Croatia

Download the country report in pdf	Send your contribution / modification to
A roundtable on industrial biotechnology in Croatia was organised in Zagreb in June 2008. The presentations and the conclusions of the roundtable are available here

Introduction

Croatia has a very long tradition in chemistry. However, the sector has suffered from the war and from privatisation. Today, the large majority of chemical companies only perform production activities and they are mostly investing to survive instead of dedicating resources for research and development.
At the same time, the research and development sector is being reorganised. The Government is increasing the R&D budget with the aim to reach 3% of the GDP. Currently, industrial biotechnology is present in Croatia only at the research level. Some projects are funded by the government’s new R&D programme and the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports is member of the European Research Area network for Industrial Biotechnology.

I. Research and Innovation

Modern industrial biotechnology is a relatively new discipline, with major areas of knowledge still to be explored. Public support to research as well as the establishment of pilot and demonstration facilities to scale-up individual processes will therefore help in the development of a European bio-based economy.

A. Public research funding

The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia-MSES is members as partner of the European Network Area on Industrial biotechnology (ERA-net IB).

As part of the stabilisation process and Croatia’s accession to the European Union, the Government is promoting a shift to a knowledge-based economy. Croatia has established a national Science and Technology Action plan for 2006-2010. Biotechnology (agri-food / healthcare / industrial) has been recognised as one of the priorities which will contribute to the development of Croatian society. Currently, 55 biotechnology projects are funded by the Government.

B. Pilot and demonstration plants

A descriptive list of pilot and demonstration plants in Croatia is available here.

II. Policy

Public authorities can promote the quick take-up of industrial biotechnology innovations by implementing a number of “instruments” or policy initiatives. This can be the improvement of the regulatory framework; the integration of specification for bio-based products in public procurement; the establishment of standardisation, labelling and certification schemes to overcome perceived uncertainty about product properties and weak market transparency; the development of financial instruments and supports to increase investments into research, technology development and innovation as well as the elaboration of communication and information campaign to communicate the benefits of bio-based products to users.

A. Policies and regulations

There is no policy or regulation supporting industrial biotechnology in Croatia.

B. Public procurement

No information.

C. Standardisation, labelling and certification

No information.

D. Access to finance

No information.

E. Communication

No information.

Main Sources

Roundtable on industrial biotechnology in Croatia