President Milanović Informed about Cooperation between University of Rijeka and Business Community

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović visited today the University of Rijeka, where he held a meeting with Rector Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, her associates and representatives of businesses that have established cooperation with the University of Rijeka.

At the meeting held at the Rectorate of the University of Rijeka, President Milanović was briefed on the activities and projects implemented at the university as part of its knowledge transfer programme. Rector Prijić-Samaržija informed President Milanović about cooperation between the University of Rijeka and the business community, national institutions, and entities at the local and regional levels, while Vice Rector for Strategic Projects Saša Zelenika presented to the President the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) project and knowledge transfer activities at the University of Rijeka.

After the meeting, President Milanović said he is always pleased to visit the University of Rijeka. “I distinguish a fad on the one hand from modernity that implies novelty and participation in useful trends,” said the President of the Republic, explaining that the University of Rijeka is modern in the positive sense of the word and that he is eager to learn about the projects presented to him.

Rector Prijić-Samaržija underscored that the intention of the University of Rijeka is to promote the idea of innovation ecosystems, i.e. knowledge transfer and that the meeting aimed to “introduce the President to everything we do in Rijeka, on how to transform the city and the region through quality cooperation between universities, businesses and local and regional communities,” she said. “Our goal is for the University of Rijeka to be a 3^rd and 4^th generation University, one that not only educates and does research, but is present in the community by connecting human resources and preparing students for the business world, because companies surely need capable employees. We also want our scientists who left to return,” said Rector Prijić-Samaržija.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the leading business partners of the University of Rijeka, who acquainted President Milanović with their companies’ operations: President of the Board of Directors of JGL – Jadran galenski laboratorij Ivo Usmiani, Executive Director of the company Lürssen Designe Center Kvarner / Maritime Center of Excellence Kvarner Teuta Duletić, Executive Director of the company Gitone Kvarner Ana Odak, President of Ericsson Nikola Tesla Group Gordana Kovačević, Director of Digital Services and Operations at Ericsson Nikola Tesla Hrvoje Benčić and Board member of the company Infobip Marin Bezić.

Attending the meeting alongside representatives of the University of Rijeka and businesspeople were Head of the Directorate for Science and Technology at the Ministry of Science and Education Hrvoje Meštrić, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Prefect Zlatko Komadina, Rijeka Mayor Marko Filipović and Deputy Rijeka Mayor Goran Palčevski.

Attending the meeting alongside President Milanović were Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for the Economy Velibor Mačkić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka Žarković, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić and Commissioner of the President of the Republic for Sports Željko Jovanović.

Prior to the meeting at the University of Rijeka, President Milanović also held meetings with Rijeka Mayor Marko Filipović and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Prefect Zlatko Komadina. 

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan