Managing scientific productivity: Croatia and EU27

This study examines the scientific productivity of Croatia within the context of the EU27 countries between 2016 and 2020, utilising data from the Web of Science (InCities Clarivate Analytics). The purpose is to evaluate Croatia's performance relative to other EU nations and propose strategies for improvement. A quantitative methodology was used, analysing publication and citation data with descriptive statistics and comparative analyses. The results indicate Croatia ranks 19th among EU27 countries, with notable contributions from institutions like the University of Split and the University of Zagreb. However, limited investment in research and development, weak international collaboration, and insufficient links between academia and industry hinder progress. The study also identifies disparities in productivity among Croatian universities. Limitations include incomplete institutional data in the Web of Science database and potential biases in author and institutional affiliations. Recommendations include increased R&D funding, improving public-private partnerships, and highlighting European funding programs like Horizon Europe. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term impacts of these strategies and explore the role of emerging technologies in fostering the research output. The findings contribute to understanding the factors shaping Croatia's scientific productivity and offer a framework for aligning national research priorities with global standards to enhance competitiveness within the European research community.