A delegation from Lehigh University arrived in Croatia for a two-week visit, with their very first stop being the innovation agency Smion.
Lehigh University is recognized as one of the leading research universities in the United States. It offers a rigorous academic environment for more than 7,000 students. An excellent student-to-faculty ratio and a large campus enable students to collaborate on projects both inside and outside the classroom. The delegation consisted of 30 participants, including alumni, deans, professors, and students from Lehigh University, as well as directors and program managers from the Martindale Center.
Filip Stipančić, co-founder of Smion, presented the organization Smion—an innovation agency operating since 2013 and known for developing the Startup Drill methodology. Based on lean startup principles, this methodology enables startup teams to rapidly test and develop business ideas. To date, Smion has delivered more than 60 projects across 12 countries and engaged over 3,000 participants. Through a combination of education, mentorship, and collaboration with industry partners, Smion actively supports entrepreneurship development across various sectors.
Tomislav Miro Hegedić, PhD, co-founder of Smion and EIT Community Officer for Croatia, presented the work of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)—an EU body that connects academia, industry, and entrepreneurship through its knowledge and innovation communities. He also outlined how EIT supports innovation across Europe through funding, mentorship, and networking, including projects implemented in Croatia.
Dario Zorić, Chief Operating Officer of Smion and a Lehigh University alumnus, introduced the EIT Food Hub Croatia, an initiative focused on fostering innovation in the food sector. The Hub acts as the national contact point for EIT Food in Croatia and delivers a range of activities. As the Coordinator of EIT Food Hub Croatia, he emphasized the importance of strengthening the local agri-food ecosystem and connecting it with European and international markets.
After a short break, Filip spoke about Smion’s projects in the field of health technologies—AI2MED and Forward to Health Innovation. These projects focus on bridging research and market needs in healthcare through the application of artificial intelligence and the development of innovations that address real challenges within healthcare systems. He also presented how Smion, through collaboration with EIT Health, supports teams in the commercialization of healthcare solutions.
Finally, Dario presented the international project Green Tech Entrepreneurship Challenge Hub (GTECH), designed for vocational secondary school students. Through the program, students developed sustainable solutions to green technology challenges with the support of industry mentors via the GTECH platform, which was created as part of the project. The initiative promoted learning by doing, innovative thinking, and direct collaboration between schools and industry.
It was a great pleasure to share our knowledge and experience with our distinguished guests.
