|
The Republic of Croatia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) signed a Loan Agreement for the Project STP II
The beneficiaries of the Second Science and Technology Project (STP II) for which the Loan Agreement was signed on May, 22, 2013 are the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Unity through Knowledge Fund (UKF) and the Business Innovation Croatian Agency (BICRO), as well as other organizations from the research and innovation sector, small and medium-sized enterprises involved in research and innovation and the "start-up" companies based on knowledge, scientists from national and international institutions for research and development and technology transfer offices (TTO) of Croatian universities and research institutes.
The Loan Agreement for the Second Science and Technology Project (STP II) in the amount of EUR 20 million was signed by the Minister of Finance, Slavko Linic, on behalf of the Republic of Croatia and the World Bank Country Manager for Croatia, Hongjoo Hahm, on behalf of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
The development objective of the Second Science and Technology Project (STP II) is to support Croatia in the absorption of EU funds in the field of research and innovation by capacity building of selected public sector organizations and encouraging the business and scientific communities to compete to obtain these funds. The project beneficiaries are policy makers in the field of research and innovation - the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (MSES) in particular.
The project is based on the successful cooperation and completion of Croatian Science and Technology Project (STP), which resulted in the development of the Croatian national innovation system, in particular by improving the capacity of public research organizations for commercialization of research results. It is planned that the Second Science and Technology Project (STP II) continues with the dual approach of the STP, combining technical assistance (TA) to the public sector and the financing of programs which support research, development and innovation in small and medium-sized businesses and public research institutions. Through the Project STP and with the help of Business Innovation Croatian Agency (BICRO) and the Unity through Knowledge Fund (UKF), it will be continued with providing support and assistance to selected public institutions in the drafting and implementation of projects financed by the EU funds.
|
