The National Science Council (NSC) is a strategic and advisory body for the development and quality control of the overall scientific activity in Croatia, including research projects at higher education institutions. Among other tasks, it monitors and evaluates the quality of scientific organisations, proposes the budget for scientific activities and organises the evaluation of scientific projects and programmes. For the purposes of evaluation of the project proposal and related budget allocation, the NSC appoints six scientific field councils, classified by scientific area, for natural, technical, biomedical, bio-technical, social science and the humanities. In the evaluation process, the councils rely upon the recommendations of assessment groups and area councils.
The NCS submits, in coordination with the NCHE, annual proposals on the allocation of budget resources for science and higher education to the Croatian government. To assist this particular task of the Councils, the common Science and Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) was established on May 25, 2005 to provide the councils with expertise and professional assistance on budget planning and expenditures.

In October 2005, the National Science Council adopted a new S&T policy document setting out short-term and long-term priorities, which are listed below:

• Short-term priorities (2006 - 2008) include: Environment, Health, Energy and materials and Croatian identity.
• Long-term priorities for years 2006 – 2010 are: Knowledge-driven basic research; Environmental protection and economic development of the Karst regions, Adriatic coast, sea and islands; Agriculture, biotechnology and food; Health; Information and communication technologies; Nanoscience, new materials, construction and new production processes; Energy, sources of alternative and renewable energy, transport, and security; Social and human sciences and Croatian identity; Social integration, learning and education, lifelong learning.

Contact Person:
Krešimir Pavelić, President