Made in Croatia

More incredible international recognition for Croatian innovation as Zagreb innovators have won no less than the world's most prestigious accolades for their coastal protection system. As Sergej Novosel Vuckovic/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 17th of August, 2019, the talented Croatian innovators won the bronze medal at the 47th International Innovation Exhibition (GInventions) in Geneva back in April, recognition as the overall winner (Grand Prix) at the 11th International Agro Heart Innovation Fair in Agriculture, Food Processing and Agricultural Machinery at the end of the same month in Karlovac, and then, as the crown of this already glittering series, the Croatian…

Croatian innovation is well known across the world as some of the best. In an ironic twist of fate, Croatia continues to export its brightest minds abroad, allowing them to realise their ideas in countries which recognise the need for less draconian laws, Croatian products which have been made in Croatia continue to receive awards and gain recognition around the globe. As Lara Bagar/Glas Istre writes on the 14th of August, 2019, as many as eighteen projects were awarded, and Croatian lighting designer Dean Skira's project was the only one awarded in the category of energy efficiency and environmental protection.…

As Lucija Spiljak/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 13th of August, 2019, after CRANE invested 100,000 euros in them, the young Croatian team got a spring in their step and and created a game that has become a worldwide hit. The director has announced the completion of the game this year. Last November, eleven members of the Croatian Business Angels Network - CRANE, invested 100,000 euros into a gaming studio and startup called Hyperion Studio from Jastrebarsko, which released the computer survival game ''Journey of Life''. Not even one year later, this Croatian game found itself on Steam's list of the…

As Novac/Lea Balenovic writes on the 12th of August, 2019, after two years of hard work, sleepless nights, laboratory tests, assurances from professors that the project is feasible, then rolled up sleeves and "physicals", students of the Zagreb Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FSB) created their first electric car, which is also the first Croatian electric race car, and they have already tested it. The FSB Racing Team has actually been in existence for fifteen years already, and their story began as far back as in 2004, when one of the FSB students and Formula One enthusiasts were surfing…

As Novac writes on the 10th of August, 2019, one of the oldest Croatian companies, Čakovec's Čateks, has contracted a deal worth up to three million euros with the Slovenian Ministry of Defence. This is a Croatian textile company that produces specialised high quality fabrics for both the medical and military industries. ''What this is, is a special NYCO Cordura fabric (nylon/cotton), which is specific owing to its exceptional strength and wear resistance,'' Davor Sabolić, director of Čateks, explained to novo.hr. The material it is made from also reduces the damage incurred by flames. This type of fabric, he said,…

August 10, 2019 - A new chapter for the troubled Dalmacijavino winery in Stari Grad, and a fantastic opportunity to develop the Hvar gourmet story.  When it opened in 1952, it was the most modern and beautiful winery in Croatia. Oenologist, agronomist and engineer Vanja Zanko returned from Provence in 1948 and started to build a new winery in Stari Grad, which was finally completed in 1952. (The opening of the winery in 1952) After initial glory years, the Dalmacijavino winery fell upon hard times, and it has been sitting unwanted and unused on the entrance to Stari Grad for…

August 9, 2019 - Not everyone is emigrating. Meet LinArs, a Varazdin startup trying to build something at home rather than abroad.  I met a REALLY lovely man in a shop in Varazdin last week who gave me excellent customer service, really very impressive. He was also very personable, and we got talking a little after we had concluded the transaction. I told him I ran a news portal in English about Croatia, and his reaction was very endearing.  "My daughter and son-in-law have just started a business in Varazdin, if that might be of interest to you and if…

August 8, 2019 - One of the best traditional gourmet stories in Dalmatia goes from strength to strength, as Restaurant Zbondini's lavender cheesecake proves a hit in Velo Grablje on Hvar.   It is a story I have followed for many years, and in era where many are looking for the quick buck serving average food, the story looks all the more impressive.  He, a former employee of one of Dalmatia's most high-profile and enigmatic winemakers, Andro Tomic.  She, the daughter of one of the most hard-working and respected restaurateurs in Hvar Town, Djordje and Danica Tudor at Djordjota Vartal next…

August 7, 2019 - As the Samoan klapa sensations continue their tour of Croatia, are there any other examples of Croatian traditions and culture in unusual places? Oh yes...  TCN appeared in the Samoa Observer this week, the first time we have written for a publication in the Pacific. The topic, of course, was the wonderful Klapa Samoana, the Samoan Dalmatian klapa group who have taken Croatia to their hearts and won many Croatian admirers in the process, both inside Croatia and the diaspora.  I caught up with Christian from Klapa Samoana after a wonderful performance on top of the…

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Sergej Novosel Vuckovic writes on the 5th of August, 2019, in the height of the tourist season, more specifically in mid-July, in the small Petrijanec municipality just north of Varaždin County and on the border with Medjimurje (Croatia) and neighbouring Slovenia, two young men decided to open a facility to produce filaments for 3D (three-dimensional) printers. They are the only ones to do so in all of Croatia. Valentino Jovan and David Lukaček are both 28 years of age and are good friends, the first of the two is an expert in mechanical engineering, and the second graduated…