Institutional Framework

(i) In the framework of Science and Technology Project (STP) that is financed by the World Bank Loan No. 7320-HR, a program called “Unity through Knowledge Fund” (UKF) has been established. The motto of the program is: CONNECTIVITY, COOPERABILITY, CREATIVITY. This Fund will work on connecting the scientific and professional potential of Croatian Diaspora with the Croatia.

(ii) After succesfully accomplished Science and Technology Project (STP I), Government of the Republic of Croatia and the World Bank signed the Advance Agreement for Preparation of Proposed Second Science and Technology Project Preparation Advance No. IBRD P4640-HR (STP II).

(iii) Ministry of Science, Education and Sport (MSES) holds general responsibility for Preparation Advance of Proposed Second Science and Technology Project. The objective of the PPA is to facilitate the preparation of Proposed Second Science and Technology Project.
UKF is a component of PPA and is managed by the Sector for Science and Technology development in MSES.
 

 Organization & Management


(i) In order to manage the UKF, the MSES has nominated two committees with strictly separated duties: Steering Committee (SC) and Approval Committee (AC).

(ii) Steering Committee is in charge of communications, objective-based initiations of individual UKF programs, final designs of individual proposals, and similar operational tasks. SC is also responsible for coordination and successful implementation of all UKF’s programs and activities, in accordance with directions, plans and agreed procedures. SC establishes strategy of the UKF, proposes specific programs to Approval Committee and announces programs, controls a quality of evaluation process and assesses compliance of project applications with Fund’s goals and is in charge of final evaluations and approvals. The SC has been nominated by MSES on 03 July 2012, with following members: 

 

1. Prof. Mile Dželalija, Ph.D. (Faculty of Science, University of Split), president
2. Krunoslav Kovačević, Ph.D. (Glapagos Research Centre Zagreb Ltd., Zagreb)
3. Prof. Astrid Krmpotić, Ph.D. (University of Rijeka, School of Medicine)
4. Bojan Žagrović, Ph.D. (Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna)
5. Prof. Kristian Vlahoviček, PhD. (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science)
6. Darko Huljenić, Ph.D. (Ericsson Nikola Tesla d.d., Zagreb)

(ii) Approval Committee is an independent body which is in charge of final approval of the specific programs and final evaluations of the programs.  The AC has been nominated by MSES on 10 July 2012, with following members:

1. Tome Antičić, Ph.D. (The Institute Rudjer Bošković, Zagreb), president
2. Prof. Ante Uglešić, Ph.D. (University of Zadar)
3. Ivica Mudrinić (T-Hrvatski telekom d.d.)
4. Prof. Željko Bošnjak, Ph.D. (Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, SAD)
5. Kristina Ferara Blašković (Ministry of Science, Education and Sports)

(iii) The UKF Secretariat is the executive office of the UKF in charge of operational activities with the like: promotion of the Program, business and financial planning, proposing of UKF working strategy to SC, selection of evaluators, coordination of monitoring of approved projects, etc. The UKF Secretariat is run by the UKF Program Manager, as the principal executive. Since 1 November 2008 Program manager is Alessia Pozzi. It also includes a Program Analyst (Dijana Juroš) and a Program Assistant (Anita Pilić), who administer the Program and report to the Program Manager.
 
(iv) The other subjects involved in operations of the UKF are BICRO and PMU. BICRO provides the necessary logistic-operational support (business premises, computer and network equipment, supply of office material, consultancy). The PMU deals with all aspects of PPA in general, as procurement, financial management, compliance of sub projects with Environmental Management Framework.