Croatian innovation hub on Financial Times’ top 150 for 2025

Financial Times

ZAGREB, 4 March 2025 – Croatia’s tech sector has received another major recognition.

The Financial Times has included Nuqleus, the academic entrepreneurship programme of the Nikola Tesla Innovation Centre at the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER), in its list of the 150 leading innovation hubs in Europe for 2025, HRT reports.

Nuqleus earned its place for successfully mentoring scientists and entrepreneurs and connecting them to form innovative start-ups.

Success Stories from Nuqleus

One of the many success stories is Arkensight, a start-up by Domagoj Ćorić and his team. Their software platform processes drone-captured data quickly, allowing users to identify cracks and potholes on roads with precision.

Another standout start-up, Ulpian, founded by Sandra Ćatović Stručić, helps users find reliable legal answers. Their application analyses legal texts and provides relevant regulations for specific cases.

In the field of sustainable solutions, Nades DESIGN, led by Manuela Panić, has developed a natural alternative to petroleum-based solvents, applicable in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

Recognition from Financial Times

The Financial Times initially analysed over 3,000 innovation hubs, incubators, and accelerators across Europe. Nuqleus ranked 60th overall and 12th for its strong mentorship support.

“This recognition highlights the impact of our programme and the quality of support we provide to start-ups,” said Matija Srbić, Nuqleus programme coordinator.

The next step for Nuqleus is to further support scientific start-ups and strengthen Croatia’s position in high-tech industries.