The delivery of the Bura supercomputer valued at HRK 44.7 million was enabled by European Union funds. This is the first supercomputer system of its kind in Croatia and is the 441st in the world with regard to power, it was said at a conference at the university. Bura ranks 175th among supercomputers in the world with regard to energy efficiency and ranked 48th regarding its optimisation for scientific purposes.
The supercomputer will be mostly used in research in the field of biotechnology and biomedicine, university officials said.
President Grabar-Kitarovic underscored the significance of science as a basis for development and the economy which, she claimed, cannot be achieved without investments in science. She assessed that investments from the state budget into science and research have to be in line with availability but also that they should be continually increasing. "Without development in science, there cannot be necessary economic development that will contribute to the budget which we all consider to be a development budget as an opportunity for Croatia to move ahead and that we finally make use of the growth of Gross Domestic Product so that that growth can be even stronger," she said.
Minister of Science, Education and Sports Predrag Sustar also emphasised the importance of launching the supercomputer. Education and sport can be an example of values above those daily matters, and policies should reflect that approach so that in addition to the daily political dimension there is a dimension of long-term and strategic interest, he said.
The minister underscored the importance of networking between the academic community and small and medium enterprises, local and regional government as well as professional associations. "That generates demographic impact that will keep young people in the country and motivate their return," he added.
Vice-Chancellor for Investment and Development. Nevenka Ozanic, presented the university's project to develop its research infrastructure which facilitated the supply of HRK 180 million equipment with the use of EU funds.