CUC Secretary General Participates in the Science | Business “Fostering Innovative Careers” Conference

The Secretary General of our University, Branka Roščić, PhD, participated in the conference “Fostering Innovative Careers” on 26 and 27 March 2026. The event was organized by the European network Science|Business, which brings together universities, research institutes, industry, and government institutions, and hosts high-level events that enable leaders and experts to convey their vision and interests to decision-makers at the level of European institutions. The conference was co-organized by the European university network UNICA (Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe), and hosted by the University of Zagreb.
 

The conference focused on the comprehensive topic of educating students, doctoral candidates, and young researchers, as well as developing their innovative careers as a key element in strengthening the European economy and public sector.
 

In recent months, European political discussions have increasingly focused on how to revitalize the continent’s economy in a rapidly changing global environment. Europe is being forced to confront structural weaknesses that have accumulated over time, including a shortage of talent and a mismatch of skills. In this context, the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission recently announced the action plan “One Europe, One Market,” aimed at strengthening competitiveness and strategic autonomy.
 

The conference brought together influential organizations from across Europe—east and west, north and south—and presented innovative models, emphasizing that European universities must take on a key role in developing talent capable of understanding not only the potential of cutting-edge research and technologies, but also their application in achieving specific European policy goals. Talent and its education by highly qualified and ethically grounded mentors will ultimately determine whether Europe can transform its strategic ambitions into tangible economic and social gains.
 

Particular attention was given to discussions on the European Research Area (ERA) Act in 2026 and the DORA declaration (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment), which advocates for improved methods of evaluating the quality of scientific work. Its main goal is to move away from assessing research quality solely based on the journal in which it is published (e.g., Impact Factor), and instead promote evaluation based on the broader value and impact of the research itself—an approach particularly important in doctoral education.

Secretary General Branka Roščić, PhD, actively participated in the conference and, during networking sessions, engaged in several bilateral meetings, presenting the Catholic University of Croatia to participating universities and institutions, including Queen’s University Belfast, the Science|Business Widening Initiative, and Parents International.

More information about the conference can be found on the websites of the Science|Business network and the UNICA network.
 

Autor: dr. phil. Branka Roščić