AGP Executive Report

Data Infrastructure: Croatia’s €50 billion Pantheon data-centre project in Topusko is reportedly on schedule, with construction planned from 2027 and operations targeted for 2029. The one-gigawatt centre is paired with a proposed 500-megawatt solar plant. Clean Energy: New geothermal wells are being explored near Velika Gorica, Osijek, Vinkovci and Zaprešić, with €86 million planned for projects that could heat public buildings and homes by 2030. Climate Science: Zagreb geophysicist Mirko Orlić expects a warmer-than-average Croatian winter as a strengthening El Niño reshapes global weather patterns. Autonomous Vehicles: Zagreb remains the first European city in Pony.ai and Uber’s robotaxi expansion; app-based rides began with safety drivers, followed by invited driverless test rides. Digital Transport: Croatia’s Crolibertas toll-system rollout faces fresh uncertainty after motorways authority HAC cancelled procurement for its sales portal, mobile app and data integration system, ahead of a planned March 2027 launch. Homegrown Tech: Croatian maker CircuitMess is offering a build-it-yourself 4G phone, programmable in MicroPython or Arduino C++, through Kickstarter.

Autonomous Mobility: Zagreb’s Pony.ai-powered robotaxis are already available through Uber, with safety drivers; invited passengers have also begun driverless test rides. Pony.ai and Uber plan London road tests in the coming weeks. Driver Assistance: Tesla is renaming its European Full Self-Driving system “Tesla Assisted Driving” after German regulators said the old name was misleading. Germany is backing a push for EU approval, while Croatia is among eight countries where the system is already approved. Croatian Industry: South Korea’s HD Hyundai and Šibenik’s Iskra Shipyard have agreed to work together on Croatia’s multirole corvette programme and explore wider naval projects. Transport Technology: A canceled procurement for the Crolibertas toll system’s web portal, mobile app and data links has raised doubts about its planned March 2027 launch. AI Infrastructure: Rimac is targeting the AI market with a modular data centre, while Rimac Technology and ECOBLOX are partnering on battery and power-electronics technology for AI data centres.

Autonomous Mobility: Zagreb’s robotaxi partnership is expanding: Pony.ai and Uber plan London road tests, building on rides in Croatia using local operator Verne’s fleet. Zagreb has hosted app-booked trips with safety drivers and separate driverless tests for invited passengers. AI Infrastructure: Rimac Technology and ECOBLOX plan to install a modular AI data centre at the Rimac Campus near Zagreb in November, combining Rimac batteries and power electronics with computing and cooling systems. Road Technology: Croatia’s Crolibertas toll-free-flow system faces fresh delays after Croatian Motorways cancelled procurement for its customer portal, app and data integration platform, putting the planned March 2027 start at risk. Clean Energy: Croatia plans four new deep geothermal wells as cities explore underground heat for cleaner heating. Maritime Engineering: South Korea’s HD Hyundai and Croatia’s Iskra Shipyard have teamed up to pursue the Navy’s multirole-corvette programme and explore broader shipbuilding cooperation.

Driver-Assistance Rules: Tesla has renamed its European “Full Self-Driving” system “Tesla Assisted Driving” after Germany called the old name misleading. Berlin supports EU-wide approval but says the system must keep drivers responsible and limit speeding to 10% above the posted limit. Road-Tech Delays: Croatia’s planned Crolibertas toll system faces uncertainty after Croatian Motorways cancelled a tender for its web portal, mobile app and data integration work. The system is due to launch in March 2027. AI Infrastructure: Rimac Technology and ECOBLOX plan to install a modular AI data centre at the Rimac Campus near Zagreb in November, combining Rimac batteries and power electronics with computing and cooling systems. Clean Energy: Croatia plans four new deep geothermal wells as cities explore underground heat for cleaner heating.

AI Infrastructure: Rimac Technology and ECOBLOX plan to install a modular AI and high-performance computing data centre at Rimac Campus near Zagreb in November. The system will pair Rimac batteries and power electronics with computing, cooling and power-conversion equipment. Transport Technology: Croatia’s Crolibertas toll-free-flow system faces a fresh delay risk after Croatian Motorways cancelled procurement for its sales website, mobile app and data-integration platform. The system is due to launch in March 2027. Radiation Monitoring: Strontium-90 measured in surface soil at Gospić rose from 24.5 to 260 becquerels per square metre between 2023 and 2025. Researchers have found no link to nearby illegal waste, and the increase alone does not establish contamination or a health risk.

AI Infrastructure: Rimac Technology and ECOBLOX are building a modular data centre platform that pairs Rimac batteries and power electronics with computing and cooling systems. A demonstration unit is due at the Rimac Campus near Zagreb in November. Naval Engineering: South Korea’s HD Hyundai has teamed with Iskra Shipyard on Croatia’s multirole corvette programme, combining warship design expertise with local shipbuilding capacity. Autonomous Mobility: Uber and Pony.ai plan robotaxi tests in London, building on their supervised service launched in Zagreb earlier this year. Their wider goal is to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across five European cities. Clean Energy: Croatia plans four new deep geothermal wells as cities explore underground heat for cleaner heating. Environmental Monitoring: A Gospić soil sample recorded a sharp rise in strontium-90 compared with 2023. Officials say the finding alone does not show contamination or a health risk, and there is no established link to nearby illegal waste.

Environmental Monitoring: Strontium-90 readings at a soil monitoring site near Gospić rose nearly 11-fold between 2023 and 2025. Researchers say the increase alone does not prove contamination or a health risk, and there is no evidence linking it to illegal waste nearby. Croatian Tech: Osijek-based DICE Digital Innovation Center, which develops software and digital products, was named Croatia’s top large company for 2025. AI Infrastructure: Rimac Technology is teaming with ECOBLOX to develop modular data centres for AI computing, combining Rimac’s battery and power electronics with the partner’s infrastructure. Sports Data: Croatian-founded Sofascore’s new NHL partnership will bring fans live event maps, shot analysis and other statistics using player and puck tracking data. Clean Energy: Croatia plans four deep geothermal wells as cities explore underground heat for cleaner heating.

AI Infrastructure: Rimac Technology is teaming with ECOBLOX to develop modular data centers, bringing the Croatian company’s battery and power-electronics expertise to high-density AI computing. Sports Data: Croatian-founded Sofascore and the NHL will build live match statistics and visualisations using player and puck tracking data. Autonomous Driving: Germany is backing faster EU approval of Tesla’s driver-assistance software, while independent researchers cited by Reuters questioned the company’s safety studies. Croatia is among the countries that have approved the system nationally. Clean Heating: Croatia plans four new deep geothermal wells as cities look to underground heat for cleaner energy. Space Science: The International Astronomical Union has named asteroid 182786 Dankobosanac after Croatian physicist Slobodan Danko Bosanac, who promoted astronomy and space research. Digital Mapping: A Croatian company says it has created the world’s largest wine map, charting 4.3 million vineyards.

AI Infrastructure: Rimac Technology is partnering with ECOBLOX to build modular data centers, combining Rimac batteries and power electronics with infrastructure for high-performance computing. Sports Technology: Croatian-founded Sofascore has signed a global NHL deal to develop live match statistics, including shot maps and tools showing which team controls play. Space Science: The International Astronomical Union has named asteroid 182786 Dankobosanac after Croatian physicist Slobodan Danko Bosanac, recognising his work promoting astronomy. Zagreb Air Quality: Residents reported a strong odour as monitoring stations recorded elevated fine-particle levels; the source remains unknown. Clean Energy: Croatia plans four new deep geothermal wells as cities look underground for cleaner heating. Digital Mapping: An Umag-based company has mapped more than 4.3 million vineyards worldwide, including over 53,000 in Croatia, with details on terrain and climate.

EU Tech Confidence: The Munich Security Conference spotlighted Europe’s “made-in-Europe” momentum, from offshore wind buildouts in Poland to sensor-driven monitoring of critical infrastructure. Croatia Energy: Croatia is preparing four new deep geothermal wells for urban district heating in Velika Gorica, Osijek, Vinkovci and Zaprešić, aiming to cut fossil fuel dependence. Defence Innovation: The EU Parliament backed the €115m AGILE programme to speed defence tech grants for SMEs and start-ups, with faster testing and certification. Local Industry & Defence: Navantia signed MoUs with Croatian firms AITAC and Iskra Shipyard to boost engineering and lifecycle support for the Multi-Role Corvette programme. Wine Tech: A Croatian team launched WorldWineryMap.com, mapping 4.3m vineyards and 100k wineries worldwide using satellite terrain data. Health Watch: Russia and the ECDC say there’s no sign of sustained person-to-person plague transmission after a Siberian lab worker’s pneumonia death. Sports Tech: Sofascore (Croatia-based) and the NHL announced new next-gen stats and live data tools for fans. Bosnia Elections Tech: Despite biometric ID and electronic scanning, analysts say politics still dominates outcomes after the vote. Business & Ports: Rijeka’s Adriatic Gate Container Terminal hit 4 million TEU, adding hybrid yard equipment and larger cranes.

Croatia Energy Transition: Croatia is preparing four new deep geothermal wells for urban district heating in Velika Gorica, Osijek, Vinkovci and Zaprešić, with AZU planning a €35.15M turnkey drilling push using production-injection pairs to keep the system closed and cut fossil fuel dependence. Regional Tech & Governance: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Oct. 4 elections used biometric voter checks and electronic scanners to curb fraud, but analysts say nationalist politics still dominated outcomes, with SNSD leading in Republika Srpska and new presidency seats reshaping the country’s EU path. Media Tech in the Balkans: Titan OS is bringing SkyShowtime to Philips and Sharp smart TVs across 22 European markets, including Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, expanding direct home-screen access. Smart Sports Data: NHL has signed a multi-year Sofascore partnership to deliver next-gen NHL stats and live event mapping via Sofascore platforms, with Sportradar supporting the data work. Local Industry & Logistics: Rijeka’s Adriatic Gate Container Terminal hit four million TEU since joining ICTSI in 2011, adding hybrid yard equipment and larger cranes in a €35M upgrade. EU Legal Reform Watch: Journalists’ groups urge Albania to strengthen its anti-SLAPP framework, pushing for better early dismissal, protections against abusive cases, and safeguards for public-interest participation.

Geothermal Push: Croatia is preparing four new deep geothermal wells for urban district heating in Velika Gorica, Osijek, Vinkovci and Zaprešić, with the Agency for Hydrocarbons (AZU) planning design, procurement and drilling under a €35.15M turnkey project to cut fossil-fuel dependence. Elections Tech in Bosnia: Bosnia and Herzegovina rolled out biometric fingerprint checks and optical ballot scanning to curb vote-rigging, but preliminary results still point to a nationalist reshuffle—SNSD leading in Republika Srpska and SDA/HDZ/SDP shaping the presidency and parliament. UNESCO Diplomacy: Venezuela is ramping up its UNESCO presence with a work agenda that includes meetings with Croatia’s UNESCO delegation and participation in digital literacy and bioethics events. Smart City Commerce: Rijeka’s Adriatic Gate Container Terminal hit 4 million TEU handled since 2011, adding hybrid yard equipment and larger cranes to modernize operations. Regional Tech Funding: A European tech weekly roundup reports 70+ funding deals worth over €3.9B, led by cloud, cleantech and energy.

Startup Funding & Expansion: Notey, the music practice platform, closed a $3M seed round led by Tivoli Ventures with Malta Venture Capital, backed by a €1M Malta Enterprise grant, and is partnering with Telemach to distribute across the Balkans. Port Tech & Logistics: Rijeka’s Adriatic Gate Container Terminal hit a four-million TEU milestone, adding super post-Panamax cranes and hybrid yard equipment as it scales lower-emission operations. Elections Tech in Bosnia: Bosnia’s Oct. 4 vote used biometric checks and ballot scanning to curb vote-rigging, but preliminary results still point to nationalist parties dominating the presidency and parliament. Croatia Bioeconomy Policy: Croatia is setting up a national bioeconomy coordination body and a 2027–2035 plan to link agriculture, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture, energy and biotech under one framework. Agriculture Biosecurity: Croatia renewed warnings about grapevine flavescence dorée, urging owners to inspect, remove infected vines, and control the leafhopper vector. Space Law Watch: A new lunar race is reigniting the question of who can own resources on the Moon, despite the Outer Space Treaty’s “no sovereignty” rule. AI in History: An AI system deciphered a 1809 French coded military letter tied to troops in Dalmatia, showing how modern models can unlock long-lost archives.

Bosnia Election Tech: Bosnia’s general election is using biometric voter ID, fingerprint checks, ballot scanning and video surveillance at about 4,500 polling sites, with paper ballots still counted manually—after delays at some stations due to the new digital setup. Croatia Policy & Bioeconomy: Croatia is rolling out a new national framework for its bioeconomy, creating a coordination body and drafting a 2027–2035 plan plus an action roadmap for 2027–2030. Health & Longevity: Egypt presented a “healthy longevity and aging” vision at a World Bank workshop, drawing on Japan’s experience and pushing early action as demographics shift. Vineyard Disease Alert: Croatia’s agriculture authorities renewed warnings about grapevine flavescence dorée, stressing early detection, removal and control of the leafhopper spreader. AI in History: AI decoded Napoleon’s 217-year-old encrypted military letter, using a lost cipher key substitute and producing a readable French message about troop locations and strength. Local Tech/Industry: HCLSoftware plans to acquire Croatia-based RPA firm Robotiq.ai to expand enterprise automation. Science & Environment: Copernicus Marine analysis flags concerning, potentially irreversible changes in Croatian waters, including Adriatic warming trends. Sports Tech Culture: Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac delivered a $3M LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport set to kids in Zagreb, blending engineering branding with local STEM vibes.

Bosnia Election Tech: Polls opened across Bosnia and Herzegovina with 3.4M registered voters choosing a new tripartite presidency and 518 officials, and for the first time biometric voter ID plus optical ballot scanners are being used to speed counting and reduce fraud—though some polling places reportedly faced delays. Croatian Bioeconomy Policy: Croatia has started building a national framework for its bioeconomy, setting up a coordination body and drafting a 2027–2035 plan to link agriculture, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture, energy and biotech. Vineyard Disease Alert: Croatia’s agriculture ministry renewed warnings about grapevine flavescence dorée, urging owners to inspect vines, remove infected plants and control the leafhopper vector to limit spread. AI in History: An AI system reportedly cracked Napoleon’s 217-year-old encrypted military letter, using scanned symbols and massive variant testing to recover readable French. Marine & Climate Watch: A Copernicus Marine report flags concerning, partly irreversible changes in Croatian waters and the wider Mediterranean, tied to faster warming and more extreme marine heat events. Mobility & Infrastructure: Croatia is preparing for tolling changes from March 2027, moving toward electronic recording without stopping at booths. Croatia in Europe’s Tourism Scene: Croatian MEP and former tourism minister Nikolina Brnjac is set to speak at the WTTC Global Summit in Malta on tourism growth, mobility and sustainability.

AI for Logistics in Croatia: Researchers from the University of Zagreb and Osijek used AI to generate rules for the container relocation problem, aiming to cut the costly shuffling of containers in ports. Marine Climate Watch: A new Copernicus Marine analysis flags concerning, some irreversible changes in Croatian waters and the wider Mediterranean, tied to faster warming and marine heatwaves. Smart Mobility & Tolls: Croatia’s motorway toll system is set to move away from the ENC device toward electronic passage and licence-plate reading from March 2027, changing how drivers are charged. Energy Heritage: “Munjara,” Croatia’s castle-like hydro power plant near Ozalj, has been producing electricity since 1908. Defense Industry: Croatia says it signed over €200M in defence contracts with domestic firms to modernize capabilities and boost high-tech exports. Cyber/Audio Software: Arvital Audio’s AudioRoute “captures what your computer is already playing” and routes it into a DAW without virtual cables. Maritime Engineering: Navantia expands cooperation with Croatian partners AITAC and Iskra Shipyard under the MRC programme, covering digital engineering and lifecycle support. Space & Science Story: An AI system helped crack a 217-year-old ciphered Napoleon order using GPT-6 Astra. Health Tech: A new cancer treatment technology is reported as coming to Croatia. Elections Tech (BiH): Bosnia’s election uses biometric voter ID machines and optical ballot scanners to improve security.