The meeting focused on the implementation of the Second Science and Technology Project (STP2) for which the WB is financing the preparation of tender documentation for four research infrastructure projects with huge potential to absorb European Union structural funds, the ministry reported.
The WB loan will finance the modernisation of research infrastructure at the Ruder Boskovic Institute as well as raising research capacities in the Srebrnjak children's hospital, the Physics Institute and the University of Zagreb Computing Centre Srce.
In cooperation with the WB, the ministry is also financing innovation programmes by the HAMAG BICRO agency and other science and education foundations such as the Unity Through Knowledge Fund (UKF) which will facilitate the commercialisation of know-how and cooperation between research institutions and the private sector. The UKF is one of the best models of financing research in Croatia and because of its quality it has received great support from the academic community in Croatia and beyond, the ministry said in a press release.