Both prime ministers emphasized that Europe must focus on the development of science and technology and that new generations must be enabled to acquire competitive and global knowledge.
The key to success for the progress of the European Union and all EU member states on the global market is improving competitiveness by investing in science, education and innovation, concluded the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia , Mr. Andrej Plenković , and the Prime Minister of the German Federal State of Bavaria, Dr. Markus Söder, at the round table "Bavaria and Croatia as scientific destinations partners in the European Union" , which was held yesterday at the VERN' University of Applied Sciences.
During their talks on scientific cooperation, the development of academic resources, and the strengthening of academic exchange and economic initiatives between Croatia and Bavaria, both prime ministers emphasized that Europe must focus on the development of science and technology and that new generations must be enabled to acquire competitive and global knowledge.
In Croatia, "17 thousand scholarships worth 180 million kuna should be invested in the STEM field by 2020," said Prime Minister Plenković, emphasizing that "no country can keep up with the dynamics of the fourth industrial revolution if it does not keep up with the field of education, science and research."
"You can participate in the development of digital technologies from all parts of Europe. We have to make an effort to be at the top of development, and not just buy other people's products," concluded Markus Soder, the Prime Minister of Bavaria.
The round table, jointly organized by the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the Croatian State Vow Foundation and VERN', brought together representatives of the diplomatic corps, parliamentary representatives and advisors from Bavaria and Croatia, representatives of the academic sector and numerous interested students.
In a discussion moderated by VERN' lecturer Morana Kasapović , the two prime ministers commented on students' questions about the development of political communication in the last decade and the future of the European Union.
The distinguished guests and attendees were welcomed at the beginning by HE Dr. Robert Klinke , Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Croatia; Srećko Prusina , Director of the Foundation Board of the Croatian State Vow Foundation; and Ivo Ivančić , General Director of VERN' Polytechnic and member of the Board of the Croatian State Vow Foundation. At the end of the round table, Member of the German Federal Parliament Florian Hahn , emphasized that EU members must strengthen mutual cooperation in order to improve competitiveness in the global market.
