The twelfth anniversary of the Republic of Croatia's entry into the European Union (EU), marked on July 1, 2025, is an opportunity to review the significant contribution of the Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB) to Croatian science and the country's positioning within the European research area. From the very beginning of Croatia's participation in EU research and development programs, IRB has become an undisputed leader, successfully implementing numerous projects that have not only raised the level of scientific excellence in Croatia but have also strengthened its role in international scientific circles.

Continuous growth and leading role in EU projects

IRB's journey began long before Croatia's full membership in the EU. Already within the Sixth and Seventh Framework Programs for Research and Technological Development, which began in 2007, IRB actively utilized its status as an associated country. During that period, the Institute's scientists secured 33 projects with a total value of 14.7 million euros, laying the foundation for future successes. Croatia's entry into the EU in 2013 opened new chapters and enabled the Institute to fully integrate into European research programs.

This momentum continued with the Horizon 2020 program, which ran from 2014 to 2020. In this program, IRB achieved an impressive 38 projects worth 16.2 million euros, positioning itself as the most successful scientific institution in Croatia in terms of attracting funds. Since the end of 2021, within the current Horizon Europe program, IRB has already recorded 31 contracted projects, with a total value of 11.2 million euros, which confirms the continuous trend of growth and success. These data clearly show that IRB is a key player in the European research area, contributing to the development of science and innovation at the level of the entire European Union.

The Director of IRB, dr. sc. David M. Smith, emphasizes the significance of these achievements: "The results achieved by our scientists are a reflection of their dedicated work, exceptional commitment to excellence, and ability to quickly adapt to the latest scientific challenges. They undoubtedly show that Croatia possesses top scientists and significant potential. Our task is to ensure optimal working conditions for them, so they can continue with such outstanding contributions."

Scientific "Oscars" in the hands of Croatian female scientists

One of the most prestigious indicators of scientific excellence are projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC). These projects are often called "scientific Oscars" due to their extreme competitiveness – only 8 to 13 percent of submitted projects receive financial support. In Croatia, a total of 11 ERC projects have been developed so far, and IRB can boast four such "Oscars," which is an exceptional success.

Among the recipients of these prestigious projects, prof. dr. sc. Iva Tolić stands out, having won ERC grants twice. Her pioneering research focuses on the mechanisms of error formation during chromosome segregation and their impact on cell division. This research is of crucial importance for understanding embryo development, the genesis of various types of cancer, and the response of tissues to therapeutic interventions. Prof. dr. sc. Ana-Sunčana Smith brought an ERC project to IRB in 2015, dedicated to research on biological membranes with the aim of advancing the development of new drugs and therapies.

Recently, dr. sc. Jelena Bujan joined these successful female scientists. Thanks to an ERC project worth 1.5 million euros, dr. Bujan will dedicate herself to studying the resistance of ants to extreme temperatures caused by climate change. For her research, she will use the Adriatic islands as natural laboratories, opening new insights into the adaptation of living organisms to environmental changes.

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Mobility programs and advancement of knowledge exchange

A key element of scientific success is knowledge exchange and researcher mobility. In this context, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA program) represent an invaluable EU program that finances the mobility and training of researchers. IRB is extremely active in the MSCA program, with a dozen successfully implemented projects within Horizon 2020.

Through MSCA projects, the Institute has attracted a number of talented young scientists from all over Europe, while at the same time, domestic staff had the opportunity to go for training in leading European laboratories. One notable example is the MSCA project Molecular Quantum Simulations (MOQS), which IRB joined in 2019 as part of a consortium of six institutions and three companies across Europe. This project enabled, among other things, a doctoral student from Italy to come to IRB and work under the mentorship of dr. sc. Fabio Franchini. The European Commission highlighted this collaboration as an "MSCA success story" in countries like Croatia, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and mobility for scientific progress.

From new materials to fusion energy: Visionary projects of IRB

IRB's contribution is also visible in areas that until recently seemed like distant science fiction, such as nuclear fusion and quantum communications. Thanks to IRB's initiative and the dedication of dr. sc. Tonči Tadić, Croatia has become a full member of the EUROfusion consortium. This is the world's largest association for fusion research, bringing together 27 countries with the common goal of building the experimental ITER reactor in France, which promises an unlimited source of clean energy. Also significant is the IFMIF-DONES project, in which dr. Tadić and his team coordinate work on testing new materials resistant to radiation and extreme temperatures. Through this project, Croatia is positioned as a key player in preparing the ground for future fusion reactors and power plants. DONES is the second most important device in the large international fusion energy project, right after ITER, and it is important to note that it is also the first ESFRI project in which Croatia plays a key role.

When it comes to advanced materials, in addition to fusion projects, it is worth highlighting projects such as ReMADE@ARI, led by dr. sc. Zdravko Siketić, and the Micro4Nano project, led by dr. sc. Ivor Lončarić. Within these projects, IRB scientists are researching degradable and recyclable materials and developing nanotechnology with potential applications in medicine and industry. It is particularly interesting that the focus is on creating materials that are not only environmentally friendly but also functionally superior to existing solutions, paving the way for new innovations in industry and environmental protection.

Digital and green agenda: Quantum communication, blockchain, and artificial intelligence

In the context of the galloping development of new technologies, digitalization and data security play an increasingly important role. IRB has also achieved significant results in this area. In 2020, a team of quantum physicists from IRB became part of an international success. Together with colleagues from Italy and Slovenia, Croatian experts, led by dr. sc. Martin Lončarić and dr. sc. Mario Stipčević from IRB, were the first in the world to publicly demonstrate an inter-European quantum communication network. Today, IRB scientists play a key role in the "Croatian Quantum Communication Infrastructure – CroQCI" project, which is of extreme importance for the entire scientific and technological community in Croatia and represents a crucial step towards a more secure future of digital communication.

As a modern institute, IRB actively participates in achieving key priorities of the European Union, such as digital transformation and the Green Agenda. In the era of blockchain technology, the Center for Informatics and Computing (CIR) of IRB is actively involved in the development of the European Blockchain Service Infrastructure (EBSI). This is a network of distributed nodes that will enable secure transactions and services across the EU. IRB is part of a consortium of 24 organizations from 14 countries, and through this project, Croatia, via IRB, participates in creating the foundation for future trusted digital services, from public records to e-identity, all secured by blockchain technology.

In the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, IRB coordinates the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) project "Artificial Intelligence for Smart Healthcare and Medicine (AI4HEALTH.Cro)". This project is financed from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO) and the Horizon Europe program through the Digital Europe call. Under the leadership of dr. sc. Anja Barešić, IRB operates with 15 other partners as a "hub" that promotes the development of AI-based innovations for smart healthcare. Through this center, Croatia seeks to catch up with Europe in transforming the healthcare system using artificial intelligence, with IRB acting as a bridge between science, medicine, and industry.

Parallel to digital innovations, IRB pays significant attention to sustainable technology and environmental protection. The Institute's scientists participate in a series of European projects aimed at developing new materials and green technologies. This includes research and development of advanced batteries and solar cells, as well as biomaterials and recyclable polymers that could replace harmful plastics. In the field of marine and environmental research, IRB scientists actively participate in numerous European projects monitoring climate change, ecosystems, and biodiversity of the Adriatic. For example, through the MARBLE project, led at IRB by dr. sc. Neven Cukrov, scientists are developing autonomous robots that will monitor the state of the sea and help preserve the marine environment. By participating in EU projects dedicated to sustainability, IRB helps Croatia actively contribute to the ambitious European Green Deal.

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