National Innovation Council helping inventors to absorb more EU funds

The first session of the National Innovation Council was held in the Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Ministry on Friday, paving the way to creating prerequisites for a more adequate and a more dynamic absorption of EU funds, earmarked for inventors.

The National Innovation Council was set up in July to coordinate the implementation of the smart specialisation strategy (S3) for the 2016-2020 period.

Economy Minister Darko Horvat said three councils have already been set up -- the innovation council in the industry sector, the national human resources council and the national science and technology council.

He also underscored cooperation between several ministries -- Regional Development and EU Funds Ministry, Science and Education Ministry, Labour and Pension System Ministry, and the Economy Ministry which has already withdrawn approximately HRK 800 million from EU structural funds for the implementation of the S3 strategy.

Horvat said that this government planned to raise the investment into Research and Development (R&D) to a level of 1.4% of Gross Domestic Product in 2019.

Science and Education Minister Blazenka Divjak said it was the the National Innovation Council's job to make Croatian enterprenuers and innovators feel good and use the knowledge, technologies and researches developed abroad.

The council will be co-chaired by Divjak and Horvat.

Text: Hina

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