09 Dec Adriatic RSC STEM Awarded as the Best Project in the Field of Education, Science and Innovation
At the conference “Days of Regional Development and EU Funds,” held at Amadria Park hotels in Šibenik on 3 December 2025, awards for the Best City and Best EU Project were presented, recognizing the most successful initiatives of local and regional authorities in the field of development and the use of funds and international financial mechanisms.
As part of the awards program, special attention was also given to the most successful county-level projects, which were evaluated according to their contribution to the development of local communities across various thematic areas.
Among the awarded projects, first place in the category of contribution to education, science and innovation was given to the project “Adriatic Regional Science Center for Skills Development in STEM, ICT, Entrepreneurship and Active Citizenship – Adriatic RSC STEM,” implemented in partnership between the Lika-Senj County and Split-Dalmatia County, with financial support from the Norwegian and EEA Financial Mechanisms.
The award was received by the Lika-Senj County Prefect Ernest Petry and the Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Blaženko Boban, and was presented to them by Dragan Jelić, Director of the Central Finance and Contracting Agency of European Union Programmes and Projects (SAFU).
The project focuses on strengthening the capacities of primary education institutions in the Split-Dalmatia and Lika-Senj counties and surrounding areas, with the aim of enhancing STEM competencies of teachers and students, developing digital skills, as well as fostering entrepreneurial abilities and active citizenship.
Within the project, a Regional Science Center headquartered in Split was established, with branches in Gospić and the Kostrena Primary School, all equipped with modern facilities for delivering educational activities and innovative STEM and ICT programs. Numerous workshops and training sessions were conducted for students and educational staff, and specialized programs were developed based on hands-on learning and modern teaching methodologies.
Through project activities, STEM skills were enhanced for 1,268 students and 320 teachers, while the infrastructure of the Regional Science Center and its branches was further modernized and upgraded.
The received award confirms the importance of the Adriatic RSC STEM project as one of the most successful examples of cooperation between counties and international partners in the development of modern education, oriented toward the needs of the future labor market.