Gideon Brothers CEO Josip Ćesić Visits CUC

On Wednesday, 8 April 2026, our University was visited by Josip Ćesić, PhD, CEO of Gideon Brothers d.o.o., one of the leading Croatian companies in the field of autonomous robotics and artificial intelligence. The company operates successfully on the United States market, confirming its global competitiveness. Ćesić is also a member of the Forbes Technology Council, a prestigious international community of technology experts and innovators.
 

During the visit, he met with the Rector, Prof. Željko Tanjić, PhD, the Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Prof. Jasna Ćurković Nimac, PhD, and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Zlatan Car, PhD. Discussions focused on opportunities for establishing and developing cooperation between the University and the industrial sector, with particular emphasis on the Faculty of Engineering, the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, and collaborative and service robotics at the Catholic University of Croatia.

The importance of connecting scientific research with the real sector was emphasized as a key prerequisite for innovation development and strengthening the competitiveness of the Croatian economy. Particular attention was also given to the role of the human person in the development of new technologies and the need for the ethical and responsible application of artificial intelligence and robotics. It was concluded that the Catholic University of Croatia and Gideon Brothers share common values, in which technological progress must be directed toward the common good.

A special focus was placed on the development of student internship and professional training programmes, which would enable students to gain practical knowledge and experience in working with advanced technologies, including autonomous systems, computer vision, and the application of artificial intelligence in industrial processes. Rector Tanjić emphasized that the strategic goal of the University is to integrate and coordinate researchers from different departments working in artificial intelligence, in order to foster interdisciplinary research and the development of practical solutions applicable in the economy and society through the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

In addition to internships, other forms of cooperation were discussed, including joint research and development projects funded by national and European sources, the involvement of industry experts in the teaching process through guest lectures and workshops, mentorship of student theses in collaboration with industry, and the organization of round tables, hackathons, and innovation challenges aimed at solving real-world problems. Ćesić expressed interest in further strengthening cooperation with the University, emphasizing the importance of the academic community as a partner in the development of advanced technologies and the education of future professionals.

This meeting represents an important step toward systematic collaboration between science and industry and confirms the commitment of the Catholic University of Croatia to an active role in the development of an innovation ecosystem and a knowledge-based economy.