AGP Executive Report

Autonomous Mobility in Zagreb: Pony.ai and Verne launched Europe’s first fully driverless robotaxi passenger testing on public roads, running a 22 km route between Verne’s HQ and Franjo Tuđman Airport, with plans to expand across Zagreb. EV Deal Update: Porsche has completed its exit from Croatia’s Rimac ecosystem, selling its stakes in Rimac Group and Bugatti Rimac to a HOF Capital-led consortium for about €1bn. Local Tech & Logistics: Rijeka Gateway marked its first year in commercial operation, reporting cooperation with Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd and a rail/road cargo split of 42%/58%. Health & Research: A study on self-medication among medical and pharmacy students highlights how common the practice is and why regulation and education matter. Science in the Spotlight: Physicist Brian Cox brings his “Emergence” live show to Sofia, mixing cosmology, biology, philosophy and history for a mainstream audience. Public Safety: Croatia evacuated about 230 people from the island of Brač as a wildfire threatened homes near Milna.

Autonomous Mobility in Croatia: Pony.ai and Verne launched Europe’s first fully driverless robotaxi passenger testing on public roads in Zagreb, starting with a 22 km route to Franjo Tuđman Airport and planning gradual expansion. EV Industry Shake-up: Porsche completed its exit from Rimac—selling its stakes in Rimac Group and Bugatti Rimac to a HOF Capital-led consortium for about €1bn, reshaping leadership at Bugatti Rimac. Logistics & Ports: Rijeka Gateway marked its first year of commercial operations with cooperation from Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, reporting 370k+ TEU handled and a rail/road cargo split of 42/58. Food Safety: Croatia and Bulgaria blocked and destroyed 35+ tonnes of peppers from Albania and North Macedonia after pesticide violations, including proquinazid. Local Tech & Education: A Zagreb school attack injured two people, prompting police investigation and class suspension. Health Tech Research: A case report discusses adapting awake fiberoptic intubation for difficult airways when standard equipment like HFNO isn’t available. Energy Transition: Croatia’s geothermal push was highlighted in the EU-funded GreetGEO study tour, covering projects in Bjelovar and Križevci.

Autonomous Mobility in Zagreb: Pony.ai and Verne launched Europe’s first fully driverless robotaxi passenger testing on public roads in Zagreb, using a 22 km route between Verne’s HQ and Franjo Tuđman Airport, with plans to expand across city zones. Food Safety in the Balkans: Croatia and Bulgaria blocked and moved to destroy over 35 tonnes of peppers shipped from Albania and North Macedonia after lab tests found pesticide levels above food-safety rules. Croatia’s Geothermal Push: A GreetGEO study tour highlighted ongoing geothermal projects in Bjelovar and Križevci, including the Wellovar thermal spa complex and the Korenovo GT-1 well. Smart Transport Policy Watch: Croatia’s new electronic toll system Crolibertas faces scrutiny after procurement appeals, but Croatian Motorways says the legal deadline still stands. Education & Safety: Zagreb police investigated a sharp-object attack at an electrical engineering school; a student and a staff member were injured and classes were postponed for the day. Smart Home Tech: ADI’s C4Yourself 2026 campaign returns with Control4 X4 and dealer-led showcases across Croatia and other markets. Robotaxi Regulation Abroad: Spain issued its first national permits for Level 4 autonomous vehicle testing in Madrid for WeRide and Uber, with commercial operations targeted for end-2026.

Zagreb School Attack: A student and a staff member were injured in a sharp-object attack at an Electrical Engineering School in Konavoska Street; police say the suspected underage attacker was arrested shortly after and classes were postponed for the rest of the day. Automotive Tech Ownership: Porsche has completed its exit from Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group, selling its stakes to an HOF Capital-led consortium for about €1 billion, while Rimac Group keeps majority control—another shift in Croatia’s electrification and unmanned-vehicle ecosystem. Autonomous Driving in Europe: Spain issued its first national Level 4 permits for WeRide and Uber to test robotaxis in Madrid, with commercial operations planned by end-2026. Croatia’s Defense Tech: Croatia signed a €435.2 million deal for 18 South Korean Chunmoo K239 rocket launchers, plus a command-and-control integration contract with Poland’s WB Electronics. Medical Innovation in Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik General Hospital implanted its first next-generation Micra leadless pacemakers, marking a wire-free pacing milestone. Energy & Industry: Croatia’s geothermal push got a spotlight in the EU-funded GreetGEO study tour, featuring projects in Bjelovar and Krizevci.

Autonomous Mobility in Europe: Spain issued its first national Level 4 permit for public-road robotaxi testing, clearing WeRide and Uber (with AVOMO) to start Madrid deployment prep with 20 vehicles and a planned end-of-2026 commercial launch. Croatian Defense Tech: Croatia signed a €435.2M deal for 18 South Korean Chunmoo K239 rocket launchers (delivery 2026–2029) and a separate contract for a command-and-control system integration with Poland’s WB Electronics—plus a €33.2M Rafale combat communications upgrade to strengthen secure ground-to-air networking. Smart Healthcare: Nightingale Health and Genom launched a blood-based risk detection test in Croatia, aiming to estimate 10-year risk for major chronic conditions from a single sample. Local Tech & Business: Infobip marked 20 years in business, highlighting global expansion and a shift toward AI-driven operations. Education & Safety: A Zagreb school incident left a student and a staff member injured; classes were postponed for the rest of the day while police investigate. Education Load Relief (Balkan): Across the region, schools are adding lockers and digital textbooks to reduce heavy schoolbags. Tourism Tech Signal: Booking.com data shows Dubrovnik searches for autumn stays up 56%, pointing to demand beyond the summer peak.

Robotaxis in Europe: Spain issued its first national Level 4 permit for public-road testing to WeRide, Uber and AVOMO, starting with 20 vehicles in Greater Madrid and aiming for commercial service by end-2026. Croatian Tech & Business: Rimac’s ownership reshuffle is now official: Porsche has completed its exit from Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group in a deal worth about €1 billion, while Rimac Group keeps a 55% majority in Bugatti Rimac. Defense Tech in the Region: Croatia signed €435.2M for 18 South Korean Chunmoo K239 rocket launchers (deliveries through 2029) and also agreed a command-and-control integration with Poland’s WB Electronics—part of a broader NATO east-flank arms push. Healthcare Innovation: Dubrovnik General Hospital implanted its first next-generation Micra leadless pacemakers, marking a major cardiology upgrade without chest incisions or leads. AI in Healthcare: Nightingale Health and Genom will roll out a blood-based risk detection test across Croatia’s clinics and labs, targeting long-term risk for major chronic conditions. Smart Cities & Infrastructure: Croatian Motorways says the Crolibertas toll system replacement is still on track within legal deadlines despite recent procurement delays. Autonomous Mobility Elsewhere: Pony.ai reports phased progress toward driverless robotaxi operations in Doha, including fully driverless rides without safety staff during the forum. Smart Home Marketing: ADI’s C4Yourself 2026 campaign expands with Control4 X4 showcases across Croatia and the region.

Medical Tech in Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik General Hospital has implanted its first next-generation Micra leadless pacemakers, placing tiny devices inside the heart via a blood vessel (no chest incision or traditional leads) for three patients with normal results right after surgery. Croatian AI Business: Infobip marks 20 years in business with global expansion and a shift toward AI-driven operations, reporting 17.5% revenue growth last year and expecting another 20% in 2026. Defense & Secure Networks: Croatia signed a €33.2M deal to upgrade Rafale combat communications with Thales’ Ground-to-Air Networks (GAN), adding secure voice, tactical data links and cybersecurity via seven ground radio sites (2026–2030). EU Cyber Compliance: The EU Cyber Resilience Act starts mandatory reporting for actively exploited vulnerabilities and severe incidents on Sept. 11, 2026, with potential penalties for unprepared organizations. Education Pressure (PISA): New OECD PISA results show record-low reading and maths performance, with Croatia among EU countries below the OECD average—raising alarms about digitalisation and weaker reading habits. Sustainable Fisheries: A new GFCM technical unit was inaugurated in Split to strengthen science-based cooperation and sustainable Adriatic fisheries management. Transport Tech: Croatia’s Crolibertas toll system is said to be on track within legal deadlines despite procurement delays and appeals. Tech in Motion: Pony.ai says Doha’s robotaxi rollout is moving toward fully driverless operations, with phased commercial progress via Mowasalat’s Karwa app. Energy Storage: ProLogium started mass production of lithium-ceramic solid-state cells in Taiwan, targeting higher energy density and faster charging for EVs. Tourism Demand Signal: Booking.com data shows Dubrovnik searches for autumn stays up 56%, pointing to demand beyond the traditional summer peak.

EU Cyber Resilience Act: From Sept. 11, EU sellers of digital products must start mandatory incident and vulnerability reporting for actively exploited flaws and severe events, with penalties and possible market bans for unprepared firms. Croatia Tech & Security: Croatia signed a €33.2M deal to upgrade the Air Force’s Rafale combat communications (GAN), adding secure voice, tactical data links and cybersecurity via seven ground radio sites through 2030. AI Privacy Research: A new study on federated learning highlights how “honest-but-curious” servers can still infer private data, proposing FedFIHE to decide what to share with practical encryption. Energy Storage: ProLogium says it has begun mass production of lithium-ceramic solid-state cells in Taiwan, verified by TÜV Rheinland and UL Solutions, aiming to boost energy density and safety. Education Signals: OECD PISA 2025 shows steep global declines in reading, maths and science, with Croatia among EU countries below the OECD average. Local Infrastructure: Croatian Motorways insists Crolibertas toll rollout stays within legal deadlines despite procurement appeals. Environment Watch: New USKOK-linked expert findings report microplastics around waste sites in Benkovac and Gospić, as public pressure grows over hazardous waste dumping. Tourism Tech: Croatia launched “Meet Croatia,” a digital platform meant to centralize bookings across the fragmented Adriatic tourism market. Robotaxi Outlook: Pony.ai’s CEO predicts robotaxis could be widespread within five years, with expansion plans including Europe and Croatia-linked deployments.

A2P SMS Expansion: DIDWW expanded its application-to-person SMS service to Croatia, Romania, Belgium and Norway, bringing coverage to 53 countries so businesses can send authentication codes and notifications via the same API and delivery reporting. Public Safety Tech: Croatia is tendering 40 new fixed high-tech radars with 120 camera housings, capable of catching wrong-way driving and illegal overtaking as well as speeding. Environmental Accountability: USKOK released new expert findings on microplastic pollution tied to waste sites near Benkovac and Gospić, adding detail to an ongoing hazardous waste investigation. Digital Tourism: The new “Meet Croatia” platform launched to centralize bookings by connecting travelers directly with local tourism providers across Croatia. Sustainable Fisheries Science: GFCM and FAO set up a new Adriatic Sea technical unit in Split to strengthen science-based, sustainable fisheries cooperation across the region. Local Tech & Industry: An Osijek company GAUSS will build a Vukovar facility to develop AI-driven unmanned systems, aiming to start operations next year. Education & Skills: OECD PISA 2025 results show global declines in reading and maths, with Croatia among EU countries scoring below the OECD average. Sports Infrastructure: Zagreb opened Bazen Špansko, a €36.3M sports centre with the city’s first municipal pool in the western district, built with accessibility and renewable energy features.

Robotaxis & Mobility: Pony.ai CEO James Peng says robotaxis could be widespread within five years, arguing the tech problem is “pretty much already solved,” and points to expansion via Uber partnerships that include Zagreb, Croatia. Education & AI Impact: New OECD PISA 2025 results show 15-year-olds’ reading, maths and reasoning at record-low levels, with declines linked to digitalisation and less recreational reading—Croatia is among EU countries scoring below the OECD average. Health Threat: A drug-resistant ringworm fungus, Trichophyton indotineae, is spreading across more countries, including resistance to terbinafine, raising global public health concern. Croatia Tech & Industry: Osijek’s GAUSS plans a Vukovar facility to develop AI-driven unmanned systems, aiming for operations in Q2 next year. Environment in Croatia: USKOK-backed expert findings flag microplastic contamination in groundwater tied to improperly stored waste near Varaždin and Gospić. Energy Planning (Region): Slovenia plans to accelerate preparations for Krsko 2, including spatial planning and uncertainty reduction, with a Western supplier expected.

Education Tech Shock: The OECD’s PISA 2025 results show 15-year-olds’ reading and maths skills at the weakest levels in 25 years, with digitalisation and less recreational reading blamed for declines across science, reading and maths. Croatia in the Mix: Croatia is among EU countries scoring below the OECD average in all three subjects, while the report warns the biggest drop is in skills needed in the AI age—critical thinking and evaluating information. Local Learning Push: Croatia’s education minister kicked off the new school year urging pupils to be curious, brave and persistent, and to treat mistakes as part of learning. Energy & Industry: Slovenia plans to accelerate preparations for Krsko 2, aiming to speed spatial planning and reduce investment uncertainty, with a Western supplier expected. Clean Tech & Circularity: Croatian scientists are testing whether sheep wool (about 900 tonnes a year) can be turned into organic fertiliser pellets. EU Consumer Policy: The EU’s Right to Repair push targets cheaper appliance repairs and aims to save consumers up to €12 billion. Smart Mobility: Croatia’s Crolibertas will replace toll booths with free-flow electronic charging from March 2027. Robotics & Health: Dubrovnik lit up in red for Duchenne awareness, while a new study links 1,260 genetic variants to Big Five personality traits.

Autonomous Mobility in the Region: Kakao Mobility says its Seoul robotaxi fleet hit 82.5% vehicle utilization, arguing the real edge is not sensors but routing rides through the Kakao T demand layer. Environmental Risk Watch in Croatia: USKOK reports microplastic contamination in groundwater tied to improperly stored waste near Gospić, with expert findings also flagging mixed waste and antimony sludge at a Varaždin site. Smart Transport Upgrade: Croatia is preparing Crolibertas, a fully electronic tolling system using Multi-Lane Free Flow tech, aiming to end toll-booth queues from March 2027. Energy Policy & Nuclear Options: Croatia’s government is launching non-binding talks on nuclear tech, including small modular and advanced modular reactors, as part of an autumn energy-measures package. Education & STEM Mindset: Education Minister Radovan Fuchs urged students to be curious, brave, and persistent as the new school year starts. Health Data: Eurostat puts Croatia’s adult obesity rate at 16.5% in 2025, with experts pointing to diet shifts and low activity. AI in Education: A new review argues generative AI reshapes how students are recognized and judged, with big implications for inequality. Maritime Tech: MacGregor secured a RoRo equipment order for TT-Line’s battery-hybrid LNG Green Ship 2.0 ferries.

Environmental Science: USKOK reports microplastic contamination in groundwater tied to improperly stored waste at sites in Varaždin and Gospić, with experts flagging mixed waste, sludge-like material, and other pollutants. Education & Society: Croatia’s Education Minister Radovan Fuchs kicked off the new school year urging pupils to be curious, brave, and persistent—and reminded them that mistakes are part of learning. Public Health: Eurostat data puts Croatia’s adult obesity rate at 16.5% (2025), pointing to diet shifts and low activity as key drivers. Energy Policy: The Croatian Government is preparing an autumn measures package and has started a non-binding information process on nuclear options, including small modular and advanced modular reactors. Defense Tech: Croatia approved a €544.05m deal for 18 South Korean K239 Chunmoo rocket launchers, plus command-and-control systems, as part of military modernization. AI & Education Research: A new review argues generative AI reshapes how students are judged by changing the “meaning” of prompts, rubrics, and feedback—potentially widening or deepening inequality. Science & Tech in Croatia: A new Adriatic Sea fisheries unit was inaugurated in Split to strengthen science-based fisheries management. Tech & Mobility: Croatia is moving toward Crolibertas, an electronic tolling system using free-flow multi-lane collection to replace toll booths from March 2027.

Health & Lifestyle: Eurostat data puts Croatia’s adult obesity rate at 16.5% in 2025, with 35.4% of EU adults classed as pre-obese—experts link the trend to processed food, less movement, and changing daily routines. Science: A massive Nature study of 1.1M people finds 1,260 genetic variants tied to the Big Five personality traits, including hundreds newly linked to traits like conscientiousness and neuroticism. Transport Tech: Croatia is moving to Crolibertas, a fully electronic, free-flow tolling system starting March 2027, aiming to cut queues, travel time, and emissions without switching to vignettes. Energy Policy: The Croatian government is preparing an autumn package that includes nuclear options, with non-binding talks on small and advanced modular reactor technologies and potential suppliers. Defense & Industry: Croatia approved a €544.05M deal for 18 South Korean K239 Chunmoo rocket launchers (2026–2029), plus command-and-control systems. Marine Science: A new Adriatic Sea fisheries unit in Split was inaugurated to strengthen science-based management across shared waters. AI & Education: A new review argues generative AI reshapes how students are recognized and judged, potentially widening or entrenching inequality depending on how it’s used. Mobility & Robotics (EU): Uber and Wayve’s supervised robotaxi rollout in London continues, with the debate shifting to how much humans still matter and what the job impact looks like.

Genetics Breakthrough: An international study in Nature links 1,260 genetic variants to the Big Five personality traits, using data from 1.1M+ people across 13–15 countries—most variants were new, including big jumps for conscientiousness and neuroticism. Croatia Transport Tech: Croatia is preparing Crolibertas, a fully electronic, free-flow tolling system planned for March 2027, aiming to cut queues, travel time, and emissions without switching to vignettes. Energy & Industry: EcoCortec’s VpCI packaging claims to eliminate the washing and degreasing step for metal parts, reducing energy use, waste, and VOC exposure in manufacturing. AI & Education: A new review argues generative AI reshapes how students are “recognized” and judged, potentially widening or deepening inequality depending on how it’s built into classrooms and policy. Autonomous Mobility (Local): Uber and Wayve start supervised robotaxi rides in London using modified Ford Mustang Mach-E cars, while the same partnership is already active in Zagreb. Defense Modernisation: Croatia approved a €544M deal for 18 South Korean K239 Chunmoo rocket launchers, with delivery planned 2026–2029.

Croatia’s Defence Upgrade: The Croatian government approved a €544.05M deal for 18 South Korean K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, with delivery planned from 2026–2029 and a command-and-control system from Poland’s WB Electronics. Adriatic Science & Fisheries: A new FAO GFCM subregional fisheries unit was inaugurated in Split to strengthen science-based management as climate pressure and fishing intensity rise. Autonomous Mobility in Croatia/UK: Uber and Wayve launched supervised autonomous taxi rides in London using AI-equipped Ford Mustang Mach-E cars, with a licensed safety driver onboard; the rollout follows Uber’s earlier autonomous service in Zagreb. AI in Education: A new review argues generative AI reshapes how students are “recognized” and judged, potentially widening or entrenching inequality depending on how it’s deployed. Genetics Research: A three-generation study explores genetic clues in Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, a hard-to-diagnose condition often needing biopsy confirmation. Local Tech Culture: Štrudlafest in Jaškovo added a “Tesla Corner” linking traditional food culture with science and innovation. Business Under Tariffs (Canada): Ottawa announced $11.6M for Saskatoon projects to help firms invest in automation and new markets amid U.S. tariff uncertainty.