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10 Years of the Croatian Science Foundation

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Contents

6 � � � Words from the Editor

8 � � � �From the National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development of the Republic of Croatia to the Croatian Science Foundation

12 � � �Cooperation with the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts

14 � � �Croatian Science Foundation and International Cooperation: Cooperation Within the Membership in the European Science Foundation (ESF)

18 � � �Croatian Science Foundation

23 � � �Programmes 2001 - 2011

32 � � �Assessment of Project Proposals

36 � � �Development of Research Careers 37 � � � SCIENCE Award 38 � � � Fellowships for Doctoral Students and Postdoc 42 � � � Installation Grants

46 � � �Cooperation of Science and Industry

50 � � �Competitive Research Funding System

53 � � �Challenges in the Next Decade

59 � � �The Board

64 � � �Funded projects

77 � � �Legal Acts

page 4 page 5about the FoundationWhat they say

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At the end of the first decade of our work the Board expresses its hope that the Foundation will finally be enabled to take on the role to fund excellent projects which are vital in developing the area of research, and that, on the one hand, fits into the European Research Area, and on the other hand, answers to the needs of industry and the other priorities of the Republic of Croatia�

The Calls and the procedures that are known in advance and that would enable the planning of research projects and research cooperation in Croatia and abroad, as well as the principles of competitive funding, would mark a significant contribution to Croatian science and to its collaboration with industry�

Moreover, it would enable the achievement of another important mission for the whole of Croatian science, which is the preservation and the development of centres of excellence in Croatia, and the competitiveness of Croatian researchers for EU funds�

Therefore, I would like to express my belief that in the next period the Croatian Science Foundation will receive the support necessary to achieve the tasks entrusted to it, and that the Foundation will continue to achieve significant results for the development of science in the Republic of Croatia�

Ivica Kostović, M.D., D.Sc. President of the Board

Words from the EditorDuring the last decade and in order to fulfil the task of funding research projects which would foster development in the area of research and the recovery of the Croatian economy, the Croatian Science Foundation has been establishing all necessary prerequisites�

Besides work in relation to application procedures, the monitoring of projects and assessment, the professionalization of the assessment system, and the establishment of Scientific Committees, the activities of the Croatian Science Foundation have effected significant changes to the system of research and education, to the training of doctoral and postdoctoral students, and to the development of the careers of young researchers� Moreover, it has enabled connections between research and industry, the entering of the European research network, and has supported higher education reform, organised collaborative workshops and summer schools and supported nationally important projects such as the development of Croatian professional terminology� In addition, Croatian researchers were enabled, for the first time, to be nationally funded through different programmes according to competitive principles and assessed by an institution which was independent from executive power�

At the end of the first decade of the Foundation’s existence the question that arises is about its funding according to the standards of the new umbrella organisation, Science Europe, with the mission to develop the European Research Area, which should significantly affect the national research system and the state budget (with a minimum of 30% of the total national spending for science and research)�

The Board is intensively trying to ensure the operation of the Foundation in line with the new Act on the Croatian Science Foundation that portrays the Foundation as the leading institution to ensure competitive funding of research in Croatia based on three principles: strict international project review, excellence and accordance with national priorities�

However, after the 10th anniversary of the Foundation’s existence there is still no clear model that would enable stable funding of the Foundation or its basic mission�

The Foundation will ensure its mission by investment in research careers, by encouraging cooperation between research and industry, as well as by supporting excellent research projects and collaborative programmes�

In doing so, special attention will be paid to national priorities but, as the general priority is to increase knowledge, funds will also be allocated to basic research�

This and our previous publications outline our experience with the stated programmes�

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applied in Croatia� An international network of evaluators was developed and the best evaluators in Croatia were selected, and they created a platform of successful and quality international peer review� The whole system was based on experiences and evaluations developed by the European Commission and the foundations within the International Advisory Board�

And finally, the independence of the work, the quality of the evaluation system, and transparency were the basis for the fast membership approval by the European Science Foundation, as well as an increase in international recognition� Moreover, the innovativeness and the impact of the Foundation enabled the assembly of many similar Central European organisations in IPRO (International Peer Review Opatija) – an initiative to form a Central European platform for peer review�

From 2005 until 2009 the Foundation developed financial instruments complementary with initiatives in the European Research Area and carefully distributed its funds but, unfortunately, national policies failed to switch the responsibility for research activities from state administration to the Foundation, which resulted in poor fund loading and lead the Foundation into an unsustainable position�

Besides that, and despite our numerous attempts, stable funding of research independent from the State Budget was not achieved, so the activities of the Foundation, as well as the development of the research system, continued to be under the strong influence of movements within the political arena�

The concept of “allocating some funds from privatisation”, as a model for secure future investment through the transition, failed to materialise into political action, so the transitional swirl outcast the most important people for the preservation of the economy and the state – people that have the abilities, creative energy, entrepreneurship skills and the innovative potential to play on the global scene� That was clearly manifested when the economic crises occurred, and when it became clear that the expansion of the research and university system for the period 2002 – 2008 had ceased� A great number of young researchers, among which the best were supported by the Foundation, were left in a vacuum without the possibility of planning their careers�

Therefore, many of them started to emigrate from Croatia and re-initiated the brain drain, notwithstanding that the “brain gain” and the “brain circulation” were key financial instruments developed by the Foundation�

A detailed analysis of the financial instruments developed within the past few decades throughout Europe shows the evolution from funding research projects conducted by experienced researchers towards financial instruments that foster the development of independent research careers from an early career stage – doctoral students, postdoctoral students, young professors and group leaders� This enables traditional research focused on the interests of experienced researchers to be broadened and directed by the creativity of younger researchers at an early stage, in order to improve the innovation potential of research area�

From the National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development of the Republic of Croatia to the Croatian Science Foundation

In the past few decades science policy in scientifically and economically advanced European countries has been shaped by changes to the model of management of the system of higher education and research� The model of “state management” is being abandoned, since it has been clear for decades that the state administration does not have the capacity or the expertise to manage innovation, and therefore a model of “state supervision” is being introduced to give more freedom and flexibility, but also more responsibility, to universities and researchers�

Within this system, and besides the funding of infrastructure and projects important for state policy, institutions capable of developing independent financial instruments are being established�

These institutions are run according to principles of research excellence and competition for funding by the best researchers� Naturally, the financial instruments should not be independent of national development policies but in line with the strategic and policy goals determined in national strategic documents�

By establishing the National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development (NZZ) under a special Act brought in December 2001, Croatia, as leading European countries had done before, took the same development route� Although the establishment of the Foundation was not clearly defined in strategic documents because there were no such documents, it is a praiseworthy initiative of the Croatian Parliament that followed the path of other European policies and the accession of Croatia to the European Union�

Despite that, the decision of the Government to take that development path was ratified by the allocation of more than HRK100m from the Development Fund to the Foundation Fund�

During 2004, the Board, established in 2003, developed rules, a system of project evaluation, and first programmes (financial instruments), and started to attract young and competent staff trained to integrate European practices in designing financial instruments and managing the evaluation system�

The most developed European foundations gathered within the International Advisory Board greatly helped us: the German Science Foundation (DFG), the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the Science Foundation of Ireland (SFI) and the Academy of Finland (AFi)� The first programmes were established at the end of 2004 and their implementation during the following few years showed that European standards of “best practice” can be

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Therefore, the shift in focus from experienced to young researchers, postgraduate students and finally to doctoral students is obvious� In spite of this, Europe sees the innovation potential as still too low, and this leads to a loss of pace in competitiveness with the rest of the world� Therefore, another shift can be expected – towards the students of masters studies (in Croatia – graduate studies) that are more often recognised as a basis for innovation�

The expansion of innovation capacities in Croatia is a prerequisite of subsistence and economic growth, and the development of more quality life for Croatian citizens� This is why innovation capacity cannot be based on a small group of poorly connected individuals, no matter how successful and internationally recognised they may be�

Innovation capacity will be fostered by training, by enabling opportunities for independent research, and by supporting the cooperation of large groups of young researchers that have flooded through Croatian universities and the Croatian research area over the last decade� To accomplish this it is necessary to design a new scale of financial instruments for new researchers that would enable them to engage with it according to their success and connections� Especially, it is important to improve the system of doctoral training and to develop a platform to include students in research activities before they enter doctoral studies� Similarly, it is important to open the palette of financial instruments for the transfer to small companies and the implementation of their know-how and initiatives to start new economies based on products and services with a high level of added value, in other words it is the ability to find a niche in the global market and to operate according to the principles of the global economy�

It is expected that, in a period of intense social restructuring, and the development of technology which enables instant communication with the whole world, the capacity for innovation is dependent on transparency and equity�

All this work has to be done by somebody� I still do not believe that it can be done within the system and the logic of the administrative approach that is in force in state and regional administration� And especially not by structures under the direct influence of the political process� This work, at least in respect of the system of research and innovation, has to be done by the Croatian Science Foundation� Therefore the Foundation should develop financial instruments that are long-term and foreseeable in order to enable the planning of research careers for all those desiring to perform research and innovation� For these reasons the Croatian Science Foundation shall be strengthened and its funding stabilised and independent of the state budget and of conflicts in the political arena�

Professor Pero Lučin

Rector of the University of Rijeka President of the Board of the Foundation from June 2003 until December 2010

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programmes and projects of the European Science Foundation� In that way, the Foundation opened the door to Europe for Croatian researchers�

Within the national context, I would like to point out the Foundation’s programme titled “Brain Gain” within which the Foundation funded researchers who developed their research careers abroad and wished to relocate to Croatia� This is the best way to transfer knowledge to Croatia and to improve Croatian science, as well as society�

The offer of programmes that the Foundation nowadays has for researchers in Croatian universities and institutes is well known�

Taking into consideration the work of the Croatian Science Foundation during the first ten years, I can surely confirm that its prestige and importance will grow in the following period of the accession of Croatia to the European Union�

It was a pleasure to be involved in its activities from the beginning�

Academician Zvonko Kusić

President of HAZU Member of the Board of the Foundation since April 2004 until May 2007 Vice-President of the Board of the Foundation since July 2007 until December 2010

Cooperation with the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts I was appointed a member of the National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development of the Republic of Croatia after the nomination of the Presidency of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts to the position of the departed academician Anton Švajger, in February 2004�

During almost eight years of my work with the Board of the Croatian Science Foundation, it was my pleasure to function as a member and from June 2007 until December 2010 as the Vice –President of the Board�

I was witnessing the creation of a new institution in the Republic of Croatia which has the noble mission of funding Croatian science�

The Croatian Science Foundation developed very fast and soon it imposed itself as an important player in science policy in the Republic of Croatia�

In the international context, it soon connected with a number of leading European foundations and organisations, such as the German Science Foundation (DFG), the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO), the Science Foundation of Ireland (SFI), the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the Academy of Finland (AFi) and the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA) to learn from their practices and knowledge�

A special success was achieved in 2008 when, as a young organisation and with the recommendation of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, it became a member of the European Science Foundation and aligned itself with leading European agencies and institutions that fund research�

The membership of the Academy and the Croatian Science Foundation resulted in the establishment of the Coordination Board HAZU-HRZZ through which both institutions decided on funding the participation of Croatian researchers in the

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Committees during the past eight years was of utmost importance, not only because it enabled our researchers to apply and compete for ESF funds, but to a greater extent, because the members of the Standing Committees form and determine research priorities as well as the priority themes of the European Research Area, precisely in the segments covered by the ESF�

The intercession of Croatian representatives in the Standing Committees is mirrored in the growing interest of Croatian researchers in participating in the projects and programmes of the ESF but also in policy activities and at ESF conferences�

Within the field of humanities, only during the last year, young Croatian researchers participated in a few Strategic Workshops, for example within the “Young Researchers’ Forum ESF Humanities Spring” with the topic “Changing Publication Cultures in the Humanities” held in June 2011 in Ireland, and on the conference “First-Person Writing, Four-Way Reading” in December 2011 in London� The participation of young Croatian researchers in different ESF initiatives is very important, not only for them personally but also for the integration of Croatian research, thought and humanistic provenance into European research streams�

Since 2010, the transformation of the European Science Foundation has started and since then the voices of integration of the ESF and the EuroHORCs-a (European Heads of Research Councils) have been heard�

After extended negotiations, the ESF Governing Council took the decision which will lead to the progressive extinction of the ESF with their headquarters in Strasbourg, and to the establishment of a new organisation called Science Europe and situated in Brussels�

So far, the known priorities of the new organisation called Science Europe are the further development of science policy within the European Research Area and the lobbying activities to the European Commission in those segments that include the further development of science policy in Europe�

It is not necessary to emphasize how important it is for the Croatian Science Foundation and for the Croatian Academy for Sciences and Arts to become members of this organisation in the light of its future important

role in designing European research priorities�

Academician Milena Žic Fuchs

President of the ESF Standing Committee for Humanities Academician Milena Žic Fuchs became a member of the ESF Standing Committee for Humanities in 2005. In 2006 she was appointed member of the Core Group of the Standing Committee and in 2008 the President of the Standing Committee. It is important to emphasize that her appointments were supported by the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Croatian Science Foundation and that by her appointment as President of the Standing Committee for Humanities she became the most highly ranked Croatian representative in the European Science Foundation.

Croatian Science Foundation and International Cooperation: Cooperation Within the Membership in the European Science Foundation (ESF) The Croatian Science Foundation became a member of the European Science Foundation (ESF) on January 1st 2008 with the support of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts which had been a member of the European Science Foundation since 2003�

The close cooperation of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Croatian Science Foundation has been achieved by establishing the Coordination Committee HAZU-HRZZ in October 2008 with the basic aim of coordinating joint activities within the European research community and to ensure support for Croatian researchers involved in the different projects and programmes of the ESF�

The active involvement of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in the work of the ESF and later membership of the Croatian Science Foundation strengthened the role of Croatia in the European Research Area�

The participation of Croatian representatives in all five Standing Committees of the ESF improved the visibility of Croatia and its research�

Until today, the Academy and the Foundation have appointed the following members of the ESF Standing Committees: LESC – Academician Željko Kućan, Professor Đurđica Ugarković; PESC - Academician Božidar Liščić, Professor Mladen Žinić; SCH - Academician August Kovačec, Academician Milena Žic Fuchs, Professor Marko Tadić; SCSS - Professor Maja Seršić, Academician Davorin Rudolf, Professor Arsen Bačić; EMRC - Academician Daniel Rukavina, Professor Krešimir Pavelić�

The Foundation also appointed the following representatives in ESF Forums: MO Forum on Peer Review (representatives: Assistant Professor Alenka Gagro and Janja Trkulja) and MO Forum on Research Integrity (representative: Assistant Professor Livia Puljak), and the Academy appointed the representative in MO Forum on Medium-sized Research Infrastructures (representative: Academician Leo Budin)�

The Croatian representative in the ESF Governing Council was Academician Boris Kamenar, and after the amendments of the ESF Statute the representatives were the heads of the member organisations - Academician Milan Moguš and Professor Pero Lučin� Today, Croatia is represented in the Governing Council by the President of the Academy, Academician Zvonko Kusić and the President of the Board of the Foundation, Academician Ivica Kostović�

It is important to emphasize that the participation of Croatian representatives in the work of Standing

page 16 page 17Activities 2001 – 2011

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In order to ensure the selection and funding of the best projects, the Foundation has developed strict professional procedures of competitive evaluation of project proposals� The procedures are in line with European practices of peer review conducted by international experts and of the panel review conducted by Croatian experts�

Altogether more than 600 Croatian and foreign researchers were included in the evaluation of project proposals and with their expertise and dedication influenced the work of the Foundation�

Since 2011, according to the changes and amendments of the Act on the Croatian Science Foundation1 the evaluation procedure is governed by the Scientific Committees comprised of Croatian and foreign researchers� While designing the evaluation procedure and defining best practice the Foundation was governed by the practices of other experienced European foundations, as well as by the recommendations of the European Science Foundation�

Since the procedure of professional evaluation is a responsible and complex task, one of the basic responsibilities of the Foundation was to analyse the procedure cyclically and to improve it based on experience gained from participation in a number of initiatives, research projects and work groups on this issue, such as the International Peer Review Opatija (IPRO) and ESF working groups (ESF Member Organisation Forum on Peer Review)� In doing so the selection of the project must be based on the competitive evaluation system, which is standard in most European foundations�

The programmes of the Foundation in this period followed all transitions of the higher education and research systems; from support in the implementation of the Bologna process, and attracting Croatian researchers from abroad to join the projects in Croatia or to relocate to Croatia, to support regarding accession to the European Union� In order to foster the transformation of Croatian society to a society of knowledge, since its establishment, via its targeted and focused programmes, the Foundation was active in promoting links between research and society, as well as research and the economy�

The support of international cooperation within the research and higher education areas for researchers from all fields is ensured by membership of the European

1 The Act on Foundation is available at http://narodne-novine�nn�hr

Croatian Science Foundation The Croatian Science Foundation was established by the Croatian Parliament in December 2001 with the basic aim of promoting science and the higher educational and technological development of the Republic of Croatia, with the goal of fostering economic growth and improving employment�

The Foundation was established under the name the National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development of the Republic of Croatia, and the name was changed in 2010 to the Croatian Science Foundation� The Foundation is governed by a Board comprising nine members recommended by the Government and, together with the President of the Board, appointed by Parliament� The first Board was appointed in 2003; until then, activities relating to legal regulations and the establishment of the Foundation were carried out by a temporary supervisor�

The Croatian Science Foundation was modelled according to similar European and Middle-European foundations to become the central institution in Croatia supporting excellence in research, the development of recognised scientific projects and a knowledge-based economy� In order to follow its mission the Foundation ensured support for research, and educational and technology programmes and projects, and fostered international cooperation within science and higher education� The support is provided through Calls for focused programmes with goals in line with the national documents for the development of science and higher education, as well as with the Strategic Plan of the Foundation�

Within its programmes, the Foundation funded a broad palette of initiatives in which young and creative individuals were recruited, trained and developed, especially internationally recognised researchers and experts, as well as those recognised in Croatia, in order to take over leading roles in research and development in fields where Croatia can develop a knowledge-based economy and that are recognised as national priorities�

The Foundation’s contribution to higher education and research during the last ten years is best illustrated by the number of 450 projects worth HRK70m that the Board accepted for funding�

It is very important to point out that the Foundation allocates its funds according to the criteria of the excellence of the applied project proposal and the project leader� Besides the excellence of the project proposal, within its programmes, the Foundation fosters the training and integration of doctoral students and young researchers into project activities�

Moreover, one of the strategic values that the Foundation promotes and values within its programmes is the establishment of collaboration and partnership between individuals, institutions and industry with the aim of improving the concurrency between research, technology and the economy in Croatia�

Croatian Science

Foundation

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Science Foundation which has enabled the funding of national projects conducted in cooperation with research groups from 30 European countries� In 2008 the Foundation joined the European Science Foundation as a full member which enabled the integration of Croatian researchers into the European Research Area�

In order to improve the internationalisation of the Foundation, the International Board was established in 2005, comprised of leading organisations in Europe�

The values that the Foundation promotes within its activities are transparency of procedure and equality of treatment� The application procedure of project proposals, as well as the conditions of the Call and the evaluation criteria, are published on the Foundation’s web page to be available to public� The Database of all funded projects is also publicly available and the review results are forwarded to applicants� The programme results, as well as basic information on funded projects, are published and available in the Foundation’s publications, and in printed and electronical Newsletters, and at workshops and round tables2� In order to present the programme results the Foundation has published three books created in cooperation with project leaders within the following programmes: Doctoral Studies, Joint Studies and Quality in Higher Education� The books were followed by workshops on the issues resulting from the projects�

By investing in the development of procedures and through continuous training the Board of the Foundation has ensured stable and successful work during the past ten years� The most important indicators of the operations of the Foundation are: the establishment of clear procedures that are publicly available to users, the development of a broad palette of programmes that enable the engagement of Croatian researchers in the European Research Area, as well as gaining the trust of researchers who apply to the Foundation in greater numbers each year�

2 The publications are available at http://www�hrzz�hr/

Programmeoffice,Opatija

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Programmes 2001-2011The Foundation’s programmes are the financial instrument which enables the realisation of the Foundation’s mission and strategic goals� They are announced by the Board and are entirely in accordance with the Strategic Plan and defined strategic areas� Also, they are developed in consultation with all the stakeholders of the Croatian research and higher education systems�

From its establishment, the Foundation’s fundamental task was to be quick and flexible in answering to the needs of the higher education and research systems, in accordance with the existing strategic documents� Therefore, after the adoption of the Strategic Plan for the period 2004-2008 3, the first programmes were launched in accordance with the needs of the higher education and research systems� Within these programmes, 23 Calls for proposals, including awards, have been announced up to the present day�

As the Foundation’s Strategic Plan puts an emphasis on the promotion of science, higher education and technological development, the first programme areas “Higher Education Reform” and “Brain Gain” were announced in 2004; then in the 2005, the “Training of Doctoral Students” programme was announced; in 2006 “Partnership in Basic Research”, “SCIENCE Award” and “International Programmes” were launched; and in 2008, a programme in the area “Sociocultural Transition from an Industrial to a Knowledge-Based Society” was designed�4

In 2011 the Foundation announced the new programmes “Research Projects” and “Collaborative Research Programmes” which are financed from the existing Foundation’s resources according to the criteria of excellence� In order for these programmes to be continued, the Foundation’s Strategic Plan for the period 2011-2015 needs to be approved and new resources be allocated to the Foundation, which are the prerequisites for setting up a competitive system of research funding in Croatia�

Within the strategic area Higher Education Reform, the Board defined the areas of higher education reform that demanded additional support, which are the programmes for doctoral studies, the promotion of student, teacher and administrative staff mobility (including mobility within the Republic of Croatia),

3 The Strategic Plan 2004-2008 is available at http://www�hrzz�hr/

4 The detailed results of the programmes are available in the Annual Reports at http://www�hrzz�hr/

Programmes 2001-2011

Higher Education Reform

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associate-degree colleges, academies, professional associations, government agencies and non-governmental organisations�

A Call for proposals for the Study Funding Models programme was announced in accordance with the first Strategic Plan, and was initiated in cooperation with the Council for Financing Scientific Activity and Higher Education of the Agency for Science and Higher Education (AZVO), in order to find the best model for funding undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students in Croatia�

The “Higher Education Reform” programme resulted in three publications: Doctoral Studies, Joint Studies, and Quality in Higher Education, and the workshops of the same titles, where project leaders and interested experts exchanged their experiences and opinions, are available in the form of Conclusions at the Foundation’s website�6

Considering that the international transfer of knowledge, as well as the mobility of researchers and academic staff, have a significant importance for higher education and research, the Brain Gain programme was one of the first programmes to be initiated, which ensured resources for facilitating the return of leading experts after they had improved their knowledge and skills abroad�

Visitor, Senior and Postdoc are the Foundation’s first individual grants� Announced in 2005, they are one of the Foundation’s first Calls for proposals� The Visitor programme enabled scientists from foreign institutions to spend some time on a scientific project that is conducted at a scientific institution in Croatia� The Senior programme enabled the employment of a professor or a recognized researcher at a Croatian university or scientific institute where he/she conducted research and participated in teaching� Croatian and foreign professors were eligible to apply�

The Postdoc programme, one of the Foundation’s most longstanding and most

6 The publications are available at http://www�hrzz�hr/

By initiating the “Higher Education Reform” programme, the Foundation funded 28 projects and therefore contributed to the launching of doctoral and joint studies, encouraged the development of quality assurance units, the establishment of education based on learning outcomes, and the elaboration of the integrated university model�

Brain Gain

establishing a system of higher education quality assurance, and the programme of joint studies on both national and international levels� Since it was estimated that there is not a single national model of doctoral studies, which is one of the prerequisites for the integration of Croatia in the European Research Area, a Call for proposals for the Development of PhD Programmes programme was announced at the end of 2004� Development of Institutional Quality Assurance Units is the Foundation’s second Call for proposals, with the goal of encouraging the development of institutions’ organisational units and mechanisms for quality assurance at universities and other institutions of higher education� The emphasis was on creating the institutional strategy for quality assurance and forming a national network for higher education quality assurance pursuant to Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area adopted at a ministerial conference in Bergen in 20055�

Development of Joint Studies - The Call for proposals strived to ensure the development of joint studies, especially to support the development of joint studies within the priority areas determined in the Strategic Plan for the period 2004-2008, which would enable students to acquire academic and cultural experience abroad and, also, provide an opportunity for higher education institutions for firm cooperation which would foster the further development of competences and resources�

Integrated University and Integrated Tertiary Education System - A Call for proposals was announced in accordance with the prescriptions of the Act on Science and Higher Education from 2003 which anticipated the integration of universities in several steps� The legal integration of universities in the Croatian legislative framework was expected to raise a series of questions, therefore the Foundation’s Board announced this programme in order to enable a thorough investigation of all aspects of integration�

In accordance with trends in other European countries, the Learning Outcomes-Based Higher Education programme was the instrument by which the Foundation was enabled to assert institutional policies for the enforcement of higher education based on learning outcomes at Croatian universities, public institutes, colleges,

5 The Bergen Communiqué is available at http://www�bologna-bergen2005�no/

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The Foundation has also recognised the importance of cooperation between science and the economy and, in 2005, as one of its first programmes, announced “Partnership in Basic Research”, a programme which encourages cooperation between scientific institutions and industry and entrepreneurship, seeking to attract industry investments in fundamental research, which is one of the important prerequisites for the development of Croatia� Within this programme, the Foundation financed relevant scientific research which can accelerate the development of new and existing companies, and also enhance opportunities for education and development at universities, as well as in industry and entrepreneurship�

Recognising that the promotion of scientific research in Croatia is only possible with the participation of Croatian scientists in the European Research Area, with instruments to encourage their mobility, the Foundation ensured the cooperation of scientists with foreign experts through the International Collaboration programme� The Foundation’s international cooperation received a considerable boost by being included in the European Science Foundation’s programmes, and the main instrument for cooperation with the ESF was the Support for Joining European Science Foundation Programmes programme� Within this programme, the Foundation funded projects applied to Research Networking Programmes (RNP) and European Collaborative Research Scheme Programmes (EUROCORES) Calls for proposals�

Furthermore, in 2006, an important collaboration with the European Molecular Biology Organization, EMBO, was launched by announcing the EMBO Installation Grants Call for proposals, within which leading scientists in the field of life sciences were enabled to establish laboratories in Croatia and further develop their careers within the European scientific community�

Twenty projects were funded in the “Partnership in Basic Research” programme and the Foundation ensured approximately HRK14�5m for their implementation, while the economic sector invested an additional HRK7m�

Partnershipin BasicResearch

InternationalCollaboration

popular Calls, has been, since 2005, enabling postdoctoral students working at Croatian scientific institutions to go to foreign institutions, as well as enabling postdoctoral students from foreign academic institutions and industry to work on a research project in Croatia�

The goal of the Homing Programme programme, which was open from 2006 to 2008, was to ensure leading experts, who have established an independent scientific career abroad, the infrastructural conditions to conduct their research in Croatia�

At the end of 2007, the Foundation announced the Installation Grants programme in order to encourage the independence of successful young researchers and the establishment of independent research groups at Croatian institutions lead by excellent young researchers�

As a result of the “Brain Gain” programme, and as an encouragement to further emphasise the importance and facilitation of the international exchange of scientists, the Foundation organised a roundtable held in December 2007 under the title “Mobility and Brain Gain”, where Croatian and foreign researchers exchanged their experiences�7

The Board considered quality postgraduate training as a prerequisite for encouraging the development of interesting and financially motivating careers for young professional researchers and , therefore, announced the Training of Doctoral Students programme in 2005� National Training Courses and Summer Schools for Doctoral Students, designed within this programme, strived to improve and raise the quality of doctoral studies by organising time-limited courses and summer schools as well as the Fellowships for Doctoral Students programme, which included personal fellowships for Croatian and foreign doctoral students that covered the stay and the research work abroad, or within Croatian institutions, which were also open in 2011 due to the strategic importance of supporting the mobility of PhD students�

7 The Conclusions of the round table are available at http://www�hrzz�hr/

“Brain Gain” is the Foundation’s second most successful programme in terms of number of funded projects� Within this programme, 127 projects were funded, and the number of 87 personal scholarships for postdoctoral students stands out, because it enabled Croatian researchers to work and to gain experience at a foreign institution and it also enabled foreign postdoctoral students to work at Croatian institutions� Furthermore, until today, the programme has resulted in setting up 12 laboratories of young researchers, and in the return of 11 renowned researchers from abroad�

The importance that the Foundation dedicates to this programme is evident from the largest number of financed projects� The Foundation supported 152 projects, out of which 131 scholarships were awarded to PhD students and enabled 127 young researchers or research assistants to broaden and improve their knowledge, who, after their research stay at foreign institutions, returned to their home institutions in Croatia� At the same time, 4 young foreign researchers participated in projects conducted at Croatian scientific institutions�

Training of Doctoral Students

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Due to the importance of collaborative research in the field of economic, social, political and humanistic sciences, which would enable society to respond to civilization’s advances that become manifest with the transformation into a knowledge-based society, in accordance with the Foundation’s first Strategic Plan, in 2007, a Call for proposals was launched in the strategic area Sociocultural Transition from an Industrial into a Knowledge-Based Society� Given the fact that systematic terminology is one of the basic prerequisites of every internationally recognized language, and that within the framework of access negotiations with the European Union numerous documents are translated in areas for which the Croatian language has no terminology, a Call for proposals for the Development of Croatian Professional Terminology programme was announced� With this programme, the Foundation supported the initiative of the Council for Standard Croatian Language Norm and provided the means for creating the necessary prerequisites to thoroughly examine the terminology of certain professions and to develop the necessary forms for its construction, systematisation and continuous review�

In 2011, with the continuation of successful and necessary programmes for the scientific community, in order to meet the needs and challenges of the Croatian scientific community, the Foundation launched new programmes, Research Projects and Collaborative Research Programmes, designed to support basic research and centres of excellence that would further increase the competitiveness in the system of scientific research� With Research Projects, the Foundation supports research groups engaged in international competitive issues whose leaders have been recognized for their scientific achievements, while Collaborative Research Programmes encourages the development and networking of research groups that can create internationally competitive programmes, and creating prerequisites for the development of centres of excellence� With the launch of these competitive

page 28

9 The project results are available at http://struna�ihjj�hr/

As a result of this programme, 14 projects of development of professional terminology were funded� The systematic exploration of the terminology of individual professions and the best proposed terms and definitions will be available to the academic and wider community on the e-Struna base9, whose development is lead by the national coordinator of the programme, the Institute of Croatian Language and Linguistics�

Sociocultural Transition from an

Industrial into a Knowledge-Based Society

Collaborative Research

Programmes

Research Projects

In 2008, the Foundation joined European Social Survey,8 an intercultural European project launched by the ESF, which involves the European Commission and national foundations of individual countries� European Social Survey is a project of ongoing monitoring of changes in socio-political attitudes and values of the citizens of European countries� Croatian scientists gained an insight into the flow of social changes and a comparison between Croatia and other European countries was enabled�  

In order to strengthen cooperation between Croatian and foreign scientists and to foster the development of joint research projects, the International Collaborative Workshops programme was launched within which the Foundation supported the organisation and implementation of international collaborative workshops�

In order to emphasize the importance of the involvement of students in research work and awards as well as to highlight the best students who had published their first scientific papers during their studies, in 2005 the Foundation launched a special programme in collaboration with the daily newspaper Novi list, called SCIENCE Award� The award continued for five years, from 2006 until 2010, and was very popular among candidates� Also, within “SCIENCE Award” a Call was launched and developed titled “SCIENCE Award Sculpture Solutions”, which encouraged students of art academies from all universities to propose their solutions for the sculpture awarded to all “SCIENCE Award” winners�

8 The research results are available at http://ess�nsd�uib�no/

Thirty five (35) projects were funded with various instruments of international cooperation, of which the greatest interest of Croatian scientists was shown for the Research Networking Programmes of the European Science Foundation, within which 18 projects were funded� The most significant resources were invested in research projects within the EUROCORES programme and in projects for establishing laboratories with EMBO grants�

During these five years, 15 prizes were awarded to students, as well as 4 to students from art academies, and because the programme emphasis was on the presentation of the importance of involving students in research, all participants of the competition, especially the prize winners and their mentors, were introduced to the public in the campaign by Novi list�

SCIENCE Award

page 30 page 31

programmes, a new system for evaluating projects was designed that relies on the assessment by foreign experts and by Scientific Committees whose members have been appointed on the basis of international tender�

10 The data on the funded projects are available in the Database of Projects at http://epp�hrzz�hr/financirani_projekti

In accordance with the needs of scientific institutions, national strategy and its own strategy, the Foundation has, in the first decade of its work, or during the six years of tendering, financed more than four hundred and fifty projects�10 The largest number of projects were funded within the “Brain Gain” and “Training of Doctoral Students” programmes, and the biggest funds were invested in the “Partnership in Basic Research” programme�

page 32 page 33

This is not an easy task, given the many specifics that must be taken into account during the processing of project proposals within a certain bid for proposals: in scientific programmes, it is to determine whether the proposal carries the potential to establish a centre of excellence; and in individual grants, it is excellence, and compatibility with national priorities in scientific research, and thus with the priorities of the Foundation�

The organisation and the implementation of the evaluation process mainly depends on the objectives of the Call, the type of financial instrument (for example, research projects, fellowships, networks, collaboration with industry, etc�) and their variants (thematically specific programmes or open programmes, funding of breakthrough research, mono-disciplinary or multi-disciplinary focus)�

All these possibilities require the adjustment of evaluation procedures and criteria so that the evaluation process is better adapted to the specific needs of the programme� However, despite the particularities arising from different types of competitions and programmes, there are certain fundamental principles in the conduct of the evaluation process used by various organisations as the implementation guideline for each evaluation process�

Projects funded by the Foundation must be of extremely high scientific, technical and managerial quality in the context of the Call, but also aligned with the Foundation’s strategic goals and mission� All policies and procedures relating to the preparation and evaluation of project proposals must be explained in detail, be public and available in good time to all interested candidates� Project proposals are evaluated based on the same, consistent and clear benchmarks, and evaluation results should be available to applicants in order that the feedback can be used to improve future project applications� All project proposals in the evaluation process are treated equally and all persons involved in the processing and evaluation are bound to respect and preserve the confidentiality of all materials as well as the identity of the evaluation experts�

Furthermore, as a basic factor and in order to ensure the integrity of the implementation of the evaluation process, the Foundation raises conflict of interest issues� The Foundation provides basic principles to minimize any potential conflict of interest, and according to which the conflict might be resolved� Recommendations for the avoidance of conflicts of interest, which are an integral part of the Evaluation Manual, give specific instructions on how to avoid or resolve these issues at the level of the appointment of experts for evaluation, contacting experts, conducting assessment and deciding on funding�

The Croatian Science Foundation has developed the evaluation of project proposals on the principles of quality, transparency, equality of treatment, efficiency and speed, confidentiality, and respect for ethical principles�

Assessment of Project Proposals In order to achieve its fundamental purpose, which is the development of science, higher education and technology in the Republic of Croatia, the Foundation has, from its beginning, paid special attention to the development of a transparent and effective system of evaluation�

With the amendments to the Act on the Croatian Science Foundation11 from July 2010, a major role in the implementation of the evaluation process was given to a new body of the Foundation – the Scientific Committees� Accordingly, in early 2011, the evaluation procedure was adjusted and a new Evaluation Manual12 was developed�

Pursuant to the new Act, the Board formed five Scientific Committees, each of which had five members - two researchers from Croatia, a scientist who works outside Croatia and is a Croatian citizen, and two scientists who work outside Croatia and are foreign citizens� The members of the Scientific Committees were chosen through an international tender, and their duties included conducting the evaluation of the proposed projects (including scientific peer review), proposing projects for funding to the Board, proposing new programmes or adapting the existing programmes, monitoring programme implementation, and financing scientific research and proposing the application of research outcomes�

In its work, the Foundation keeps pace with European best practice, continuously developing and enhancing existing procedures, with the primary objective of supporting scientific excellence� Supporting scientific excellence depends on the quality of procedures through which project proposals are selected for funding� This demanding task is the biggest challenge faced by all individuals and organisations involved in this area�

Effective and independent scientific evaluation which enables the determination of scientific quality and project proposals’ priorities is the basis of all the Foundation’s activities� Therefore, the development of the evaluation process is extremely important, since during the selection of projects which are to be funded, strict, clear rules should be set that allow the sifting of the best projects whose topics of research are aligned with national priorities and the strategic priorities of the Foundation�

11 The Act on Foundation is available at http://narodne-novine�nn�hr/

12 The Evaluation Manual is available at http://www�hrzz�hr/

Assessment of Project Proposals

page 34 page 35

In general, in the implementation of the evaluation process, the Foundation is lead by the principles and procedures that apply in similar organisations, particularly the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the European Science Foundation� The Foundation, as well as most other European organisations involved in funding scientific research, bases its evaluation procedure on international peer review�

With the aim of analysing different practices used by European countries during the implementation of the evaluation process, the European Science Foundation (ESF), which brings together 78 member organizations that are financing or conducting scientific research in over 30 countries, launched a forum of member organizations on the subject of peer review in which the Croatian Science Foundation also participated�

After analysing different practices used by European organisations for the evaluation of project proposals, the European Science Foundation, in March 2011, issued the European Peer Review Guide13 which integrates different evaluation practices into coherent procedures� When creating a new evaluation procedure, the Croatian Science Foundation has taken into account the principles and recommendations of the aforementioned Guide�

The evaluation process conducted by the Foundation is competitive, involves a comparison of project proposals submitted for each Call, and takes into account the conditions of the Call, the Foundation’s priorities established by the Strategic Plan, and the scientific quality and feasibility of the project proposals� With the acquisition of its own experience, and by participating in discussions on evaluation on a European and global level, the Foundation is continually developing and improving its operational procedures to ensure an effective system of evaluation that will allow the sifting of the best project proposals and support the development of science based on excellence�

13 The European Peer Review Guide is available at http://www�esf�org/

page 36 page 37

SCIENCE Award

The importance of encouraging the development of research careers is reflected in a special project of the Croatian Science Foundation and the daily newspaper Novi list, entitled “SCIENCE Award”, which is designed for students at Croatian universities who have published a research paper during their studies� The Call for proposals for the “SCIENCE Award” was announced five years in a row, from 2005 until 2010, with the aim of identifying, awarding and promoting students and to encourage students to become involved early in science� In addition to highlighting the importance of rewarding students who have chosen to engage in scientific work, one of the important dimensions of the “SCIENCE Award” was informing the wider public about the results of the scientific work of students at Croatian universities, which was organised by Novi list�

SCIENCE Award was awarded for three scientific areas – natural and biomedical sciences, social and humanistic sciences, and technical and biotechnical sciences. The Foundation awarded young scientists with a cash prize of HRK20,000, and Novi list awarded them with a Macintosh laptop and a mobile phone� The mentors of the winning students were also rewarded in order to emphasise the importance of their role�

Within the “SCIENCE Award” Call for proposals, from 2006, the SCIENCE Award Sculpture Solutions Call for proposals was announced, which sought preliminary sculpture designs which honoured the winners of the “SCIENCE Award” as a lasting memory� From the first year, when the Call was intended for students of the Academy of Applied Arts from the University of Rijeka, this contest has grown into a national competition, within which the academies from four Croatian universities (Osijek, Rijeka, Split and Zagreb) collaborated�

The best-rated design was awarded the sum of HRK5,000, and in a strong competition in the 2010 Call for proposals, the three best designs were awarded gift vouchers for artist’s equipment�

The five-year “SCIENCE Award” project, and the great interest among students, mentors and artists, demonstrated the exceptional potential of young Croatian scientists and artists, and ensured winners much deserved public attention�

SCIENCE Award Sculpture 2010.

Development of Research Careers Fostering the development of quality young researchers and their systematic training is a prerequisite for excellence and innovation in scientific research and, therefore, the potential of research in Croatia and Europe lies in the recognition and promotion of their work�

One of the important elements in the development of research careers is the mobility of researchers� In this context, cross-sector and geographical mobility differ, but both have an effect on research careers� The European Commission states that the great obstacle to mobility, especially cross-sector mobility, is the non-recognition of acquired professional experience and, therefore, a document named Researchers in the European Research Area: One Profession, Multiple Careers14 was created in order to overcome existing barriers and encourage mobility�

On the trail of the conclusions of the European Commission are the conclusions of the roundtable “Mobility and Brain Drain” held by the Foundation on December 7, 2007 at which the scientists funded within the Foundation’s mobility programmes highlighted administrative and organisational challenges associated with their stay in Croatia, as well as the lack of systematic support to resolve these challenges�15 In order to ensure the transfer of knowledge and skills the partnership of science and industry is particularly important, but there is no system that would enable this kind of mobility� Responding to the need to link science and the economy, the Croatian Science Foundation, through “Partnership in Basic Research”, enabled the employment of young researchers who are working on projects that are carried out in partnership with the economy and industry�

Research competences acquired through geographical mobility are identified at the level of universities and institutes in Croatia� The Croatian Science Foundation has developed programmes to encourage the development of research careers, and the same programmes enable and encourage geographic mobility� Those programmes are “Fellowships for Doctoral Students”, “Postdoc”, “Installation Grants” and “SCIENCE Award”�

These programmes are described below in more detail as well as the Foundation’s experiences in carrying out these programmes� The results of the survey conducted in 2011 among the users of personal fellowships within the programmes “Fellowships for Doctoral Students” and “Postdoc” are presented�

14 The Document is available at http://www�eucen�eu/

15 The conclusions of the round table are available at http://www�hrzz�hr/

Development of Research

Careers

page 38 page 39

To further encourage the mobility of young researchers, the Board, in 2005, announced two programmes to encourage the incoming and outgoing mobility of young scientists for a period of 3-12 months� In this way, the Board specifically effected an increase in the mobility of young researchers with means available to all Croatian and foreign researchers through a competitive evaluation system�

The “Fellowships for Doctoral Students” programme supports doctoral students employed at Croatian scientific institutions (teaching assistants and research assistants) to go to a foreign institution and doctoral students employed at foreign institutions to work on a scientific research project at Croatian scientific institutions� The “Postdoc” Call for proposals is designed for postdoctoral students under the age of 35 employed at Croatian scientific institutions wishing to go to foreign institutions, as well as for those from foreign academic institutions and industry wishing to relocate and work on scientific projects in Croatia�

The mobility of researchers is important for knowledge circulation and the strengthening of research centres that can be developed on the basis of acquired knowledge and new technologies when researchers return to national institutions� On the other hand, the mobility of young researchers from less developed countries enables the brain drain that does not contribute to knowledge circulation and thus further weakens the scientific potential of those countries� Generally, the factors that affect the incoming mobility are the quality and reputation of the scientific research in a certain country, the available resources, and language barriers� At the same time, the lack of opportunities for employment of researchers or for advancement in their own country are an incentive for outgoing mobility�

In the past twelve Calls for proposals for the “Postdoc” programme, the number of applications grew at an average of 12% per Call, and for the 10 Calls for proposals for the “Fellowships for Doctoral Students” programme the average increase was 26%� For this reason, for each of these programmes, two application deadlines were announced each year�

These programmes award personal scholarships which cover travel costs, as well as the additional monthly supplements for spouse and children� Scholarship amounts vary depending on the country to which candidates go and they amount to HRK6,750 - HRK9,750 per month for the “Postdoc” programme, or HRK5,500 - HRK7,500 per month for the “Fellowships for Doctoral Students” programme�

The percentage of project acceptance is 67% for the “Fellowships for Doctoral Students” programme and 69% for the “Postdoc” programme, and until the present day, within both programmes HRK12.3m were invested to fund over 200 scholarships for young Croatian and foreign scientists� Since the above mentioned programmes are the only national programmes of this type, and considering the number of their users, one can conclude that these programmes have made a significant contribution to the mobility of young scientists�

From the first announced Calls for proposals until the present day, the interest in the “Fellowships for Doctoral Students” and “Postdoc” programmes has been steadily increasing�

Fellowships for Doctoral Students and Postdoc

The mobility of young researchers is one of the grounds for the establishment of the European Research Area (ERA)� The document Mobility Strategy for the European Research Area16 lists several reasons why mobility is an instrument through which research results can be optimised� These reasons include: improving the quantity and quality of training for researchers through access to the best opportunities, networking and the strengthening of international cooperation, as well as cooperation between science and the economy, knowledge and technology transfer between the various stakeholders of the European research and innovation system, encouraging the excellence of young researchers and the creation of internationally recognized centres of excellence that will attract the best researchers from all around the world, the distribution of research excellence in various European regions, a more effective dissemination of research results by linking competencies and experiences, as well as an optimised use of research infrastructure�

In the context of the mobility of young researchers, it is important to distinguish between long-term mobility related to resettlement in another country for a few months to several years, and short-term mobility, which includes a short visit or a particular programme activity� Also, inward mobility, which involves attracting foreign researchers, differs from outward mobility, which refers to researchers going abroad� The mobility of young researchers includes doctoral and postdoctoral students, as well as all researchers in the early stages of their careers�

According to the European Parliament data (Policy Department, Economic and Scientific Policy) from 200917, the Republic of Croatia is a country with an average incoming and outgoing mobility (Table 1�)�

16 The document is available at http://ec�europa�eu/

17 The Document is available at http://www�morebrain�net/

Table 1. Levels of research mobility

Low Medium High

Inward

mobility

BG, GR, PL, DK, Si, HU, PT, LV, IS, CZ, LT, IT, SV, TR, EE, ES, RO

IR, NL, AT, NO, HR, SE, CY LU, CH, UK, IE, DE, FR

Outward mobility

BG, PL, Si, HU, UK, IE, CZ, NO, TR, EE

LU, DK, PT, AT, IT, SV, HR, SE, ES

GR, CH, IR, NL, LV, IS, LT, CY, RO, DE, FR

page 40 page 41

Similarly, the highest percentage of candidates from both programmes considered their stay abroad to be extremely important for the development of their academic careers, which is consistent with the general objects relating to mobility of young researchers prescribed within international documents�18

As one of the main goals of these programmes was the transfer of acquired knowledge and technology to the home institution, one of the questions dealt with this issue� Surprisingly, the candidates mentioned this dimension as the most troubling in the context of the implementation of these programmes, given that a significant number of candidates considered that the transfer of knowledge and technology was not enabled (or was inadequately enabled) upon their return to the home institution�

One of the tasks of the Foundation is to facilitate the integration of Croatia into the ERA, and programmes that encourage the mobility of young researchers are certainly an important step in gaining experience and building the careers of young researchers� These initiatives of the Foundation are becoming better known and accepted in the scientific community, and the users’ experience demonstrates that these are valuable programmes� Also, by investing in scholarships for doctoral and postdoctoral students, the Foundation has contributed to an increase in the research potential of Croatian universities and institutes and the establishment of new international cooperation and networks� For this reason, these programmes are incorporated into the Foundation’s new Strategic Plan19 which is the basis of its work up to the year 2015�

18 The documents The European Charter for Researchers and The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers are available at http://ec�europa�eu/

19 When approved by the Croatian Parliament, the Strategic Plan for the period 2011-2015 will be available at http://www�hrzz�hr/

The biggest advantage of participating in the “Fellowship for

Doctoral Students” programme lies in providing Croatian doctoral

students with an opportunity to work in excellent foreign research

laboratories� This experience is valuable in future work� In my

case, the scholarship has enabled me to perform tests that are not

possible in the Republic of Croatia�

Ana Sušac, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb

The Foundation’s funding largely supports young scientists and their mentors in more active scientific work and collaboration with colleagues in other (preferably international) scientific institutions� Doctoral students thus gain valuable experience and knowledge in their scientific area, in addition to familiarising themselves with the ways in which science now operates on a global level, while building their scientific career�Leo Škec, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Rijeka

The “Postdoc” programme provides an opportunity for

Croatian scientists to stay at foreign institutions� Or, in my

case, the Foundation gave me the opportunity to stay in

Croatia after my doctorate and a longer stay abroad, and

to renew and strengthen collaborations with colleagues

in the country�

Nikola Regent, Ph.D., University of Exeter

During August 2011, all the beneficiaries of the “Fellowships for Doctoral Students” and “Postdoc” programmes were invited to participate in a brief electronic survey on their experiences and other determinants of participation in these programmes� The questionnaire was answered by 80% of contacted users for the “Fellowships for Doctoral Students” programme and 83% of contacted users for the “Postdoc” programme� The information collected in the survey shows that the majority of the beneficiaries used their scholarships at the end of their studies, during the last semester�

Since these programmes support the candidates’ visits to institutions around the world, it was a special interest of this survey to determine the ways in which candidates choose the hosting institutions� The analysis of the responses delivered by the users of “Fellowships for Doctoral Students” programme pointed out the similar numerical relationship between candidates who choose the host institution based on the already established cooperation with their mentor or the institution of employment with a particular research group or other institution and the candidates who independently establish the desired contacts� A fifth of the candidates (19�2%) emphasized the importance of quality development of the research theme, stating that they had no previous collaboration with the contacted organisations or individuals, but their previous scientific work represented a desirable environment for the candidate on the desired research topic� The geographic distance of collaborators was shown to be quite irrelevant given that no candidate singled it out as a relevant factor in the choice of the host institution� Surprisingly, a relatively small percentage of PhD students opted for the best research group in their field of work�

With postdoctoral students, the situation is somewhat different� More frequently, the candidates independently choose the institutions, and the quality of the research group becomes an important criterion so the groups that are best in the area are chosen for postdoctoral training�

The users of the programmes “Fellowships for Doctoral Students” and “Postdoc” believe that a stay abroad is important for conducting quality research, which can be explained by the access to knowledge and technology that are not always available at the home institution, as well as gaining international and work experience at another institution (Figure 1�)�

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

100

completely irrelevant nor important, nor irrelevant

somewhat important very important

Fellowships Postdoc

Figure 1. Opinion of “Fellowships for Doctoral Students” and “Postdoc” programme users on the importance of staying abroad for conducting high-quality research

page 42 page 43

22 The data on winners and projects is available in the Database of Projects at http://epp�hrzz�hr/financirani_projekti

elaborated assessment procedure, which includes experts from Croatia as well as from foreign countries, and the final grade of the procedure is based on the previous achievements of the applicants, the quality of the project proposal to establish independent research careers, and the quality of institutional support�

The assessment procedure followed the division into areas within which, in the first three Calls for proposals, grants were awarded within six scientific fields - one grant per social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, technical sciences, biotechnology, and biomedical sciences� In this way, competitiveness was ensured within each of the research areas and also an even distribution of resources by scientific areas was guaranteed�

From 2008 to 2010, the Foundation received 45 applications, 14 in 2008, 18 in 2009, and 13 in 2010, and within each Call four grants were awarded due to the lack of quality applications in some scientific areas� The greatest interest in, and competition for, the “Installation Grants” programme is evident in the area of natural sciences, for which 23 applications were received, while the lowest number of applications was submitted in the field of humanities, for which only one application was received in three years�22 In the last four years, since the programme was announced, three grants were awarded in the field of natural and technical sciences, two in the fields of biomedicine and biotechnology, and one in the field of social sciences and humanities�

The “Installation Grants” programme was crucial for the establishment of the Laboratory for

Experimental Psychology at the University of Rijeka� The Foundation’s funds enabled the purchase

of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment for the research of perceptual and cognitive functions� The

project has ensured the continuity of research activities that have led to some interesting discoveries

and publications in prestigious international journals� Also, the project has provided the conditions for

co-operation with a wide circle of people interested in the study of the human mind�

Assistant Professor Dražen Domijan, Ph.D., Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka

Besides improving the computing infrastructure, we used the Foundation’s support to organise stays of young foreign scientists at the Faculty of Science and to establish long-term cooperation with related research groups at Peking University and the University of Thessaloniki� Assistant Professor Tamara Nikšić, Ph.D., Physics Department, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb

Installation Grants

“Installation Grants” is a programme first announced in 2007� It was developed within the Brain Gain strategic area in order to ensure the acceleration of the establishment of independent research careers of young Croatian and foreign scientists in Croatia, offering the most successful scientists the possibility to establish research groups that deal with modern and internationally competitive issues� The main goal of the programme is to contribute to the modernisation of the Croatian higher education and research system by encouraging young scientists to continue research careers in Croatia, as well as increasing the competitiveness of Croatian researchers in the European Research Area�

Modelled according to similar European programmes in which the Foundation has participated, such as the “European Network on Research Careers” (ENRC)20 and EMBO “Installation Grants”21, these instruments provide the group leader and his associates with an opportunity to work on a topic of international significance, and contribute to the advancement of Croatian research institutions by funding the most promising scientists who are engaged in research fields of strategic importance to the institution� The importance of international recognition of the “Installation Grants” research topics is further stated in requesting the grant winner, after the second year, to apply the project to international initiatives in which Croatia financially participates, such as FP7, ESF, EMBO, HERA or COST�

In the three previous Calls for proposals, in 2008, 2009 and 2010, twelve three-year projects by leading young scientists were funded, with a total amount of approximately HRK10�8m� In addition to the Foundation’s funds, these young researchers received the support of the institution where the research was conducted, which was in accordance with the basic requirements of the programme� This seeks to provide institutional support for the work of the emerging research group, both during the funded project lifetime and also after its completion�

One of the important conditions of the “Installation Grants” is the employment of a research novice, which ensures the transfer of specialised knowledge and the successful development of experts in internationally recognized issues� The competitiveness of this Foundation’s programme is ensured by a strictly

20 The information on the network is available at http://www�dfg�de/

21 The information about the programme is available at http://www�embo�org/

page 44 page 45

As a winner of the “Installation Grant”, I am able to conduct research that is noticed on an international level� Thanks to the project funded by the Foundation, I decided to relocate from Germany and continue my scientific career in Croatia� The project enabled me to network with colleagues from other European and non-European countries, present my research results at international conferences, and had many other positive effects� The programme provided me with a further scientific qualification in a fairly short period of time�

Assistant Professor Marijana Kresić, Ph.D., Linguistics Department, University of Zadar

Through the “Installation Grants” programme, I have equipped the laboratory with a

micro-reactor system that significantly increased our competitiveness when applying for

projects� I received the confirmation of the above mentioned when, as a member of the

consortium, I won the project within the FP-6 network ERA-NET Industrial Biotechnology�

Five papers published in international journals, eleven participations at international

conferences, one invited lecture at an international conference, 4 defended diploma theses

and the development of two doctorates, are only some of the activities funded through the

Installation Grants programme (which enabled my promotion to the title of full professor)�

Professor Bruno Zelić, Ph.D., Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology,

University of Zagreb

Twenty-eight applications received in the fourth and last Call for proposals at the end of 2011 bear witness to an increase in the number of applications, and the great interest of young researchers in this programme� The increase in the number of applications was achieved despite changes to the number of grants so that, due to the reduction of the Foundation’s available funds, only three grants are awarded annually - one for the natural sciences and biomedicine, one for biotechnology and technical sciences, and one for social sciences and humanities�

Since this programme focuses on competitiveness within a particular scientific field, “Installation Grants” are, according to the assessment criteria and procedure, similar to the Foundation’s competitive programmes that finance distinguished researchers, such as “Research Projects” and “Collaborative Research Programmes”� This programme enables only young researchers whose projects received the best grades in the international review, during the three-year funding period, to establish their laboratories and research groups, and thus giving them the opportunity to compete for national and European projects� Because of the importance of the independence of young researchers and the competitiveness of the science system, the Foundation’s Strategic Plan provides for an increase in funding for this programme in order to award grants to a greater number of scientists, but the possibility of investing in the programme will depend on the funds allocated to the Foundation in the coming years�

page 46 page 47

In order to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and the creation of the necessary competencies for applied scientific research in entrepreneurship and industry, this programme highlights the importance of training young experts� Therefore, one of the conditions of the programme is the recruitment of doctoral students who will participate in the implementation of project activities� The education and training of young scientists, and guiding them towards industry and entrepreneurship, allows the creation of new jobs outside academia and the hiring of PhDs in a non-academic sector� Numerous European documents25 emphasise the importance of inter-sector mobility, and the mobility of scientists in acquiring competencies that are important for industry and applied research� Trained in this way, the young scientists are qualified to work on applied research whose results can be to deliver a ready-made product for the needs of industry and the economy�

Apart from the evidence of co-financing collaborative research through direct cash deposits from industry to the scientific institution’s account, in the assessment of the project proposals’ scientific value, originality and innovation, as well as the proposed research methodology, are taken into account� In addition, during the time in which the project is implemented, which is limited to a maximum of 3 years, active co-operation and flexibility in relation to the research challenges, as well as the education of young scientists, are expected and assessed� The projects selected for funding are chosen through rigorous reviews based solely on estimates of foreign reviewers, experts in the area of the proposed research�

In 2011, the Foundation conducted a brief survey with leaders of the funded projects, in order to obtain feedback about their experience in implementing the project, and 68% of project leaders responded to the survey� The survey results show that all project leaders plan on continuing cooperation with their industrial partner institutions after the completion of the project activities and the funding of the Foundation, which will ensure the continuity of the project� Only one project leader

25 The documents Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Innovation Union and Green Paper on a Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation Funding are available at http://ec�europa�eu/; the Lisbon Declaration is available at http://www�eua�be/

Since the programme was launched, 20 projects have been supported, primarily within the field of technical sciences� In the field of technical sciences nine projects were financed, six projects within biomedical sciences and five projects were financed in the field of natural sciences�

Cooperation of Science and IndustryIn order to attract investment in scientific research conducted at Croatian universities and public institutes from industry and businesses, as well as other extra-budgetary sources of financing, including foreign foundations or institutions, the Board launched the programme “Partnership in Basic Research” in 2005�

Given the need to increase investment in scientific research and to link scientific research with industry, this programme develops a model of co-funding project costs in the ratio of 70:30, and from 2011, the ratio changed to 50:50� In this way, the Foundation provides the initial conditions and incentives for scientists to achieve partnerships with industry and thereby contributes to the implementation of scientific research in industry and facilitates the establishment of partnerships between the two institutions to conduct research�

And at a level of the European Union, research, education, economy and entrepreneurship are considered to be factors of economic value, and are measured in terms of innovation and business results�24

Therefore, the goal of this programme was to establish a link between scientific research that can accelerate the development of new and existing companies by creating new knowledge and technologies that will enable the economic development of Croatia� From the project proposal preparation, this programme encourages collaboration from the planning of research activities that will lead to an increase in research activities in companies or the capacities of research institutes� In addition to this, scientists are given the chance to develop new perspectives, experiences and networking, and the economy is given the additional incentive to participate in the education and involvement of scientists in the development of projects�

24 The document Investing in Innovation Beyond 2014 is available at www�eit�europa�eu

Since innovation and scientific research are the foundations of economic development, it is necessary to ensure cooperation and to create a link between innovation, on the one hand, and economic activities, on the other�23

Cooperation of Science and

Industry

23 The document EUROPE 2020: A Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth is available at http://europa�eu/

page 48 page 49

The model foreseen by the “Partnership in Basic Research” is very convenient� Because of the direct financial investment of the industrial partner in a range of issues, and in preparing and conducting the project, all participants take the project very seriously and responsibly� At the same time, a goal or a “target” is determined at the beginning of the research that contributes to the development of the Croatian economy and, in my profession, this is typically a product (material) or an improved technology (process, formulation)�

Professor Ante Jukić, Ph.D., Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb

who responded to the survey expressed doubt in the continuation of project activities because of problems with the business of the partner institution�

Generally, project leaders report that all the objectives set out by this programme are important for the realisation of this type of project, and their average estimates are very high� Project leaders estimate that the achievement of all goals set by the programme are extremely important, especially the collaboration between research institutions and industry, and the private and public sectors�

Although they do not report on significant difficulties in implementing project activities, major difficulties are associated with adapting research competencies for the development of the economy and the possibility of obtaining jobs outside academic institutions� In this context, only 33% of project leaders reported that they had no difficulty in adapting research competencies for economic development�

From the perspective of entrepreneurs, the realisation of partnerships through this programme provides, in addition to the security of the Foundation’s funding, independent expert review that follows the progress of the project and the financial management of the project� It is important to emphasize the feedback of this programme for the funding of future research due to the fact that, in case of profit on a project funded by the Foundation, the percentage of future profits from scientific and technological discovery is established in a special contract signed between the project and the Foundation, and this percentage may not be less than 10% of profits�

Given the need to strengthen the economy and the knowledge-based society, the expectation of the Board is that the resources for this programme will increase, as is stated in the Strategic Plan for 2011 – 2015� The goal is to ensure a free flow of knowledge and competent experts between academic and non-academic institutions, and this programme provides the first step in establishing such a partnership�

With respect to the terms and goals of the programme, it is certainly important to emphasize that more than 40 doctoral students were involved in these projects, either directly (in that they received a salary from the Foundation during the time that the project was conducted and wrote a PhD thesis within the project) or indirectly, by participating in project activities, and so it is expected that their careers will continue to involve collaboration with industry and the economy, which further enables the achievement of the goals of this programme, which is to increase the number of companies engaged in research and development�

page 50 page 51

However, despite the lack of adequate investment in scientific research, the Foundation has, through the “Installation Grants” and “Partnership in Basic Research” programmes, as well as through the launching of “Research Projects” and “Collaborative Research Programmes” in 2011, offered leading Croatian scientists the possibility to compete for funds according to international evaluation criteria which are developed based on the experiences of similar European institutions, where the evaluation procedure is based on peer review and the work of international scientific committees� In addition, through financial participation in international initiatives such as EMBO Installation Grants and the programmes of the European Science Foundation28, Croatian scientists were provided with the opportunity to compete for international support and cooperation in prestigious international projects�

28 The information of the programmes are available at http://www�hrzz�hr/

With the launching of the competitive programmes, “Research Projects” and “Collaborative Research Programmes”, along with the inevitable and necessary funding of young scientists and the cooperation with the economy under an equally competitive system, the Foundation will continue to persist in its efforts to bring the level of scientific research closer to European models, which is one of the important measures for ensuring economic prosperity�

Competitive Research Funding SystemThe Foundation’s backbone is the screening of best projects according to pre-defined criteria, which are determined by the Strategic Plan, the evaluation procedure, and the conditions of the Call, with the criterion of excellence as a guideline to all screening activities� Since its establishment, the Foundation’s work is based on the European tradition of scientific research funding, especially in institutions with a long tradition of independent funding of competitive scientific research, for example the German Research Foundation and the Swiss National Science Foundation�

The Strategic Plan for the next five-year period brings the Foundation’s funding models even closer to European models since competitive principles of national investments in research allow the development of excellent research groups gathered in centres of excellence, which are essential prerequisites for the inclusion of a growing number of Croatian scientists in the competitive area of European and world research�

The experience of the European Research Area has shown that, without nationally competitive programmes, conducted by an independent institution with an independent international evaluation system, such as the Croatian Science Foundation, it is not possible to select outstanding national scientific forces that would be competitive on an international level�26

Although there is an existing awareness of the importance of research investment and innovation, as a prerequisite for economic strength and the country’s prosperity, as well as the preservation of the cultural values of society, top-level science funding in Croatia has not yet been fully implemented in practice in the manner outlined, primarily due to lack of funds and a failure to comply with the defined set of plans�27

26 The document Contribution of the ERC Scientific Council to the Consultation on the Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation Funding is available at http://erc�europa�eu/

27 Action Plan to Encourage the Absorptive Capacity of the Republic of Croatia is available at http://public�mzos�hr/default�aspx

Competitive Research Funding System

Therefore, the existence of a stable national system of application evaluation and screening that is comparable to European funding systems, prepares the entire scientific community to apply for available EU funds, as well as to collaborate with foreign groups�

page 52 page 53

Challenges in the Next DecadeThe challenges that the Foundation is expected to face in the following period are related to its position in the system of scientific research funding in the Republic of Croatia, and to its role in providing mechanisms for accelerating the development of scientific research in areas of national strategic importance� In the following period, the Foundation will continue to achieve its fundamental mission and purpose of supporting research, higher education and technology programmes and projects, as well as supporting international cooperation in the field of science and higher education, following principles of transparent and expeditious work, and ensuring independent and expert review�

Call procedure, evaluation and the funding of competitive, top quality research can only be conducted by an institution independent of the government which disposes of distinctive and well-defined evaluation procedures and an independent body that implements this process� In 2011, the Foundation made a significant step forward in ensuring an independent and expert evaluation procedure with the formation of scientific committees, which was also a legal requirement�

Following an international bid, twenty-five scientists from twelve different countries act on five Scientific Committees�

Moreover, ever since it launched its first programmes, the Foundation has taken care to ensure transparency in the evaluation process in that all the procedures and evaluation forms are publicly available� Procedures for avoiding and resolving conflicts of interest at all levels of evaluation are developed and described, and peer review is conducted by international experts� The independence of the review process, a high level of expertise, as well as a procedure which bears comparison with similar European institutions, and its constant improvement, remain the Foundation’s important tasks�

Amendments to the Act on the Foundation from July 201029 focused the Foundation’s work towards funding according to national priority issues� While the Strategic Plan for the period 2011-201530 identifies nine strategic priorities, it will be necessary to adapt them to national policies and defined priorities� Investing in national strategic

29 The Act on the HRZZ is available at http://narodne-novine�nn�hr/

30 When approved by the Croatian Parliament, the Strategic Plan 2011-2015 will be available at http://www�hrzz�hr/

Challenges in the Next Decade

page 54 page 55

is the Foundation’s goal in the future, especially considering that after the completion of its transformation, it tightened up the conditions for membership so that members can only be institutions which significantly fund research on a national level�

Croatia’s accession to the European Union will provide numerous resources of scientific research funding that are complementary to national funding� It is important, for the system of higher education of the Republic of Croatia, to use these funds to their fullest extent� At the European Research Council conference31 held in 2011, it was stated that the utilisation of European funds for science and research bears a direct relation with national funding, in that those countries that allocate a higher percentage of GDP for science and research on competitive principles have a higher success rate in FP7 programmes�

The European Union has set a goal of national spending on research and development at 3% of GDP, but in Croatia it is below 1%, which in the context of the aforementioned data, puts Croatian scientists at a disadvantage� Also, if unfavourable trends in the funding of scientific research continue, leading Croatian researchers leave Croatia and conduct research at prestigious European or global centres, which would further weaken Croatian science�

The Foundation’s Board advocates a clear distribution of activities between the institutions that finance research, from technology projects, innovation and projects aimed at commerce, and scientific research projects within the national priorities, which is an essential step in ensuring the survival of Croatian science within the European context�

31 ERC Conference –Promoting Excellence in Research in Europe, Budapest, June 20, 2011

priorities is important for Croatian science and education, as well as for the development of the entire country, and the Foundation programmes will provide appropriate financial instruments and selection procedures for the best projects, which will result in the establishment of a high quality research infrastructure and the recruitment and training of young researchers who will one day become bearers of high-quality research� Along with priority themes, the Board will continue to fund basic research in all scientific fields, also based on principles of excellence�

Investing in excellent scientific research within the topics that are considered as national priorities is directly linked to strengthening the economy� Linking scientific research and its results with the economy is an important task of the Foundation� Ever since 2006, the Foundation has encouraged this kind of cooperation through the “Partnership in Basic Research” programme�

The Foundation’s Strategic Plan for the period 2011 – 2015 expects the continuation of this programme, but by attracting significant resources under the principle of matching funds� In linking the economy and science, using advanced technologies and new knowledge becomes an available and useful tool in ensuring economic and social progress� By changing the structure of the Board, pursuant to the amendments to the Act on the Foundation from 2010, one member of the Board is appointed by the Croatian Employers Association, which represents an additional step in that direction�

With these instruments, the Foundation will continue to identify creative individuals who are able to conduct high quality research and to encourage the development of their professional careers at all levels�

Encouraging excellence in scientific research through a competitive system of competition, along with an effective and clear strategy and a strict, expert and independent review, the Foundation will encourage the competitiveness of scientific research in Croatia and its inclusion into the European Scientific Area� Together with adequate funding, one of the Foundation’s important tasks is the preservation of Croatia’s existing centres of excellence, and the creation of new centres, and high-end research and researchers, which will open Croatia to Europe and the world� In this sense, the Foundation’s task is to support outstanding national research centres, and enable networking and international cooperation with the world’s top centres through its programmes� Therefore, the Foundation’s membership in the European Science Foundation and Science Europe is of the utmost importance, because both organisations serve as platforms for the development of cooperation and the harmonization of financial instruments between European public institutions, which fund scientific research with the aim of creating a globally competitive economy and knowledge�

In 2010, the European Science Foundation began its transformation towards strengthening the impact on European science for the benefit of all member countries� Membership in the new Science Europe organisation

page 56 page 57The Board

page 59

The BoardThe current Board of the Foundation was appointed by the Decision of the Croatian Parliament reached on November 26th 2010 when the following members entered upon office:

Academician Ivica Kostović, Ph.D. President of the Board

Professor Ilija Živković, Ph.D. Vice President of the Board

Davor Majetić Vice President of the Board

Professor Georg Drezner, Ph.D. Member

Professor Stipan Jonjić, Ph.D. Member

Mirjana Maksić, Ph.D. Member

Professor Ljiljana Marks, Ph.D. Member

Vladimira Vađić, Ph.D. Member

Academician Mirko Zelić, Ph.D. Member

The Board of the Foundation

page 60 page 61

Former members of the Board:

Professor Ivo Babić, Ph.D. Member from June 2003 to May 2005

Professor Stjepan Marčelja, Ph.D. Member from June 2003 to September 2005

Academician Anton Švajger, Ph.D. Member from June 2003 to December 2003

Professor Pero Lučin, Ph.D. President of the Board from June 2003 to November 2010

Professor Rudolf Scitovski, Ph.D. Vice President of the Board from June 2003 to June 2007 Member from June 2007 to November 2010

Professor Tomislav Cvitaš, Ph.D. Vice President of the Board from June 2003 to June 2007

Academician Zvonko Kusić, Ph.D. Member from April 2004 to June 2007 Vice President of the Board from June 2007 to November 2010

Professor Alemka Markotić, Ph.D. Member from February 2005 to November 2010

Professor Željko Dujić, Ph.D. Member from May 2005 to May 2009

Professor Mladen Žinić, Ph.D. Member from September 2005 to November 2010

Professor Dunja Brozović Rončević, Ph.D. Vice President of the Board from June 2007 to November 2010

Academician Daniel Rukavina, Ph.D. Member from May 2009 to November 2010

page 62 page 63Lists

page 64 page 65

Development of Joint Studies

Silvio Pallua, Ph.D., Central European Doctoral Studies in Theoretical Physics

Mile Dželalija, Ph.D., Establishment of Joint Ph�D� programme “Environmental science”

Ivica Kostović, Ph.D., Joint-Study University Ph�D� Program in Neuroscience

Tatjana Aparac-Jelušić, Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Information Sciences – Digitization of Written Heritage

Integrated University and Integrated Tertiary

Education System

Josip Kregar, Ph.D., Legal and Organisational Aspects of an Integrated University

Learning Outcomes-Based Higher Education

Vlasta Vizek-Vidović, Ph.D., Learning Outcomes in Teacher Education (LOTED)

Sanja Lončar-Vicković, Ph.D., System Approach to Introducing Learning Outcomes into Students’ Education at the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek (SUPER UNIOS)

Blaženka Divjak, Ph.D., Learning Outcomes in Interdisciplinary Fields (INTER-OUTCOMES)

Aleksandra Deluka-Tibljaš, Ph.D.,Learning

Outcomes in Civil Engineering Higher Education (LOCEH)

Milan Mesić, Ph.D., Learning Outcomes on Bachelor and Master’s Programmes of the University of Zagreb

Tihomil Maštrović, Ph.D., Lifelong Learning of Librarians-Learning Outcomes and Flexibility

Visitor

Krešimir Veselić, Ph.D., Reliable Numerical Computation of Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

Branimir Pejčinović, Ph.D., Measurement and Modelling of Signal Integrity in Mixed-mode Circuits

Mladen Kuftinec, Ph.D., New Curriculum of Postgraduate Orthodontic Ph�D� Program, Coordination of Postgraduate Specialist (resident) Program in Orthodontics with Erasmus Program, Comparison of Standard Cephalometric Soft and Hard Tissue Values and Establishing Ethnic and Population Characteristics in Croatian and American Population, Application of Those Characteristics for New Cephalometric Analysis

Krešimir Veselić, Ph.D., Passive Control of Vibrating Systems

Matthew David Steinberg, Ph.D., Distributed Wirelesensors for Smart Detection Systems:

Funded projects32

Development of PhD Programmes

Melita Kovačević, Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Doctoral Study Language and Cognitive Neuroscience

Željko Dujić, Ph.D., International Doctoral Study of Physiology and Physiological Genomics

Josipa Bašić, Ph.D., Development and Evaluation in the Community of Established Prevention and Rehabilitation

Tarzan Legović, Ph.D., Teaching Materials for the Doctoral Study of Environment Management

Senka Mačešić, Ph.D., Transformation of the Existing Doctoral Study at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Rijeka

Diana Stolac, Ph.D., Croatian Language (Doctoral Study)

Anđelka Radojčić Badovinac, Ph.D., Development of the Curriculum of the Postgraduate Doctoral Study “Biomedicine”

Miljenko Huzak, Ph.D., Development of the Postgraduate Study of Statistics

Zdravko Lacković, Ph.D., Doctoral Postgraduate Study of Biomedicine and Health

Development of Institutional Quality Assurance Units

Sanja Lončar-Vicković, Ph.D., Establishment of Quality Assurance System on University J�J� Strossmayer in Osijek

Neven Vrček, Ph.D., Reference Centre for Quality Assurance in High Education Institution

Mladen Andrassy, Ph.D., Establishment of Quality Management System at the University of Zagreb

Branko Smerdel, Ph.D., Development of the Quality Assurance Model at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb

Petar Bezinović, Ph.D., Development of Organizational System and Procedures for Quality Improvement on the University of Rijeka

Aleksandra Deluka-Tibljaš, Ph.D., Monitoring and Improvement of Quality of Studying at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the University of Rijeka

Sanja Smojver-Ažić, Ph.D., Development of the Quality Assurance System at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of the University of Rijeka

Duško Pavletić, Ph.D., Establishing Institutional Quality Assurance System at the Faculty of Engineering

32 The List includes projects submitted until April 7, 2011

page 66 page 67

Polona Frajman Sandi Orlić Antonio Šiber Domagoj Đikić Luca Malatesti Jadranka Vuković Zoran Štefanić Tajana Preočanin Silvija Bilokapić Borislav Kovačević Marin Miletić Mario Štorga Zrinka Biloglav Željka Fuchs Dalibor Paar Danijela Barić Ana Šantić Jasmina Lovrić Damir Kovačić Ivan Šamija Mario Jug Aleksandar Popijač Maro Cvitan Vesna Gantner Dražen Pulanić Ivana Antol Maja Buljan Anupati Telugu Raghavender Gregory Sandala Kristina Orešić Nataša Golik Klanac Ana-Marija Domijan

Neven Alujević Vesna Boraska Luca Marsella Pavle Mikulić Marija Brgles Damir Pajić Brian Vad Mathiesen Tijmen Pronk Tihana Kraš Ana Sušac Jasenka Piljac Žegarac Sandra Budžaki Domagoj Vrsaljko Boris Sviličić Robert Vianello Davor Horvatić Danijel Jurman Iva Rezić Lucija Šerić Jelaska Dragomira Majhen Nikola Regent Mihael Makek You Jiangyang Gabrijel Ondrašek Filip Najman Davor Dolar Ana Bucić-Kojić Ivana Grbeša Lidija Jakobek Neven Ukrainczyk Zdravko Mitrović Petra Peharec

Chemo- and Biosensor Interface and Applications Development

Randall Filer, Ph.D., The Underground Economy in Post-Socialist Countries: Measurement and Motivation

Jakša Cvitanić, Ph.D., Finding Optimal Financial Contracts using Mathematical Models

Graham Turner, Ph.D., Analysis of N-linked Glycans in Human Plasma

Branko Cavrić, Ph.D., Developing the System of Indicators for Sustainable Urban Development in Selected Coastal Cities of Croatia

Krešimir Veselić, Ph.D., Mathematical Methods and Models - Overdamped Linear Oscillations, Part One/ Mathematical Methods and Models - a Contribution to Improvement of Teaching of Applied Mathematics at Universities, Part Two

Daniel Ferenc, Ph.D., Astroparticle Physics in Croatia - Development of the Technological Basis and Multi-institutional Partnership as the Precondition for an Equal-footed Participation in the New International Projects

Herwig O. Gutzeit, Ph.D., The Role of Cholinesterases in Cell Differentiation and Their Inhibition by Flavonoids and Flavonoid-metal Complexes

Željko Ivezić, Ph.D., Discovery and Characterization of Variable Stars Using LINEAR Sky Survey and the Austrian-Croatian Telescope

Tatiana Amochkina, Ph.D., Optical Properties of Ultrathin Metal Films

Senior

Bart Bijenens, Ph.D., An Integrated, Model Based, Approach for the Quantification of Cardiac Function Based on Cardiac Imaging

Rozi Andretić, Ph.D., Effects of Psychostimulant Drugs on the Nervous System Functioning in Drosophila Relevant in Addiction and Relapse

Vedran Deletis, Ph.D., The Motor Responses Recorded in the Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscles After Electrical Stimulation of the Brain Cortex, Responsible for Generating Speech� Neurophysiological Mechanism and Their Clinical Meanings

Postdoc

Rahela Gašparac Fran Borovečki Jordi Sancho Parramon Neven Žitomir Barišić Srđan Skok Bojan Pečnik Vladan Desnica Ivan Krešimir Lukić Ninoslav Truhar Tea Bilušić Goran Marković Tin Klanjšček Ante Bilušić Aleksandar Višnjevac Milena Petković

page 68 page 69

Dinko Mitrečić, Ph.D., Innovative Therapy of Stroke Based on Transplantation of Neural Stem Cells and Inhibition of Hmgb1 – Tlr2 – Nfkb Pathway

Fellowships for Doctoral Students

Ana Sušac Marko Pavić Ana Budimir Larisa Zoranić Gordana Dobravac Josip Ažman Ivana Novak Ana Previšić Ziphan Li Bruno Atalić Zrinka Rajić Željko Večenaj Tomislav Kovačević Sonja Petrović Neva Slani Tamara Alkhamis Goranka Zorić Vanja Jurišić Mladen Domazet Yifei Niu Lina Zgaga Ljerka Jukić Tanja Vučković Juroš Jadranka Šepić Mišo Mudrić Maja Tadić Ivan-Christian Kurolt

Mate Boban Zoran Tomljanović Bojana Savić Nenad Šuvak Jelena Poštić Zlatan Krajina Matija Gredičak Neira Torić Vida Šimat Marija Jelčić Marisa Škaljac Tomislav Kizivat Goran Mikleušević Ksenija Grubišić Tomislav Ševa Vladimir Čeperić Danijela Matošević Marko Košiček Hrvoje Kekez Leo Škec Saša Lajšić Paulo Šćulac Teuta Opačak-Bernardi Miranda Damić Andrijana Eđed Marina Brailo Marina Cvjetko Martina Temunović Ivana Prusina Andreja Pirc Dunja Šamec Anela Mateljak

Nan Ren Lorant Hatvani Ivana Bešlić Mirta Herak

Homing Programme

Mladen Petravić, Ph.D., Foundation of Laboratory for Surface and Materials Science

Frano Barbir, Ph.D., Establishment and Equipping of Laboratory for Hydrogen Energy Technologies

Ivica Grković, Ph.D., Establishment of the Experimental Neurocardiology Laboratory

Saša Zelenika, Ph.D., Laboratory for Precision Engineering and Micro- and Nano-Systems Technologies

Ivo Orlić, Ph.D., Foundation of the Laboratory for Elemental Micro-Analysis

Dejan Vinković, Ph.D., Constructing, Testing, and Utilizing a Next-generation Multi-TFLOP hybrid GPU-CPU Cluster

Aleksandra Sinđić, Ph.D., Mechanism of Action of Guanylin Peptides in the Kidney

Đuro Josić, Ph.D., Founding of the Laboratory for Analytical Biotechnology and Proteomics at the University of Rijeka

Berislav Marković, Ph.D., Laboratory for Investigations of Dispersion and Materials Properties

Srećko Kirin, Ph.D., Metallated Bioconjugates for Applications in Biomedical and Material Sciences

Installation Grants

Dražen Domijan, Ph.D., Modelling Cognitive and

Neural Systems

Tamara Nikšić, Ph.D., Application of Advanced

Computing in the Description of Strongly

Correlated Systems

Bruno Zelić, Ph.D., Sustainable Bioseparation

Processes

Marijana Kresić, Ph.D., Transfer as a Strategy in

Foreign Language Learning

Daniel Mark Lyons, Ph.D., Development of a

Nanotechnology-based Targeted Recognition

System for Bio-macromolecules

Tatjana Haramina, Ph.D., Dynamic Mechanical

Analysis of Polymer and Composites

Nikola Basarić, Ph.D., Photochemistry of

Polycyclic Molecules: From Mechanistic Studies to

New Drugs and Medicinal Applications

Livia Puljak, Ph.D., Molecular Memory in Diabetic

Neuropathy

Ivica Živković, Ph.D., Complex Magnetic Systems

Sandi Orlić, Ph.D., Biodiversity and

Biotechnological Characterization of Bacteria from

the Adriatic Sea

Igor Karšaj, Ph.D., A 3-D Mathematical Model of

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Enlargement

page 70 page 71

Marina Merkaš Maja Šrut Pavle Trošelj Jelena Božek

National Training Courses and Summer Schools for Doctoral Students

Ivan Đikić, Ph.D., MedILS Summer School “Structure and Evolution: from Bench to Terminal”

Greta Pifat Mrzljak, Ph.D., International Summer School on Biophysics

Bojan Pečnik, Ph.D., Split International Winter Schools of Astrophysics (SIWA) 2007: Extrasolar Planets & Astrobiology

Bojan Polić, Ph.D., 14th FEBS International Summer School on Immunology “Immune System: Genes, Receptors and Regulation”

Nenad Smodlaka, Ph.D., International School of Conservation Biology

Ana Marušić, Ph.D., Summer School of Scientific Communication

Silvio Pallua, Ph.D., Workshop on Black Holes in General Relativity and String Theory (Central European Joint Programme of Doctoral Studies in Theoretical Physics; Particle Physics, Gravity and Cosmology)

Greta Pifat Mrzljak, Ph.D., International Summer School on Biophysics (Biophysics 2009)

Željka Fuchs, Ph.D., First Split Workshop in

Atmospheric Physics and Oceanography

Nenad Smodlaka, Ph.D., International School of Conservation Biology

Bojan Polić, Ph.D., 15th FEBS Summer School “Immune System: Genes, Receptors and Regulation”

Tatjana Aparac-Jelušić, Ph.D., Summer School in Old Books

Aleksandar Višnjevac, Ph.D., Cambridge Structural Database Workshop in Zagreb

Davor Juretić, Ph.D., Biophysics Summer School in Split: Antimicrobial Peptides

Željka Fuchs, Ph.D., Second Split Workshop in Atmospheric Physics and Oceanography

Ana Marušić, Ph.D., Summer School of Scientific Communication

Bojan Polić, Ph.D., FEBS 16th International Summer School on Immunology “Immune System: Genes, Receptors and Regulation”

Željka Fuchs, Ph.D., Third Split Workshop in Atmospheric Physics and Oceanography

Ana Marušić, Ph.D., Summer School of Scientific Communication

Bojan Lazar, Ph.D., 7th International School of Conservation Biology

Tatjana Aparac-Jelušić, Ph.D., Summer School in

the Study of Old Books

Josip Stipčević Marina Štibrić Martina Merkaš Irena Jeličić Josip Lorincz Zvonimir Katančić Nikola Raguž Katarina Lisak Dragana Kocevski Nives Škunca Mihovil Mladinov Jurica Ševa Marija Badanjak Dunja Horžić Tomislav Oroz Zlatko Kregar Zvjezdana Marković Robert Smolić Vanja Travaš Ana Pilipović Martina Smolić Vlatko Broz Mario Vranješ Monika Kovačević Saskia Elisabeth Pronk - Tiethoff Nevena Padovan Martina Zeba Željka Trumbić Pavle Josipović Senka Majić Vedrana Perkov Tomislav Pukšec

Jana Pisk Miroslav Lisjak Natka Ćurko Elvis Žic Ana Havelka Meštrović Mario Muštra Ivana Lepen Pleić Marko Čuljat Stela Jokić Hrvoje Pandžić Maja Gaćeša Ana Brcko Etami Borjan Maja Petrić Nina Šaban Marko Pavić Slavica Pejda Dario Repić Ljerka Jukić Nikola Poljak Mirta Zrnčić Kristina Mlinac Hrvoje Cvija Natalija Ćurković Luka Pavić Boris Lukić Saša Mićanović Milivoj Plodinec Vladimir Milić Josip Stojšić Ana Palčić Neven Papić

page 72 page 73

Lidija Varga-Defterdarović, Ph.D., Development of Croatian Chemical Terminology

Maja Bratanić, Ph.D., Systematization and Standardization of Basic Croatian Aviation Terminology

Miljenko Lapaine, Ph.D., Dictionary of Cartography and Geoinformatics, 1st Part

Sanja Martinez, Ph.D., Croatian Terminology in the Field of Corrosion and Protection of Materials

Diana Stolac, Ph.D., Croatian Marine Engineering Terminology

Marin Vodanović, Ph.D., Croatian Dental Terminology

Igor Čatić, Ph.D., Electronic Dictionary of Polymer Engineering Croatian-English-German

Božidar Križan, Ph.D., Croatian Machine Elements Terminology

Vjera Lopac, Ph.D., Formulation, Selection and Coordination of Croatian Terminology in Physics

Susan Šarčević, Ph.D. and Milica Gačić, Ph.D., Croatian Terms for Concepts of EU Law

Sanja Lončar-Vicković, Ph.D., Systematisation of Croatian Civil Engineering Terminology

Anita Sujoldžić, Ph.D., Basic Anthropological Terminology

Boris Pritchard, Ph.D., Croatian Maritime Terminology - Tradition and Modern Trends

SCIENCE Award

Mladen Kolar Jelena Korać Mladen Fruk Mirna Marinić Vedran Podobnik Mia Šetić Marinko Jablan Sanja Matić Artur Šilić Antonija Maričić Ivana Palunko Dario Jukić Mijo Šimunović Zdravko Marijić Marko Trninić

SCIENCE Award Sculpture Solutions

Iris Radivoj Leda Listeš Bruna Tomšić Boris Sekulić

International Collaborative Workshops

Nevenka Ožanić, Ph.D., Establishment of Joint Croatian-Japan Scientific-Research Project - Risk Identification and Land-use Planning for Disaster Mitigation and Floods in Croatia

Zrinka Jelaska, Ph.D., First, Second, Other Language: Croatian-Macedonian Comparison

Gorka Vuletić Mavrinac, Ph.D., International

Partnership in Basic Research

Srđan Skok, Ph.D., Wide Area Monitoring, Protection and Control of Power System in Deregulated and Liberalized Energy Market

Bojan Polić, Ph.D., The Development of a Biological System for Production of Labelled Monoclonal Antibodies

Božo Prtoljan, Ph.D., Geological Map Scale 1:50000 Konavle Area - a Precondition for a Sustainable Development

Zvonimir Šikić, Ph.D., Structural Parallelism

Davor Gracin, Ph.D., The Origin of Structural Defects and Their Influence on Macroscopic Properties of Solar Silica Glass

Vedran Deletis, Ph.D., Comprehensive Intraoperative Monitoring System (CIMS) of Neurophysiologic Signals

Natalija Koprivanac, Ph.D., Wastewater Treatment in Dina-Petrokemija Omišalj as a Contribution to Ecosystem Preservation

Zdenko Kovačić, Ph.D., Exploration Robot for Fire Fighting Units

Stipan Jonjić, Ph.D., The Development of a Model for Immunotherapy of Viral Infection by Using Recombinant Proteins, which Connect the Innate and Specific Immune Responses

Predrag Novak, Ph.D., Development and Application of an In-line Method of Raman Spectroscopy for Drug Research

Siniša Šegvić, Ph.D., Mapping and Assessing the State of Traffic Control Infrastructure by Combining Computer Vision and Global Positioning Sensors

Nedjeljko Perić, Ph.D., Multicriterial Control of Wind Turbine

Srđan Skok, Ph.D., Intelligent Systems For Power Transmission Grid

Igor Rudan, Ph.D., Genetic Basis of Variability in Immunoglobulin G Glycosylation

Ante Jukić, Ph.D., Nanostructured and Functional Polymeric Materials

Višnja Škerk, Ph.D., Research on the Etiology, Epidemiology, Diagnostics and Treatment of Patients with Prostatitis Syndrome

Stjepan Bogdan, Ph.D., Electronic Differential for Small Electrical City Car

Milan Sak-Bosnar, Ph.D., Development of a Portable Analyzer for the Determination of Anionic Surfactants in Effluents

Zdravko Terze, Ph.D., Geometric Numerical Integrators on Manifolds for Dynamic Analysis and Simulation of Structural Systems

Bojan Jelaković, Ph.D., Molecular Profiling and Proteomics of Urothelial Carcinoma

Development of Croatian Professional

Terminology

Milica Mihaljević, Ph.D., Croatian Terminology - Coordination – STRUNA

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Understanding Word Structure in the Languages of Europe (NetWordS)

Neven Jovanović, Ph.D., Network for Digital Methods in the Arts and Humanities (NeDiMAH)

Alexander Buczynski, Ph.D., European Historical Population Samples Network (EHPS-Net)

Radovan Brako, Ph.D., Advanced Concepts in Abinitio Simulations of Materials (Psi-k)

EMBO Installation Grant (EMBO IGs)

Kristian Vlahoviček, Ph.D., Computational Genomics of Microbial Ecosystems

Bojan Žagrović, Ph.D., Using Distributed Computing Techniques to Study Structure and Dynamics of Biomolecules

EUROCORES

Velimir Išgum, Ph.D., ERP as a Measure of Vagueness in Natural Language (Experimental objectives)

Jasminka Ledić, Ph.D., Academic Profession and Societal Expectations: Challenges for University Civic Mission

Neven Soić, Ph.D., Experimental Nuclear Physics Inputs for Thermonuclear Runaway

Antoaneta Klobučar, Ph.D., Some Applications of Geometric Representations of Graphs

Research Projects

Renata Bažok, Ph.D., Technology Transfer in

Sugar Beet Production: Improvements in Pest Control following the Principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Goran Šimić, Ph.D., Detection and Tracking of Biological Markers for Early Therapeutic Intervention in Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease

Joško Deur, Ph.D., ICT-aided Integration of Electric Vehicles into the Energy Systems with a High Share of Renewable Energy Sources

Daslav Hranueli, Ph.D., Contamination Risks to the Adriatic Sea from Oil Pollution

Senka Božić Vrbančić, Ph.D., Globalisation and the Politics of Cultural Difference

Tvrtko Zebec, Ph.D., Croatian Intangible Cultural Heritage, Social Identities and Values

Collaborative Research Programmes

Jasna Peter-Katalinić, Ph.D., High Throughput Analytical Platforms for Adriatic-brand Food Quality and Authenticity

Slobodan Vukičević, Ph.D., A Novel Anabolic Targeted Therapy for Osteoporosis: BONE6-BIS Consortium

Mato Baotić, Ph.D., Optimization of Renewable Electricity Generation Systems Connected in a Microgrid

Zrinka Tarle, Ph.D., Evaluation of New Bioactive Materials and Procedures in Restorative Dental Medicine

Collaboration Workshop for Strengthening Quality of Life and Health Research Resources in Croatia

Marijan Palmović, Ph.D., 2nd Dubrovnik Conference on Cognitive Science

Katica Biljaković, Ph.D., Charge Density Waves: Small Scales and Ultrashort Time

Vida Demarin, Ph.D., Development of Novel Guidelines for Early Detection of Cerebrovascular Disease

Ana Smontara, Ph.D., Modulation and Nanostructuring in Layered Materials

Pavao Knezović, Ph.D., Language of Croats in Bosnia and Hercegovina Since Matija Divković Until the Present Time

Amir Muzur, Ph.D., Fritz Jahr and European Roots of Bioethics: Foundation of International Network of Scientists

European Social Survey

Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan, Ph.D., European Social Survey – 4th Round

Renata Franc, Ph.D., European Social Survey – 5th Round

Research Networking Programmes

Krunoslav Brčić Kostić, Ph.D., Integrating Population Genetics and Conservation Biology (ConGen)

Larisa Jonke, Ph.D., Quantum Geometry and Quantum Gravity (QG)

Mile Ivanda, Ph.D., New Generation of Organic Based Photovoltaic Devices (ORGANISOLAR)

Vlasta Mohaček-Grošev, Ph.D., Molecular Simulations in Biosystems and Material Science (SimBioMa)

Ana Smontara, Ph.D., Highly Frustrated Magnetism (HFM)

Ana Alebić-Juretić, Ph.D., Climatic Change - Manipulation Experiments in Terrestrial Ecosystems (CLIMMANI)

Blaženka Divjak, Ph.D., Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences 2 (QMSS2)

Gordan Lauc, Ph.D., The EuroGlycosciences Forum (Euroglycoscience)

Sonja Radas, Ph.D., Academic Patenting in Europe: Database Sharing, Applications and Extensions (APE)

Veljko Zlatić, Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Approaches to Functional Electronic and Biological Materials (INTELBIOMAT)

Zvonimir Šipuš, Ph.D., New Frontiers in Millimetre / Sub-millimetre Waves Integrated Dielectric Focusing Systems (NEWFOCUS)

Dubravko Klabučar, Ph.D., The New Physics of Compact Stars (CompStar)

Ino Ćurik, Ph.D., Advances in Farm Animal Genomic Resources (GENOMIC RESOURCES)

Ida Raffaelli, Ph.D., The European Network on Word Structure� Cross-disciplinary Approaches to

page 76 page 77

Legal Acts

Act on Changes and Amendments of the Act on the National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development of the Republic of Croatia (OG 92/2010) http://narodne-novine�nn�hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2010_07_92_2594�html

Statute of Croatian Science Foundation http://www�hrzz�hr/doc/dokumenti/Statut_HRZZ�pdf

Strategic Plan of the NZZ 2004-2008 http://www�hrzz�hr/doc/dokumenti/Strateski_plan_NZZ�pdf

Evaluation Manual http://www�hrzz�hr/doc/dokumenti/Evaluation_Manual�pdf

page 78 page 79

page 80

Impressum:

Original title: 10 godina Hrvatske zaklade za znanost

Original published: January 2012

Publisher: Croatian Science Foundation

Editors: Ivica Kostović, Ph�D�, M�D� Mirjana Maksić, Ph�D�

Executive Editor: Ana Ravnić Perfido

Editorship: Sandra Milovanović, Janja Trkulja, Lea Perinić

Translation: Kristina Babić, Josipa Bađari

Proofreading: Adverbum d� o� o�

Design and prepress: NOVENA d� o� o�

Photo of the SCIENCE Award: Petar Fabijan

Published: February 2013

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the National and University Library in Zagreb under 833436�

ISBN 978-953-95534-5-4