SCIENCE POLICY IN CROATIASCIENCE POLICY IN CROATIA

Franjo RanogajecFranjo Ranogajec

Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

Facts about CroatiaFacts about CroatiaFacts about CroatiaFacts about Croatia

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia (45 N, 15,5 E)

Area: 56,542 km2

4,44 mil. (2001)Population:

Geopolitics

Capital: Zagreb, 970.000 (region)

Capital ZagrebCapital ZagrebCapital ZagrebCapital ZagrebCity of Zagreb is cultural , scientific,economic, political and administrativecenter of the Republic of Croatia.

R & D and higher education sector in Croatia consists of:

• 26 public institutes, • 13 private scientific institutions, • 6 technology and research development centers, • 11 research centers in industry, • 1 military research center, • 7 universities • 16 public colleges and polytechnics.

The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports and the National Science Council monitor the development and quality of R & D sector.

The Research and The Research and Development (R & D)Development (R & D) sector sector

Research potential (Sept 2006):

• 3232 Masters of Science, • 5780 Doctors of Scinece, • 1989 other researchers,

Industry and private companies employ• 2705 Masters of Science,• 976 Doctors of Science

The Research and The Research and Development (R & D)Development (R & D) sector sector

● Increasing investments into research and development, and their efficiency

● Restructuring Croatia’s science system

● Strengthening cooperation between science, government and industry in the creation of new knowledge and goods

● Increasing participation of Croatian scientists and other bodies in EU Framework Programmes

Main objectives of science Main objectives of science policypolicy

Increasing investments into R&D Increasing investments into R&D and their efficiencyand their efficiency

● preparation of a national action plan based on 3% allocation at GDP level

● refinement of the structure of existing funds’ use

● annual increase of funds for R&D at the rate of at least 25%

● ensure conditions for constant funds inflow to the National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development (NFS) and focus NFS investments into most prominent research

● new expert systems for evaluation of projects and programmes, based on the model of European countries, which would enable greater transparency of scientific research to the public

● increase of investment into capital and medium equipment, renewal of the research infrastructure

● establishment of legal framework as well as financial / tax regulations that would encourage investment into science, research and human resources

● establishing financial and tax regulations that would stimulate public & private partnerships

Increasing investments into R&D Increasing investments into R&D and their efficiency-2and their efficiency-2

Restructuring Croatia’s science Restructuring Croatia’s science systemsystem

● programmes for raising awareness on the significance and influence of science and research to society development (through educational system, media and special activities)

● interlinking of the research infrastructure with the purpose of more efficient use of potential (centers of excellence)

● clustering of existing scientific projects into integrated scientific programmes with the aim of creating internationally recognized and competitive centers of excellence - to join the European network of scientists and businesses

Restructuring Croatia’s science Restructuring Croatia’s science system-2system-2

● scientific profiling and integrating of universities, mainly ones outside of Zagreb, according to the needs of balanced regional development of Croatia

● reform of doctoral studies into efficient 3rd cycle research studies, which in a given period (3-5 years) promote the student to a science doctorate (Ph.D.)

● redefining the mission, role and manner of institutes’ management, and reform of institutes with the aim of stronger orientation towards national research priorities

● refining the system of transfer and application of scientific results

● education of youth in the spirit of creativity, curiosity and desire to attain new knowledge

Strengthening cooperationStrengthening cooperation between sicence, government and between sicence, government and

industry in the creation of new industry in the creation of new knowledge and goodsknowledge and goods

● creating financial instruments to encourage collaboration between researchers and R&D institutions with the public sector and business

● Creating a legal frame that would enable flexibility and appeal of the science labor market, enable tighter cooperation of higher education institutions, institutes, industry and public administration bodies, as well as employment of foreign scientists in the system and of Croatian scientists from abroad, respectively facilitate transfer of knowledge from top-level foreign S&T institutions

Strengthening cooperationStrengthening cooperation between sicence, government and between sicence, government and

industry in the creation of new industry in the creation of new knowledge and goods-2knowledge and goods-2

● Systematic stimulation to gradually increase R&D personnel share in industry and public administration bodies

● Positive legal and financial measures with the purpose of increasing the number of junior researchers and highly specialized experts in the enterprise sector

Croatian scientists and EU Croatian scientists and EU Framework ProgrammesFramework Programmes

● Developing measures of co-financing and stimulating bonuses for cooperation in EU programmes (points for promotion, assigning of extra resources – early stage researchers and equipment, stimulative co-financing of project preparation and bonuses for accomplishments)

● Active support for establishing and operating of national technology platforms and their integration into European technological platforms

● Establishing an agency for European programmes and significantly increasing the nubmer and competence of professional staff for helping clients

Goal: Increasing participation

Croatian scientists and EU Croatian scientists and EU Framework Programmes-2Framework Programmes-2

● Development of strong departments for international cooperation within universities and institutes

● Intensive programmes of knowledge transfer and training for a broad user base

● Upgrade of the existing database of Croatian scientific potential

Goal: Increasing participation

National inovation systemNational inovation system

● Competent human resources and continuous professional development

● Strong scientific and research base at the universities and research institutions

● Availability of appropriate technology and business infrastructure to support creation of knowledge-based enterprises

● Targeted support programmes which provide early-stage financing to knowledge-based companies

The strengthening of the national innovation system can be achieved through:

National inovation system-2National inovation system-2

● A strong intellectual property regime to provide incentives for invention

● Stimulative tax policy to spur investment into R&D

● Positive business environment with low regulatory barriers for enterpreneurs and investors, which equals lower costs and a faster road to markets

● Promotion of public confidence in science and technology as well as innovation awareness

The strengthening of the national innovation system can be achieved through:

Objectives Objectives for Promoting Business Innovation and for Promoting Business Innovation and

Technology DevelopmentTechnology DevelopmentThe Government has identified six priority objectives:

1. Promote creation and growth of knowledge-based enterprises

2. Create technology infrastructure to support knowledge-based SMEs and technology-based start-ups

3. Stimulate demand for R&D from business

4. Manage intellectual property

5. Diversify funding sources for R&D, attract private sector investments and create risk capital industry

6. Promote public confidence in science and innovation awareness

Scientific Scientific PProjects in Croatia rojects in Croatia FFinanced by the Minanced by the MSESSES (2005) - (2005) -

FieldsFieldsField No of projects % Kn %

Natural sciences 317 17.6 30,915,000 24.5

Engineering 345 19.1 22,889,000 18.1

Biomedicine 437 24.2 35,580,000 28.1

Biotechnology 174 9.7 12,208,000 9.7

Social sciences 260 14.4 12,188,000 9.6

Humanities 270 15.0 12,639,000 10.0

Total 1,803 100 126,419,00 100

Long-term Priorities of Croatian Long-term Priorities of Croatian S&TS&T

● Knowledge-driven Basic Research● Environment Protection and Economy, Develompment

of Karst Regions, Adriatic Coast, Sea and Islands● Agriculture, Biotechnology, Food● Health ● Information and Communication Technologies ● Nanoscience, New materials, Constructions and New

Production Processes● Energy:Alternative and Renewable Energy Resources,

Transport, Security● Social and Human Sciencies● Social Integration, Pedagogics and Education, Lifelong

(Permanent) Learning

Evaluation of Programs / Evaluation of Programs / ProjectsProjects

● Number and quality of scientific articles● Contribution of Program / Project to the

Development of Domicil Institution ● Greater Support to Interdisciplinary Programs /

Projects● Better Financing for the Programs / Projects

Between Universities and Public / Private Institutes, Among Institutes

● Greater Financing for the Inter-regional and Multi-regional Pograms / Projects

Sixth Framework Programme (2002 - 2006)

● Represents the main framework of activities in science, research and innovation on European level, and is the third largest item in EU budget: € 17.5 billion.

● 2002-2005 Croatia participates as a “third country”. ● Till now Croatian scientists participate in 68 projects, of

approx. value of € 5.9 million.

● 1 January 2006: Croatia became full member of FP6. Membership fee for 2006 is ca. € 6.6 million (around 50% was covered by pre -accession funds PHARE.

● Croatia direct participation was ca. € 3.2 million).

● Seventh Framework Programme (FP7, 2007-2013) - Focus is on excellence, budged of € 67.8 million.

Ruđer Bošković InstituteZagreb, Croatia

The name of the InsituteThe name of the Insitute

Josip Ruđer Bošković (1711, Dubrovnik – 1787, Milan)Working and living all around Europe (Rome, London, Paris, Vienna)

Theoria Philosohiae Naturalis1763, Venice

Activities: physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher

Influence on: Davy, Faraday, Maxwell, Thomson, Bohr

Ivan Meštrović, Croatian-American

1883 - 1962

Arial view of the IRB campusArial view of the IRB campus

IRB was founded in 1950.

IRBIRB campuscampus

IRBIRB todaytoday

Academic staffAcademic staff 296 – researches296 – researches 189 – Ph.D. Students189 – Ph.D. Students 28 - postdoctoral 28 - postdoctoral fellowsfellows

IRBIRB todaytodayRBI MiRBI Misssion :sion :

The mission of IRB is to provide the science expertise indispensable for the development, prosperity and well being of Croatia.

1.Excellence in fundamental research

Scientific output in 2005: 578 – research articles391 – papers in CC journals48 – B.Sc.33 – M. Sc. And Ph.D.

(5% of the total number of scientists in the country contribute 27% of all Croatian articles in CC journals)

IRBIRB todaytodayRBI MisRBI Misssion :ion :2. Substantial contribution in high education

80 undergraduate courses180 graduate coursesMr.sc. thesisPh.D. thesis

3. Development of new competitive technologies11 applied and technological projects (World bank, MZOS)

Every year IRB is the host of several important international conferences

IRBIRB todaytoday

The organisational The organisational structure of the RBIstructure of the RBI

Division of Materials Division of Materials ChemistryChemistry

● Laboratory for synthesis of new materials

● Laboratory for precipitation processes

● Laboratory for radiation chemistry and dosimetry

● Laboratory for solid state chemistry

● Laboratory for complex compounds chemistry

Laboratory for radiation chemistry and dosimetry

Laboratory for Radiation Laboratory for Radiation Chemistry and DosimetryChemistry and Dosimetry

2 projects – Ministry of Science, Education and Sport

Several international projects: IAEA, EU, Bilateral –Germany, Hungary, Japan, Slovenia, USA, etc.

Radiation

Chemistry Dosimetry

Protection Processing

Laboratory for Radiation Laboratory for Radiation Chemistry and DosimetryChemistry and Dosimetry

RADIATION DOSIMETRY

Dose range: Gy-kGy

Radiation: electromagnetic, electron, neutron, proton, heavy ions

Various methods: TL, RPL, various chemical dosimeters

based on chlorobenzene : developed in LRKD

ISO/ASTM Standard 51538

RADIATION DOSIMETRYRADIATION DOSIMETRYAdequate infrastructure

Irradiations: SSDL, panoramic 60Co source, etc

Various dosimetry systems: TL, RPL, chemical

Laboratory for Radiation Laboratory for Radiation Chemistry and DosimetryChemistry and Dosimetry

Laboratory staff:

8 scientists

5 Ph.D. students

5 technicians

The author is grateful to Chiyoda Technol Corporation, Japan for the support of participation