Croatia supports Italy's candidacy for the construction in Sardinia of the Einstein Telescope , the new generation gravitational wave observatory of global importance and among the main European research projects. This is one of the results of the meeting between the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, and the Croatian Minister of Science, Education and Youth, Radovan Fuchs . This was announced by the Ministry of University and Research in a note.
After Spain, Croatia is now also supporting the Sos Enattos project, for which the Italian government has committed 950 million euros, in addition to 350 million in regional funds for a total of 1.3 billion.
During the bilateral meeting , Bernini confirmed his commitment to support the realization in Spain of the IfmiF-Dones project , a single-site neutron source, of which Croatia is the promoter and financier.
«The mutual support between the two countries is part of a broader strategy to strengthen scientific and academic cooperation », reads the note, and to confirm this commitment, Bernini and Fuchs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration in areas considered priorities by both countries , including quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, large research infrastructures, blue economy and renewable energy, in line with the new bilateral strategic plans.
The agreement also includes the launch of a joint call to finance shared research projects , with particular attention to the Mediterranean, for the health and sustainability of the sea and coasts, and to European collaborations, such as Horizon Europe and the European University Alliances.
The agreement is part of an action to strengthen the collaboration of the MUR with the countries of the Balkan area with the signing of agreements with other EU countries, such as Slovenia, and non-EU countries, such as Serbia.
