Today in Virovitica, the Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds, Tomislav Tolušić, symbolically handed over the key to the acting County Prefect of Virovitica-Podravina County, Sanja Bošnjak, opening the Pannonian Wood Competence Center, one of the significant EU projects of Virovitica-Podravina County worth 44,701,237.17 kuna, of which 99 percent is financed by grants.
The ceremonial opening was attended by the assistants to the Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds, Davor Huška and Tomislav Jurendić, the director of the Central Agency for Financing and Contracting of EU Projects and Programs (SAFU) Tomislav Petric, Member of the European Parliament and President of the HDZ Andrej Plenković, and numerous other esteemed guests.
“The Wood Center is an example of successful cooperation between scientists, the local community, and industry. This project aimed at strengthening the wood processing sector is definitely of strategic importance not only in Croatia but also in the countries of the region whose entrepreneurs will certainly use the services of the Center,” stated Minister Tomislav Tolušić.
The Pannonian Wood Competence Center will enable an increase in the competitiveness of wood processing companies in the broader Pannonian area, as well as throughout the Republic of Croatia. Clients from the business sector will have the opportunity to contract services for applied and developmental research and design of innovative wood products, as well as the development of wood technologies and wooden structures for construction, all in collaboration with the academic community. The Center will also provide information, education, promotion, and incubation services for companies in the wood processing sector.
