12 November 2026 – Oikon experts were elected vice-chairs of two of the seven Thematic Innovation Councils (TICs) constituted at the Zagreb Innovation Centre. The councils are advisory and coordination bodies set up under the Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Republic of Croatia to 2029, and Oikon takes part in three of them.
Andreja Pavlović, Head of Oikon’s Department of Sustainability and Climate Resilience, was elected vice-chair of the council for smart and clean energy, while Ivan Tomljenović, PhD, Head of the Oikon Institute, was elected vice-chair of the council for digital products and platforms. In the council for sustainable and circular food we are represented by two more colleagues, Ivona Žiža and Vladimir Kušan, PhD.
The memberships were confirmed by the National Innovation Council following an evaluation of the expressions of interest received. The councils bring together representatives of business, scientific organisations and the public sector, and their recommendations will feed into the design of future calls and support schemes for research and development across the seven priority areas. Operational support for their work comes from the project Strengthening the European Centre for Innovation, Advanced Technologies and Skills Development, worth 8.6 million euros, implemented by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth and the Ministry of Economy, with HAMAG-BICRO as the implementing body.
The energy transition and digital solutions, as well as sustainable food systems, all rest on environmental and nature data, on spatial analysis and on impact assessment, so we bring to the councils our experience in environmental impact assessment, climate resilience, environmental monitoring and remote sensing. We see that contribution above all in drawing up the strategic plans for individual areas, where the opportunities and challenges that go on to shape funding measures are identified.
The councils continue their work in the period ahead, and a repeated public call for expressions of interest in joining them has been announced.
Congratulations to our colleagues on their election as vice-chairs of the thematic innovation councils.
