Forty three reports on six topics:

• Creating an incentive climate for innovators
• Creative relationship between employers and innovators
• Academic education and qualifications for applied research, innovation and entrepreneurship
• Economy, entrepreneurship and the academic community
• Innovation infrastructure and social valorization of innovativeness
• Examples of good practice

THE CONCLUSIONS

1. As results of the knowledge and skill application, innovations are a crucial factor of economic and social growth due to their major contribution to product and service market competitiveness.
2. The educational system should also provide, besides the theoretical knowledge, a chance to acquire the skills in knowledge application. In order for this to be achieved, modernly equipped laboratories for experimental activities and teachers strongly connected with the economy are required.
3. The success and progress of a scientist should not be measured only by the number of quotes from his or her published works, but also in his or her contribution in the creation of intellectual property, e.g. patents in application, designs and trademarks in current use, etc.
4. To encourage the cooperation of the academic community and the public institutions with the economic and public sector by co-financing their projects in order to attract additional financing and ensure the transfer of knowledge and application of results.
5. The existing laws and regulations concerning the intellectual property should be amended to include the legal obligation pursuant to which the user of the intellectual property shall be obligated to compensate the owner (the creator) of the innovation. As a subordinate regulation, there should also be a provision defining the minimal compensation fee relative to the contribution of the innovation to the value of the user product.
6. The Departments of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship and the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, are expected to use incentive measures to guide the innovators and organizations promoting their work in joining the national organizations in order to strengthen their role and impact in the society.
7. The Departments have to influence the educational system in a way that will ensure, through the strengthening of the technical culture, that students base their careers on the acquired technical skills and knowledge, thus securing the country’s long-term development.
8. It is expected from the Union of Croatian Inventors to promote the innovative activities and secure the knowledge and skills exchange using good practice and interlinking as the motivation to create new innovations.

The Scientific Committee of the First Conference