The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, has opened its newest hub in Croatia. By connecting regional stakeholders, innovators, and partners with Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem, the new EIT Community Hub will strengthen collaboration among leading business, education, and research organizations and serve as a central meeting point for local innovators and entrepreneurs looking to leverage opportunities offered by the EIT Community in the fields of education, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Accordingly, on Thursday March 6, 2025, a conference marking the opening of the EIT Community Hub in Croatia was held at the National and University Library in Zagreb, co-organized with the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth. The event brought together key stakeholders of the Croatian innovation ecosystem, including startups, investors, representatives of the academic community, and institutions supporting innovation and sustainable economic growth. The goal of the conference was to present the initiatives of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), connect local and international innovators, and encourage further collaboration to strengthen the Croatian innovation ecosystem.
The conference was opened by Miro Hegedić, EIT Community Officer for Croatia, with welcome addresses by Ilaria Tagliavini, Head of Innovation, Education and Communication at EIT; Davor Ivo Stier, Member of the European Parliament, who addressed the audience via video message; Hristo Hristov, Head of the Policy Team at the European Commission Representation in Croatia; and Amalia Babić, Head of the Sector for the Scientific System and Technological Development at the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia. All speakers emphasized the importance of EIT initiatives in Croatia, which enable entrepreneurs, researchers, and institutions to connect with Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem. As the conference moderator, Miro Hegedić highlighted in his opening remarks the importance of Croatia’s openness to innovation as a key factor for its continued development.
During the conference, three panel discussions and two success stories supported by EIT focused on building Croatia’s innovation ecosystem, with particular emphasis on the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) and its role in supporting startups, as well as digital and green transformation. Panelists agreed that collaboration between academia, industry, and government agencies is essential, and that EIT—through its programs and financial instruments—can play a significant role in fostering such cooperation.
The panels also addressed access to funding for Croatian startups, researchers, and innovators through EU programs such as EIT and Horizon Europe. Leveraging these programs can ease the path to market, with one notable example being EIT Jumpstarter, a seven-month pre-acceleration program designed for early-stage startups.
The conference also featured success stories of Croatian startups that have progressed with the support of EIT. Manuela Panić from the startup Nades Design shared her experience with the EIT Jumpstarter and EIT Food EWA initiatives, highlighting how participation in these programs helped her startup commercialize its product and expand into the market. Luka Petro from DOK-ING presented a successful innovation story of the NRE ElectRA project, which achieved significant results in collaboration with EIT RawMaterials.
The conference laid the groundwork for the further development of Croatia’s innovation ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among diverse stakeholders and the use of initiatives such as EIT to strengthen competitiveness.
If you were unable to attend the conference, a recording of the event is available.
If you would like to learn more about what EIT offers and how it can support you on your innovation or entrepreneurial journey, feel free to contact the EIT Community Hub at croatia@eitcommunity.eu, or follow the EIT Community RIS Hub Croatia LinkedIn page as well as the hub’s website.
