AGP Executive Report

EU Blue Card Update: Croatia is opening the EU Blue Card to experienced IT professionals even without a university degree, using a commission to assess skills gained through work; applicants still need a Croatian job offer and a minimum gross salary of €3,024. Smart Cities: Dubrovnik is rolling out “Scan a Car” parking enforcement with cameras, ANPR, GPS and real-time checks against the city’s parking database to speed up inspections and improve fairness. Climate & Energy: A new analysis finds Croatia above the EU average for electricity used for air conditioning as heatwaves intensify, raising pressure on power grids and boosting demand for efficiency. Defence Innovation: The EU is moving ahead with AGILE, a €115m rapid defence innovation programme for SMEs and startups, offering fast grants plus testing and certification support. Green Rail: Croatia has signed contracts for six battery-electric trains and a hybrid charging station at Kotoriba under a €53.6m EU-funded project, targeting service from 2028/2029. Drones & Security: The EU–Ukraine Drone Alliance adds Croatian startup ORQA among founding members to scale unmanned and counter-drone tech across the region. Industry Decarbonisation: The EU’s CCUS push highlights the need to deploy carbon capture fast enough for hard-to-abate sectors like cement, steel and chemicals.

Smart City Tech in Dubrovnik: Sanitat Dubrovnik rolled out an AI-powered “Scan a Car” parking enforcement system using high-resolution cameras, ANPR, GPS and real-time checks against its parking database to speed up inspections and improve accuracy. Green Rail Upgrade: Croatia signed contracts for six battery-electric trains plus a hybrid charging station at Kotoriba under a €53.6 million EU Modernisation Fund project, with service expected from 2028/2029. Mobility & Delivery Consolidation: Uber agreed to acquire Germany’s Delivery Hero, taking over Glovo’s Ukrainian business and expanding across dozens of markets, while some overlapping regions move to SSW Partners. XR Creative Tech: Venice Immersive announced 68 Extended Reality projects from 26 countries, highlighting immersive video, virtual worlds and installations for its 2–12 September run. Energy Storage Tech Watch: A deep dive compared CATL’s “zero degradation” BESS approach with other strategies, focusing on how capacity fade is managed over cycles. Local Tech & Research Infrastructure: Končar opened a €20 million high-voltage testing laboratory in Croatia, boosting local capability for electrical systems validation.

Geothermal Energy Policy: A new interview highlights why geothermal still struggles to scale across Central and Eastern Europe, pointing to permitting delays and a bias toward incumbent gas CHP and biomass, with geothermal framed as a domestic, non-weaponizable heating option. EU Digital & Mobility: Bliq.ai won approval for driverless operations in Finland, starting in Helsinki with a safety driver during winter testing, using retrofitted sensor/compute kits rather than building cars. AI & Identity Tech: A court vacated a major Clearview AI biometric privacy settlement, sending the case back for further legal fights over facial recognition scraping. Tech Infrastructure: The European Processor Initiative wrapped its second stage in Luxembourg, showcasing Rhea1 chip demos and HPC software readiness for Europe’s tech sovereignty goals. Croatia & Space/Science Culture: Croatia’s HNS asked FIFA for explanations over VAR decisions that affected their World Cup exit, including disputed offside calls and a penalty after VAR. World Cup Tech Debate: VAR and new rules keep fueling controversy, while England’s semi-final loss to Argentina dominates headlines. Public Health & Environment: A study campaign argues nitrate drinking-water limits are outdated and linked to higher pre-term birth risk, pushing for updated safety standards. Business Tech: Uber agreed to acquire Delivery Hero, expanding its platform across 99 markets.

Croatia’s EU Blue Card upgrade: Croatia now lets experienced ICT professionals qualify for the EU Blue Card without a university degree, using a committee that checks whether skills gained through work match higher-education level. Driverless cars in the EU: Bliq.ai received approval to run driverless vehicles on public roads in Finland, starting in Helsinki for winter testing with a safety driver onboard. EU tech sovereignty push: The European Processor Initiative wrapped its second stage in Luxembourg, showcasing Rhea1 chip demos and accelerator work aimed at stronger European HPC capabilities. Local industry testing: Končar opened a €20 million high-voltage testing laboratory in Croatia, boosting domestic capacity for electrical equipment validation. Croatian science for sustainability: Researchers turned jellyfish into a sustainable fertiliser, and a new international summer school launched in Dubrovnik. Ukraine drone deal: Von der Leyen is set to sign a multi-billion-euro agreement with Ukraine to scale drone production across European and Ukrainian companies. World Cup tech & controversy (Croatia angle): The Croatian Football Federation demanded answers from FIFA over VAR/connected-ball decisions that disallowed a late goal, questioning whether a single strand of hair could be decisive.

EU-Ukraine Defence Tech: Von der Leyen is set to sign a multi-billion euro drone deal with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, aiming to scale production via a wider European framework and new funding (including €2B fresh money plus SAFE-loan and other sources). Croatian Energy Testing: KONČAR opened a €20M+ high-voltage testing lab (LAVESP 2) in Bedekovčina, expanding R&D and type testing up to 4.4 million volts, with a focus on HVDC transmission for renewables. Science & Sustainability: Croatian researchers are turning jellyfish into sustainable fertiliser, aiming to convert Adriatic blooms into organic farm inputs. Research Capacity in Croatia: A Dubrovnik international summer school was launched by Croatian scientists returning from abroad to boost early-career collaboration across Europe. Local Nature Watch: A critically endangered bull ray was spotted in Pula’s Valkane Bay, adding to unusual northern Adriatic sightings. AI Policy Debate: Prominent economists and tech leaders warned policymakers that unmanaged AI could rapidly displace jobs and concentrate wealth, urging faster safeguards. Sports Tech & Rules: World Cup VAR and new regulations keep driving controversy as Croatia still awaits FIFA’s response on VAR audio requests. Tourism Economics: Croatia ranked 2nd for affordability among Mediterranean destinations, according to Deutsche Bank Research.

High-Voltage Tech in Croatia: KONČAR opened a €20M Laboratory for Large Electrical Machines and Drives (LAVESP 2) in Bedekovčina, expanding high-voltage testing up to 4.4 million volts and focusing on HVDC transmission tech for long-distance grids and renewables. Digital Money in the EU: The ECB picked 36 payment service providers for a digital euro pilot starting in the second half of 2027, aiming to test technical operations and user experience with a beta version (no legal tender). AI for Small Businesses: A new report highlights a widening gap: hospitality chains use AI for business intelligence, while independent operators often can’t access the same tools—pushing interest toward no-code automation. Croatia & VAR Transparency: Croatia’s football federation says FIFA still hasn’t answered its formal request for VAR audio tied to a disputed World Cup call, keeping pressure on refereeing and VAR use. Rare Marine Sighting: A critically endangered bull ray was spotted in Valkane Bay near Pula, adding to unusual Adriatic observations and giving scientists fresh data. World Cup Tech Meets Sport: Research suggests England is the most dangerous team in the air at the tournament, with headed-shot expected goals leading the field. Visa/Travel Tech Angle: China expanded visa-free entry to citizens of 50+ countries, while EU data shows non-EU residents more often end up in temporary or part-time work.

Digital Skills Push: The EU’s Digital Decade plan aims to get 80% of people digitally literate by 2030, using data to compare progress across countries and test whether the target is realistic. Digital Euro Pilot: The ECB picked 36 payment providers for the digital euro pilot starting in late 2027, to test technical operations and user experience before any possible 2029 rollout. EU Enlargement: A “Super Tuesday” in Brussels advanced accession talks for Albania, Montenegro, Moldova and Ukraine, with multiple negotiating tracks opened or closed in one day. Croatia & BiH Politics: The Croatian Parliament is set to debate a resolution on Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, backing a separate electoral unit for Croats in the Presidency elections. CAR-T in Bulgaria (Regional Health Tech): Bulgaria is preparing CAR-T cell therapy rollout, but patient groups warn funding could still limit access even after domestic capacity is built. Croatia in Monaco Tech Sailing: Croatia’s Adria Autonomous Boat Team stood out in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge’s pilotless AI class, winning key races using onboard sensors and neural navigation. World Cup Tech Debate: FIFA’s VAR and new rules keep sparking controversy, from “mistaken identity” decisions to overhead camera cable claims—fueling a wider argument about whether tech is improving fairness or complicating it.

Quantum & Croatia’s Science Pride: Nobel Prize-winning physicist John M. Martinis received Croatia’s Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir from President Milanović, spotlighting macroscopic quantum phenomena in superconductors and his ties to Croatian academia. Autonomous Tech at Sea: Croatia’s Adria Autonomous Boat Team stood out at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, winning key AI-class races using onboard sensors and neural navigation. Defense Tech in Europe: AeroVironment’s JUMP 20 unmanned aircraft system gained an MQ-31A military designation from Italy’s MoD, moving it into the Italian Army’s official capability lineup. NATO Multi-Domain Experimentation: Italy led NATO’s Task Force X-Central Mediterranean, integrating crewed and uncrewed systems across land, sea, air, cyber and space to test emerging technologies on the Southern Flank. Water Under Pressure in the Adriatic: New research highlights managed aquifer recharge as a practical way to protect groundwater as tourism, heat and saltwater intrusion strain coastal supplies. EU Enlargement & Research Chapters: Albania provisionally closed negotiation chapters including Science and Research, while Ukraine and Moldova opened Cluster 6—progress that depends heavily on politics, not just readiness. Croatian Media Law Push: The Croatian Journalists’ Association urged decriminalising offences against honour and reputation, warning the Anti-SLAPP Act doesn’t cover criminal proceedings. World Cup Tech Controversy: FIFA’s Connected Ball and VAR rules remain under fire after the England–Norway spidercam dispute, with FIFA insisting there was “no evidence” of cable contact.

World Cup Tech & Rules: VAR and new “mistaken identity” style decision-making kept dominating headlines, from Switzerland’s Breel Embolo red after a simulation call to England’s Norway quarter-final goal controversy involving a suspected overhead Spidercam cable—FIFA says its connected-ball sensor found “no evidence” of contact. Croatia Digital Services: Croatia launched a €4M project to modernize civil registries by merging five databases into one “one person – one record” system, funded largely via the EU, aiming to cut admin burden and improve data interoperability. Uranium Remediation Breakthrough: Researchers report bacteria can convert dissolved uranium into a stable compound when given glycerol, pointing to new environmental cleanup approaches. Croatia Climate Pressure: Croatian experts warn hotter summers and more extreme weather are reshaping daily life, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure. Croatia Sports Streaming: Here’s how to watch the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag Round of 32 in Croatia’s ATP event, with today’s matchups and streaming options. Croatian Beach Oddity: Nin’s Kraljičina Plaža draws visitors to bury themselves in sand that can reach about 50°C for pain-relief rituals.

World Cup Tech & Rules Clash: FIFA says there’s “no evidence” England’s equaliser vs Norway should’ve been ruled out after claims the ball hit an overhead Spidercam cable; Norway coach Ståle Solbakken insists the trajectory change proves contact, reigniting debate over FIFA’s Connected Ball sensor and VAR-style decision-making. Croatia Digital Governance: Croatia starts a €4m, 24-month civil registry overhaul to deliver “one person – one record,” merging five databases into a single national system via e-Građani-related services. Science for the Environment: Researchers report bacteria can immobilize dissolved uranium from mine water by converting it into a stable compound, pointing to new ways to manage contamination. Security Tech in the Balkans: UK-funded drones helped Bosnia and Herzegovina intercept 900+ migrants and smugglers, supporting arrests across Western Balkan routes. Climate Pressure in Croatia: Experts warn hotter summers and more extreme, less predictable weather patterns will reshape tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure. Crypto & Democracy: A documentary highlights how crypto billionaires are using wealth and media influence to reshape politics and regulation.

Connected Ball Tech & Refereeing Clash: FIFA says there’s “no evidence” the ball hit an overhead camera cable before Jude Bellingham’s England equaliser vs Norway, after Norway coach Ståle Solbakken argued the spider-cam interference should have stopped play. World Cup Tech Debate: The dispute reignites questions about how sensor-based decisions compare with what fans see on broadcast replays, especially after similar tech rulings affected Croatia earlier in the tournament. Croatian Marine Science: Blue World Institute researchers report the first newborn bottlenose dolphin calves of 2026 near Vis, with three female dolphins giving birth and calves staying close to mothers—key info for monitoring Adriatic populations. Defense Industry Watch: Slovakia’s arms production keeps accelerating, with 2025 military equipment exports reaching €2.54B, up sharply from pre-war levels—driven by ammunition and vehicle makers. Sports Audience Tech: England’s quarter-final drew 12.7m average UK viewers (ITV peak 16.8m), showing how major matches still dominate broadcast reach.

World Cup Tech & Officiating: VAR and ultra-fine offside calls are again shaping the quarterfinal spotlight, with fans frustrated that celebrations can flip after long reviews and millimetre margins. Croatia in the Spotlight: Croatia’s tourism is hitting capacity, with PM Plenković warning growth now depends more on competitive, “reasonable” pricing than on adding visitors. STEM in Croatia: Croatian students turned in standout results at RoboCup 2026, ranking among the world’s best in robotics and AI. Energy & Mobility Tech: BYD is testing Blade Battery 2.0 and long-range charging on a 15,000km Rome-to-Hong Kong run that includes Croatia. Crypto Governance Watch: BBC coverage highlights crypto billionaires backing Liberland, a “micronation” where voting power is tied to token stakes. Research Infrastructure: EOSC moves into its next phase with new nodes joining Croatia and other countries, expanding access to research data and services.

Croatian Tourism Watch: Prime Minister Andrej Plenković says Croatia’s tourism is hitting a yearly capacity plateau, with 7.6M visitors and 29.5M overnight stays in Jan–Jun, and warns growth now depends more on keeping “reasonable and competitive” prices than on adding more guests. EV & Charging Tech: BYD is road-testing a Denza Z9GT fleet on a 15,000km Rome-to-Hong Kong run, pitching Blade Battery 2.0 and up to 1,036km range as it expands deliveries outside China. Crypto Governance in the Balkans: A BBC investigation spotlights Liberland, a Croatia–Serbia border “micronation” where token staking buys voting power, backed by about 30 crypto billionaires. STEM Spotlight: Croatian students placed among the world’s best at RoboCup 2026 in robotics and AI, underscoring stronger youth STEM results. VAR Backlash: As World Cup quarter-finals near, criticism grows over VAR’s pace and consistency, with FIFA defending interventions and coaches disputing key calls. Local Tech Infrastructure: EOSC moves ahead with new nodes and Horizon Europe projects, expanding Europe’s research data and digital services network. Defense Industry: Fincantieri signs MoUs with Croatian shipyards for potential work on Croatia’s Multi Role Corvette program.

VAR Backlash at World Cup 2026: As quarterfinals near, FIFA’s video assistant referee system is again under fire for slow, fine-margin calls and red-card knock-ons, with Egypt coach Hossam Hassan calling it unfair after VAR overturned a goal and ignored a penalty shout in the Argentina match. Croatia Tech & Sports Governance: Croatia’s complaints over “abuse of technology” in World Cup decisions keep the spotlight on how sensors and VAR rules are applied, while FIFA’s referees chief Pierluigi Collina argues “a foul is a foul” regardless of distance or delay. EOSC Expansion in Croatia: The European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) adds 14 new nodes, including a Croatia node, pushing more interoperable research data and services via Horizon Europe projects. Defense Industry in Croatia: Fincantieri signs MoUs with Croatian shipyards Brodotrogir Cruise and Iskra Shipyard for potential work on Croatia’s Multi Role Corvette program. Smart Devices: Fi launches the Starlink-powered Fi Ultra pet tracker with direct-to-cell satellite connectivity for dogs beyond LTE coverage. Business & Investment: e& agrees to sell its Vodafone stake for about $5.95B, while Croatia-Pakistan talks focus on trade, IT, connectivity, visas, and skilled manpower.

VAR Backlash at World Cup 2026: FIFA’s Video Assistant Referee is drawing louder criticism as interventions rise and decisions feel inconsistent, with coaches and players pointing to “abuse of technology” claims and formal complaints after controversial calls. Croatia Tech & Business: Deloitte’s EMEA Technology Fast 500 shows 13 Croatian firms among the fastest-growing in the region, highlighting momentum in software, hardware, and environmental tech. Croatia Defense Tech: Rheinmetall and DOK-ING launched a Croatian venture to build next-gen unmanned ground vehicle platforms, aiming to turn Croatia into a regional hub for advanced defense R&D and exports. Smart Devices in Europe: Nintendo confirmed Switch 2 will get a user-replaceable battery for EU rules, while older Switch models won’t be updated and will be pulled from European retail. Croatia in Global Mobility: Croatia and Pakistan agreed to speed up opening a Croatian visa processing facility in Islamabad, easing travel for applicants and expanding cooperation in trade, IT, connectivity, agriculture, and skilled labor. Consumer Tech Glitch: Google Home Speaker setup errors are affecting some users, with Google rolling out a fix after acknowledging the issue. Local Tech/Innovation Culture: Croatia’s street-food brand Koykan expands into Germany with a Munich opening, part of a broader push across DACH and nearby markets. Environment & Heritage: Čepić Lake’s disappearance is revisited as a major Istrian landscape change driven by 20th-century drainage engineering.

Smart Wearables: Fi launched the Fi Ultra, billed as the first Starlink-powered smart dog collar with direct-to-cell satellite connectivity plus always-on dual-band GPS, automatically switching between LTE and satellite—at the cost of battery life (about two days). EU Tech Policy: Nintendo says European Switch 2 buyers will get a user-replaceable battery to comply with the EU Batteries Regulation, while older Switch models won’t be updated and will be withdrawn in 2027. Croatian Defence Industry: Rheinmetall and DOK-ING set up Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles in Croatia to build modular ground-drone platforms, positioning the country as a hub for unmanned systems. Shipbuilding Deal: Fincantieri signed MoUs with Croatian firms Brodotrogir Cruise and Iskra Shipyard to support Croatia’s MRC corvette program via design, engineering and construction cooperation. Croatian Business Growth: Deloitte’s EMEA Technology Fast 500 lists 13 Croatian tech firms among fastest growers. Home Tech Glitch: Google Home Speaker setup is failing for some users worldwide; Google says it’s investigating. Food & Expansion: Koykan opened its first German restaurant in Munich and plans more DACH locations.