S&T Country Report - Albania - WBC-INCO Net

technology centres has not been ideal; there is a need for a performance review to
focus attention on their role in facilitating collaboration between research and
business in their respective territories (OECD and EC, 2007).
The Government of the Republic of Croatia has been pursuing a proactive policy
directed towards promoting SMEs development on local and regional levels and
through the activities of the Croatian Agency for Small Business, Agency for Exports
and Investment Promotion and institutional support provided to the SMEs by
chambers, associations, entrepreneurial centres, technological parks and incubators
and development agencies.
Business policies of the financial institutions (mainly commercial banks) also play an
important role in determining the dynamics and the quality of SMEs development. In
2005 and 2006, qualitative improvements were seen in the financial follow-up of
SMEs strengthening programme, mostly through Croatian Bank for Reconstruction
and Development but increasingly also through commercial banks. This is the result
of a well designed framework for SMEs development as well as qualitative
improvements in the sector. In the period 2007-2009, financial institutions can be
expected to make an even greater contribution to further SMEs development,
particularly in view of the high level of stability and development of the Croatian
banking system and further financial system deepening. In the context of PHARE
2006 programme, a grant scheme project has been devised intended for the SMEs
sector with the aim of increasing competitiveness and exports of the Croatian SMEs.
This pilot project, whose launching was planned for mid-2007 will finance consulting
services, promotion activities, market research, product development and
participation at international fairs and events. The project also presents an
opportunity for the adoption of the procedures and the establishment of institutional
structures which would manage the grant scheme system in the pre-accession
period, thus preparing the Republic of Croatia for the use of future structural funds
(The Government of the Republic of Croatia, 2006a).
The Government sees the importance of ongoing support of the SME's and
enhancing investment attraction; therefore a new office of the Investment Compact
was opened in Zagreb on July 4, 2007. The office is supported by the Austrian
Development Agency (ADA) and is housed in the Ministry of Economy, Labour and
Entrepreneurship of the Republic of Croatia and aims to improve the investment
climate and to encourage private sector development in Croatia.
1.2 Strategic Documents
Strategic documents reflecting National Innovation Strategies (NIS) have been
already highlighted in Science and Technology Country Report Country – D7 Croatia
(see.science.eu). To indicate other key documents, which have been formulated in
order to set up the framework for innovation and technology development:
- ‘Science and Technology Policy of the Republic of Croatia 2006 - 2010’
The strategic document was adopted by the Government of the Republic of Croatia in
May 2006 and presents a vision of the development of the Science and Technology
page 7/HRV