NATIONAL SCIENCE COUNCIL CONFIRMS REPORT ON SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS

( Editorial: --> 5912 ) ZAGREB, 20 Jan (Hina)- At its session on Tuesday, chairied by the Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Mateša, the National Science Council confirmed a report on implementation of the first Croatian national scientific research programme, for the period 1996-1998. The Council decided that the report should be expanded to include data on financing of projects by young scientists and on their efficiency. The Council accepted a suggestion by the Prime Minister to dedicate one of its forthcoming sessions to a debate on the future of the Croatian science and the strategy of its development. Throughout Croatia the national scientific research programme is being implemented by 8,000 scientists and researchers at 23 public institutes, 66 institutions of higher education, 13 commercial institutes and 71 research legal entities. Out of the total number of scientists, 53 per cent are employed at the Croatian universities, 13 per vent at public institutes,7 per cent at commercial institutes and 27 per cent at other scientific institutions. Inter alia, the report contains a breakdown by fields of programmes, projects and topics that have been earmarked for financing. Thus, for example, the Ministry finances 16 programmes, 127 projects and 100 topics from different sciences, as opposed to 8 programmes,111 projects and 37 topics in the humanities. (Hina)jn mr 202131 MET jan 98