EFST Talks: Technology and Innovation as Key Drivers of Croatia’s Economic Development
May 15, 2026
A panel discussion titled Technology and Innovation as Key Drivers of Croatia’s Economic Development was held at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Split, bringing together representatives from academia, industry and the financial sector.
Participants emphasized that innovation and technological progress are essential drivers of long‑term economic growth. They also highlighted that, for Croatia to make a significant leap forward, stronger cooperation between the scientific community, the business sector and financial institutions is necessary, along with more effective transformation of knowledge into concrete market solutions.
The panel included Siniša Krajnović, PhD, President of the Management Board of Ericsson Nikola Tesla, Prof. Vedran Bilas, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Josip Koren, Head of Risk Management at Erste Asset Management, Prof. Branimir Lela, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture at the University of Split, Ivan Paić, Management Board Member at Končar, and Danica Ramljak, PhD, Senior Science and Innovation Consultant at the World Bank.
The discussion was moderated by Prof. Bruno Ćorić, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Split.
“We have the knowledge — the challenge is to turn it into innovations that create new value. That is the key to Croatia’s long‑term economic growth,” emphasized Siniša Krajnović.
The panel reaffirmed that continuous investment in research and development, strengthening the innovation ecosystem and systematic cooperation between education and industry are crucial for competitiveness and sustainable development.
