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

The National Science Council (NSC) is a strategic and advisory body for developing
and maintaining the quality of the overall scientific activity in Croatia, including
research projects at higher education institutions. Its major functions are, as follows:
• discusses the issues important for improving scientific activity in Croatia;
• monitors quality and evaluates scientific organizations;
• determines scientific fields, areas and discipline, as well as interdisciplinary
fields of science and arts;
• determines detailed requirements for appointment into science ranks;
• determines detailed requirements for attaining authority to conduct a
procedure for appointment into science ranks;
• appoints members of the scientific field councils, art councils and peer review
groups for evaluation scientific projects;
• proposes the proclamation of the scientific centres of excellence and monitors
their quality; and
• provides its opinion on establishing technology and scientific parks.
The Council submits, in coordination with the National Council for Higher Education,
the annual proposals on the allocation of budget resources for science and higher
education to the Croatian Government.
In October 2005, the National Science Council adopted a new S&T policy document
setting out short-term and long-term priorities, which are listed below:
• Short-term priorities (2006 - 2008) include: Environment, Health, Energy and
materials and Croatian identity.
• Long-term priorities for years 2006 – 2010 are: Knowledge-driven basic
research; Environmental protection and economic development of the Karst
regions, Adriatic coast, sea and islands; Agriculture, biotechnology and food;
Health; Information and communication technologies; Nanoscience, new
materials, construction and new production processes; Energy, sources of
alternative and renewable energy, transport, and security; Social and human
sciences and Croatian identity; Social integration, learning and education,
lifelong learning.
Name: National Council for Competitiveness (NCC)
Contact: Ul. P. Hatza 12, 10000 Zagreb, Republic of Croatia
Email: mira.lenardic@hup.hr
Website: http://nvk.multilink.hr/english/calendar1.asp
The National Competitiveness Council was founded at the beginning of 2002 as the
initiative of the private business sector and the Croatian Employers' Association. Its
formation was supported by a decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
The Council is now the highest forum, in which representatives of the Government
and business community regularly meet to discuss the main challenges faced by the
country’s economy and propose ways to increase the competitiveness of the
business sector.
page 16/HRV