX, winning the international expert jury's gold medal and the Russian delegation's special medal for his "Plastic Container Holder". The innovation has elicited great business interest with concrete offers for export to the U.S. market, said Pavicic. Emil Butala of Karlovac and two Zagreb-based companies, Neva and Milla, have also been offered to export their innovations, as has Zagreb-based innovator Lazo Starcevic for his "Silk Screen Machine". "The Second Generation of Products for Healthy Sleep" innovation by the Full-Point company has met with the interest of American, British, and Chilean partners. Rijeka-based Mramoterm company's "Heating Marble Board" has won the gold medal. (hina) ha mm