AGP Executive Report

Vocational Upskilling: Šibenik’s Industrial-Craft School is launching a three-year handyman and maintenance training programme to meet Croatia’s growing demand for practical, job-ready skills. Smart Aquaculture: Šibenik also opened the “Smart Shellfish Farm” pilot, a sensor- and sonar-equipped platform for monitoring sea conditions and optimizing mussel growth using real-time marine data. Maritime Autonomy: Rijeka is positioning itself as a hub for autonomous vessels and maritime innovation, building a smart marina testing environment for AI- and sensor-driven navigation and safety trials. Health Tech Breakthrough: A new study highlights how “glycans” (cell-surface sugar patterns) could act as an early warning system, potentially flagging diseases like type 2 diabetes years before diagnosis. AI + Precision Medicine in Dubrovnik: More than 600 international experts gathered in Dubrovnik for an ISABS conference focused on AI in healthcare, precision medicine, and forensic genetics, including talks on faster, more accurate scan analysis. Cyber Defense Exercise: Croatia hosted Combined Adriatic Cyber Endeavor 2026, bringing together cyber teams from multiple European countries and U.S. National Guard partners to strengthen regional cyber readiness. Science & Society: A survey reported over half of Croatians believe a cancer conspiracy theory, underscoring the challenge of public trust as cancer research advances.

EU Enlargement: The European Union has opened the first membership negotiation “cluster” talks with Ukraine and Moldova, with EU leaders framing it as support for peace and security after Russia’s renewed attacks. Croatian Defense Tech: At Eurosatory in Paris, FISAZA showcased an automated production line aimed at removing a key ammunition bottleneck—filling primers and initiating caps—by replacing slow, high-risk manual steps with a scalable system. Regional Cybersecurity: Croatia’s Armed Forces hosted Combined Adriatic Cyber Endeavor (CACE) 2026, bringing together cyber teams from multiple European countries and U.S. National Guard partners to train and coordinate defenses. Smart Glasses: Meta’s Ray-Ban Scriber Optics Gen 2 review highlights prescription smart glasses that aim to feel more like everyday eyewear than a gadget. Croatia Tech & Travel: Unforgettable Croatia completed a Starlink WiFi rollout across its fleet for faster onboard connectivity. Work Trends: Eurostat data shows Croatia has very low remote-work rates compared with much of Northern Europe. Health & Society: A survey reports over half of Croatians endorse a dangerous cancer conspiracy claim, underscoring the need for science communication.

Space & Connectivity: Unforgettable Croatia says it has finished rolling out SpaceX’s Starlink WiFi across its six-ship fleet, aiming for faster onboard internet for streaming, messaging and remote work along the Dalmatian coast. Tech & Industry in Croatia: A controversial “Topusko AI centre” plan is being pitched as a major national tech project, with reports tracing the idea back to a solar-and-land concept that would use sheep grazing under panels. Science & Research (Croatia-linked): The European Aquaculture Society announced plenary speakers for its 2026 conference in Ljubljana, including Jurica Jug-Dujaković (Croatia) on aquaculture resilience and sustainability. EU Defence Tech: Cyprus’ and the EU’s Safe defence programme deal is expanding procurement access to Canada, with Croatia’s defence minister praising the agreement as a way to speed up equipment and technology sourcing. World Cup Tech & Media: Sky launches “Real Time” channels to cut streaming delay for BBC/ITV World Cup broadcasts, reducing spoiler risk for viewers. Croatia in Global Spotlight: LeBron James visited Dubrovnik during the E1 electric powerboat event, where Croatia’s government backed the series with €1m per year for 2026–2028.

World Cup Tech & Broadcast: Sky rolls out “Real Time” channels for BBC/ITV matches, cutting streaming delay so fans see goals with fewer spoilers. Sports Tech & Data: Brazil leans on sensor “smart vests” and sports science to track movement, fatigue and recovery ahead of key matches. AI & Compliance in Croatia: Raptoric launches security testing for high-risk AI systems under the EU AI Act, targeting robustness and attacks like prompt injection. Local Tech/Business: The controversial Topusko AI centre idea reportedly started with a solar plan and using sheep to manage vegetation under panels. Croatia in the Spotlight: LeBron James visits Dubrovnik during the E1 electric powerboat event, highlighting Croatia’s push for tech-linked international events. Security & Logistics: Two men face charges after stealing about €18,000 of England World Cup gear en route to Kansas City. EU Policy: EU opens first accession talks cluster for Ukraine and Moldova, a long process that could reshape regional tech and governance timelines.

AI & Data Infrastructure: Croatia’s controversial Topusko AI centre idea traces back to a solar plan where sheep would graze under panels—an unusual start for a major Pantheon digital-and-energy push. Cybersecurity: Raptoric launched security testing for high-risk AI systems under the EU AI Act, while Croatia hosted the regional Combined Adriatic Cyber Endeavor (CACE) exercise with partners from across Europe and the US National Guard. Marine Science & Conservation: In Pula, researchers are racing to save the noble pen shell from extinction, after mass die-offs across the Mediterranean. Sports Tech & Wearables: Brazil is using sensor “smart vests” to track player movement, fatigue and recovery ahead of World Cup 2026 decisions. EU Policy: The EU opened the first accession negotiations cluster for Ukraine and Moldova, a process that can take years. Tech in Tourism & Industry: Dubrovnik welcomed the electric E1 powerboat series, highlighting maritime electrification and tech-driven sustainability.

AI Security & Compliance: Zagreb-based Raptoric launched security testing for high-risk AI systems under the EU AI Act, covering adversarial, robustness and cybersecurity checks as deadlines shift. Maritime Tech in Croatia: Dubrovnik hosted the electric powerboat E1 Series again, with PM Plenković backing €1M/year state co-financing for 2026–2028 to boost tourism and electrification. Regional Cyber Defense: Croatia’s Armed Forces ran CACE 2026, a multinational cyber exercise with 100+ professionals from seven European countries plus U.S. National Guard partners. Biodiversity Rescue in Pula: Scientists in Pula are racing to save the noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis) from extinction after parasite-driven collapse across the Adriatic. EU Enlargement Watch: The EU opened the first accession negotiation cluster for Ukraine and Moldova, a process that usually takes many years. Science Communication: A new set of marine sign language gestures was created to make marine science more accessible for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Sports Tech & Data: Brazil’s national team is using wearable “smart vests” to track performance and recovery ahead of World Cup decisions.

Regional Cybersecurity: Croatia hosted the Combined Adriatic Cyber Endeavor (CACE) 2026, bringing together 100+ cyber professionals from seven European countries and U.S. National Guard partners to train on multinational defense scenarios. Marine Conservation in Croatia: In Pula, scientists are racing to save the critically endangered noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis) after Mediterranean-wide die-offs linked to a deadly parasite. Croatian Media & AI: NEM Dubrovnik 2026 highlighted TV industry consolidation, local content strategies, and the growing role of AI in how content is funded and distributed across Central and Eastern Europe. Sports Tech for Performance: England and Scotland are using GPS performance-tracking during World Cup games and training to monitor workload and reduce injury risk in a packed tournament. World Cup Watch in Croatia: A holiday park in Croatia’s region is setting up a family-friendly fan zone with big screens and match nights for England games. Croatia in Football Transfers: Brighton reportedly made a €30m bid for Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic, a World Cup squad member and former Hajduk Split player. Dubrovnik Culture: Dubrovnik’s summer music programme returns with multiple klapa concerts and events starting mid-June.

Space & Astronomy: The 2026 total solar eclipse (Aug 12) will be Europe’s first visible one in the 21st century, and cruise ships are being pitched as a low-crowd, low-light-pollution viewing option, with routes flagged across the Med and even Greenland/Iceland. Media & AI: NEM Dubrovnik 2026 in Croatia’s TV hub is spotlighting consolidation, long-term content deals, and how AI is reshaping production and distribution across Central and Eastern Europe. Sports Tech: England and Scotland are using GPS performance-tracking during World Cup games and training to monitor workloads in real time and reduce injury risk in a packed tournament. Croatia in Tech/Logistics: ENNA Logic is buying Siemens Vectron locomotives to expand cross-border freight capacity across 11 countries using ETCS corridor-ready systems. World Cup Impact in the Region: Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey is denied entry to Canada and will miss Ghana’s opener, while Canada’s first home match vs Bosnia ends 1-1. Croatian Culture: Zadar’s St. Donatus church is getting urgent rehabilitation after moisture and sea spray threatened reinforced concrete supports, with corrosion protection based on migrating inhibitors.

World Cup Costs & Controversy: FIFA’s 2026 kickoff is here, but fans are already furious over steep pricing—from tickets to basic stadium buys—fueling a wider debate about who the tournament is really for. Local Tech & Heritage: In Zadar, the Italian ambassador backed new Italy–Croatia business links and an Interreg push tied to Adriatic offshore wind and the blue economy. Conservation Engineering: Cortec’s MCI® tech is highlighted for restoring Zadar’s St. Donatus by tackling moisture-driven corrosion risks in historic concrete structures. Sports Tech in Practice: NFL stadiums are reshaping their fields for World Cup rules, including switching to natural grass and reinforcing durability for soccer. Education Beyond the Classroom: Zagreb students took part in a TechSkills Forum in Cairo, focusing on what AI can’t replace—critical thinking, communication, creativity, and cross-cultural skills. Security & Travel Flow: Slovenia is easing border checks with Croatia and Hungary to reduce summer gridlock, shifting to more mobile, targeted policing. Cyber & Scams Watch: FIFA’s digital risk is in focus, with warnings about ticket fraud and broader cyber threats around the tournament.

Renewables Finance: EBRD is backing PPC with a EUR 175 mln loan for about 400 MW of new wind and solar across Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, aiming for ~760 GWh clean power and sizable CO2 cuts. AI in Healthcare: HeartSciences says the European Patent Office granted a new European patent for ECG-based assessment of diastolic function, expanding its AI-ECG IP portfolio. Croatia Demographics: Croatia’s Ministry of Demography and Immigration signed a cooperation deal with universities to support the Demographic Renewal Law, with a focus on birth rates, return of emigrants and research-led policy. Tech & Platforms: YouTube is bringing back direct messages after six years, rolling out a new DM feature with age-verified, signed-in users. Mobility & Law: Uber sued New York City to block a rule limiting when ride-hailing platforms can remove drivers, arguing it could raise safety risks. Energy Storage: Hungary inaugurated a major battery storage system in Buj (99.8 MW / 288.576 MWh), using BYD LFP batteries and local operations. World Cup Tech & Security: FIFA’s expanded 48-team tournament is also a bigger cyber and fraud target, with warnings about scams and spoofed FIFA sites. Croatian Culture via AI: A Zagreb creator’s AI videos are going viral as “emotional time machines,” using AI to preserve everyday city memories.

Energy Transition in the Region: Hungary just inaugurated the region’s largest battery storage system in Buj, with two lithium iron phosphate installations totaling 99.8 MW and 288.576 MWh—BYD batteries, Sieyuan transformers, and Power Electronics inverters powering smarter charging and grid support. Croatian Nutrition & Public Health: Zagreb is spotlighting Maja Ljubas, one of Croatia’s first publicly specialized vegan nutritionists, as Prijatelji životinja pushes back on misconceptions and points to research-backed benefits of well-planned plant-based diets. Sustainable Tourism Management: Dubrovnik is getting international attention after a turnaround from overtourism to a “role model” approach, with the city citing cruise limits, traffic regulation, and smarter visitor management plus tech-driven flow spreading. Tourism Pressure & Costs: Madeira ranks as Europe’s top romance-and-privacy pick for couples—while Dubrovnik tops the list—showing how “privacy” and lower tourism pressure are becoming key travel signals. EU Border Tech Impact: Frontex warns the EU’s biometric Entry-Exit System (EES) could still mean long border queues for up to two more years, with travel groups estimating major spending at risk. STEM for Youth: Oman’s World Robot Olympiad qualifier drew 65+ student teams, using “Robots Meet Culture” to blend engineering with heritage storytelling. World Cup Tech Angle: England’s World Cup preparations got a boost after a weather-delayed 3-0 warm-up win over Costa Rica, with Thomas Tuchel praising intensity and adaptability ahead of Croatia.

Dubrovnik Tourism Tech & Policy: Dubrovnik is being spotlighted by the BBC as a model for sustainable tourism, with the mayor pointing to cruise limits, smarter visitor management, traffic controls and tools like the Dubrovnik Pass to spread crowds through the day. EU Border Tech: Frontex warns the biometric Entry-Exit System (EES) could keep causing border queues for up to two more years, with travel groups estimating major spending losses if delays persist. Croatia Energy Strategy: Croatia is stepping up nuclear planning for long-term grid stability and decarbonisation, including reviewing previously studied sites and restarting nuclear engineering studies with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. Digital Infrastructure: Gnomon Capital has acquired Croatian data-centre operator DC North, boosting regional capacity for colocation and connectivity. STEM Education: Oman’s WRO qualifier drew 65+ student teams, using “Robots Meet Culture” to link engineering with heritage storytelling. Media & Streaming: Omdia forecasts Netflix could reach ~400M subscribers by 2031, while European rivals may need consolidation to compete. Archaeology Days (Croatia): 27 Croatian museums and institutions open for free events (12–14 June), with Zagreb’s programme featuring interactive walks and guided tours.

Digital Infrastructure Deal: Liechtenstein’s Gnomon Capital has acquired Croatian data-centre operator DC North in Varaždin, boosting local capacity for colocation, connectivity and disaster recovery as demand rises across Europe. Croatian Tourism & Borders: Croatia’s tourism is up in the first five months of 2026 (4.5M visitors, +7% overnight stays), while Europe’s new Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) is already triggering delays that WTTC warns could hit 41M arrivals and €45.4B in spending. Coastline Under Pressure: Croatian beaches are shrinking as erosion, sea-level rise and extreme weather intensify, worrying coastal towns that rely on tourism. Robotaxis in Europe: Transport ministers from 17 EU countries back large-scale cross-border testing to speed up autonomous ride services despite patchwork national rules. World Cup Tech & Rules: FIFA reversed its ban on reusable bottles after backlash, allowing only sealed disposable bottles into stadiums as heat looms. Human Health Research: Croatian researchers highlight that chronic stress “allostatic load” builds differently across people, meaning current blood-based tracking may miss key patterns. STEM in Sports: A ranked look at World Cup kits and a rundown of referees/VAR teams underline how much tech and planning now shape the tournament.

Autonomous Mobility in Europe: Bolt is starting a year-long robotaxi “living laboratory” in Luxembourg, with five self-driving vehicles in Bissen expanding toward up to 30 in Luxembourg City, aiming for driverless readiness while keeping a safety driver onboard. Croatia Tourism Update: Croatia’s tourism keeps climbing: HTZ reports +7% overnight stays and +5% arrivals in the first five months of 2026, with 4.5 million visitors and 14 million overnights, led by the Adriatic coast. EU Border Tech Pressure: The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is already causing long Schengen delays, and WTTC warns it could cut one-third of international visitors—up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4B in spending. Zagreb Infrastructure Disruption: Slavonska Avenija in Zagreb stays closed indefinitely due to safety concerns during the Vjesnik tower removal, with a complex bypass plan likely to mean congestion. Energy & Skills: EBRD approved a EUR 175M loan for PPC renewable projects (wind and solar) across Romania, Greece and Bulgaria, including training for battery energy storage engineers. Tech & Society: A wave of debate continues after Vinnie Jones blamed “addictive” screen tech for children’s mental health struggles, urging more time outdoors.

Autonomous Mobility in Europe: Bolt is starting a year-long autonomous robotaxi trial in Luxembourg, with five driverless vehicles in Bissen expanding toward up to 30 in Luxembourg City, using Stellantis vans with Pony.ai tech and a safety driver onboard. Croatian Infrastructure Disruption: Zagreb’s Slavonska Avenija stays closed indefinitely as works around the Vjesnik tower continue, with officials citing safety risks from a structurally unstable section and rerouting traffic via a complex bypass plan. Energy Transition Finance: The EBRD approved a EUR 175m loan for PPC to build about 400 MW of wind and solar across Romania, Greece and Bulgaria, plus training for battery energy storage engineers. Tourism Pressure on Nature: Croatia’s national parks are already seeing heavy summer crowds, raising the recurring challenge of balancing conservation with visitor growth. Unfinished Tech-in-Healthcare Symbol: A new report revisits “Blato,” Zagreb’s decades-stalled university hospital project, highlighting how political and funding shifts left a massive structure unused. World Cup Tech & Health Angle: Experts warn the 2026 World Cup could act as a “global mixing” test for infectious diseases, as millions move through airports, transit and packed venues. World Cup Warm-up (Local Interest): England plays Costa Rica in a World Cup warm-up in Orlando, with coverage on ITV1 and a 9pm kick-off.

Autonomous Driving in Europe: EU transport ministers are set to back a faster, cross-border “testbed” approach for self-driving taxis, easing the patchwork of national rules; Croatia is among the countries involved, and the first European trial already started in Croatia with Pony.ai (with Uber and Croatian startup Verne, backed by Rimac). Croatia’s Tech & Environment: Bosnia and Herzegovina-linked groups have filed a complaint against Croatia over plans for a radioactive waste disposal center at Trgovska Gora near the Una basin, pushing the issue to the Council of Europe’s Berne Convention. World Cup Tech & Health: England may use palm-cooling devices from Therabody (CryoTherm Palm) during World Cup heat, while experts warn the tournament’s mass mixing could create “perfect conditions” for infectious disease spread. EU Clean Transition: The European Commission approved Lithuania’s €884m Social Climate Plan to fund energy-efficiency upgrades, EVs, and bike lanes for vulnerable households and micro-enterprises. STEM/Industry Signal: Bangladesh’s engineering exports jumped 20% (July–May FY2025–26), led by electrical and electronic equipment—an example of higher-value manufacturing growth. Culture & Creativity: Animafest Zagreb 2026 opens with ~300 animated films and international guests, spotlighting new talent across Europe.