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Unity Through Knowledge Fund Granted HRK 4.5 million to Young Researchers and Researchers Returnees for Science Projects
HRK 4.5 million worth agreements for the financial support of science and technology projects of twelve young Croatian researchers and researchers returnees have been signed today at a ceremony held at the Golden Hall of the Croatian Institute of History in Zagreb. The funds for the support of the mentioned projects have been ensured through Unity Through Knowledge Fund (UKF) set up in 2007 by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports with the help of the World Bank loan.
This is the first call for proposals carried out within the framework of the UKF’s Young Researchers and Professionals Programme. Apart from providing young researchers with an opportunity to lead their research programs for the first time autonomously, this program also facilitates their permanent cooperation with foreign institutions and industries, which will attract additional financing both from international sources and from the industry.
A total of 88 project proposals were submitted and after two evaluation rounds, carried out with the help of more than 60 independent and anonymous evaluators, twelve projects have been finally selected. The approval rate in this call for proposals amounted to only 13%, which is in line with the approval rate for similar research financing calls in Europe. The projects have been selected with the help of two commissions composed of renowned Croatian scientists as well as professionals from the industry, including Prof. Dr. Sc. Stjepan Car, Prof. Dr. Sc. Mile Dželalija, Prof. Dr. Sc. Astrid Krmpotić, Dr. Sc. Krunoslav Kovačević, Prof. Dr. Sc. Saša Zelenika as well as other prominent researchers.
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