HRVATSKA ZAKLADA ZA ZNANOST

Their core work

The Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) is Croatia's primary national agency for competitive research funding. In H2020, it participates in transnational ERA-NET Cofund schemes, pooling national funds with other European funding agencies to finance cross-border research in areas like quantum technologies, blue bioeconomy, and digital humanities. Its role is not to perform research but to co-fund it — selecting and financing Croatian research teams that join international consortia. It also supports science communication and public engagement, as seen in its involvement in European Researchers' Night.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In its early H2020 period (2016-2019), the Foundation focused on quantum technologies and general science popularization, establishing its role in ERA-NET co-funding mechanisms. From 2021 onward, it broadened significantly — continuing quantum tech investment through QuantERA II while branching into blue bioeconomy (BlueBio) and digital humanities/social sciences (CHANSE). This widening scope suggests a deliberate national strategy to connect Croatian researchers to European funding across a broader disciplinary range, moving beyond physical sciences into life sciences and humanities.

HRZZ is expanding from its quantum technologies base into marine bioresources and digital humanities, signaling Croatia's intent to participate in a wider range of European transnational research programs.

How they like to work

HRZZ always participates as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with its role as a national funding agency joining networks of peer agencies. Its 88 unique partners across 32 countries reflect the structure of ERA-NET Cofunds, which typically unite 20-30+ national funders per network. Working with HRZZ means accessing the Croatian national research funding pipeline: they select and finance domestic teams to participate in transnational calls.

With 88 partners across 32 countries, HRZZ has an exceptionally broad network — but this is characteristic of ERA-NET Cofund participation, where many national funding agencies join the same instruments. The geographic reach spans nearly all EU member states and associated countries.

What sets them apart

As Croatia's national competitive research funder, HRZZ is the gateway for accessing Croatian research talent through European co-funded calls. For consortium builders, partnering with HRZZ in an ERA-NET means Croatian research groups can receive national co-funding for their participation. This makes HRZZ valuable not as a research performer but as a funding bridge — it brings Croatian national budget to the table and manages the domestic call process.

Highlights from their portfolio

• QuantERA II
  Largest single EC contribution (€154,603) and continuation of a flagship quantum technologies ERA-NET, demonstrating long-term strategic commitment to quantum research funding.
• CHANSE
  Marks a significant disciplinary expansion into humanities and social sciences, the only non-STEM ERA-NET in HRZZ's H2020 portfolio (€123,620).
• BlueBio
  Opens a new thematic area for HRZZ — marine and aquatic bioresources — connecting Croatian researchers to the blue bioeconomy agenda.