engleski

European Funding for Reproduction Research : A Multinational Perspective

Although Croatia is already in an advanced phase of negotiations regarding entering the EU, it is experiencing the difficulties that all other transition countries have experienced ; however, in Croatia, it is even more difficult due to the aftermath of the recent war. These difficulties have impinged upon the allocation of funds for science that, for us, are significantly below the objective set by the EU for its member states. Funds for science and scientific purposes from the private sector in Croatia are negligible, so that the whole fiscal burden falls upon the national budget. Government investments in the scientific infrastructure at universities and scientific institutes have increased significantly during the past few years. Coupled with the increased employment of scientists and the success of the Return of the Croatian Scientists from the Diaspora Programme, which the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports has inaugurated, these developments warrant optimism. Even though Croatia is a country with a negative population growth rate, it has neither a relevant and active reproductive health advancement policy nor a program research in the field of human reproduction. The financial support from the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports is the only aid for research in the field of human reproduction. Currently, there are 22 projects in human reproduction that are fully or partially subsidised with modest amounts of money (250.000 € approximately) which represent 1.24% of the total resources that the Ministry allocates for projects in all scientific fields. In the framework of this programme, the Ministry also provides salaries for 31 Ph.D. students and some money for equipment ; in the year 2007 this support was approximately 800.000 € . This was distributed among 22 research projects that were focused on male and female infertility, reproductive pathology, and animal reproduction. I am one of several coordinators of this programme. Since the national means of funding reproductive research are not sufficient, I have developed collaborations with numerous laboratories and research groups in Europe, USA and Japan. I have also applied for international funds that have increased to the resources for research materials and have ensured specialization scholarships for young coworkers. Together with colleagues from the EU countries I have applied for the an FP6 programme in the framework of the European Network of Excellence for research on the mechanisms of embryo implantation control (EMBIC). Those funds along with support from the Ministry have significantly elevated the technological level of research. I find that the combination of national and international sources of funding and networking with Centers of Excellence within the European region are of the greatest importance for the faster development of science in less developed and transition countries and that they also contributes to bridging the gap with more developed countries.

science; funding instruments; universities; projects

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