In the new issue, read about the connection between the environment and capitalism and smart specialization

Primarily due to the use of funds for research and development (R&D) from EU funds, the company has managed to double its exports and revenues in just a few years and increase profits by as much as five times! The manager who led the withdrawal of this money explains that they certainly had these projects in their development plan, but they realized them twice as fast this way. We draw attention to the fact that small and medium-sized enterprises, which lack their own adequate logistics, often complain about complicated procedures, but he responds that this is not quite the case, especially if done with good consultants. In this case, his company needed only 50 to 70 hours of engagement from one person with experience in EU procedures to establish the project. This is important so that there are no surprises later regarding the difference between recognized and unrecognized costs or in the (non)reporting of VAT. In the new smart specialization strategy, which is expected to come into effect by the end of June, projects for research, development, and innovation are planned in seven priority sectors, with 1.2 billion euros available to companies by 2029. Such investments primarily increase productivity for micro and young enterprises. The weekly topic on smart specialization was written by Goran Litvan.

For the first time in history, one economic system (capitalism, of course) dominates the entire world. However, since the last financial crisis, especially in the last three years, capitalism has been exposed as the main culprit for all the world’s problems; logically, including ecological ones. They say we consume Earth’s resources and a half a year (however, no one mathematically explains how it is possible to consume 150 percent of 100 percent of something). We pollute, deplete, destroy, and – earn! That is the essence of capitalism, or at least it was until the point of confronting the ugly ecological footprint. However, since there is no new system in sight, and sustainability has been ‘carried’ for some time, the key question is whether such an oxymoron has any chance at all. Can capitalism and sustainability cohabit? Or will we choose: life or capitalism? The connection between the environment and capitalism is written by Gordana Gelenčer.

Marinko Škare is among the few Croatian macroeconomists who speaks his mind. He has been publishing his views occasionally for years as a opinion maker for Lider. This economics professor has been the rector of the Juraj Dobrila University in Pula for a year and a half. Unfortunately, we did not have time to discuss this because the current economic situation was in the foreground, which he claims has been – schizophrenic for about thirty years. What else he said to our Goran Litvan can be read in the extensive interview.

The stable and secure business of Čakovečki Mlinovi Group, which has seen sales grow in recent years, can certainly satisfy its shareholders. However, last week the media reported on the possible sale of shares by the married couple Varga – Ružica and Stjepan, who hold 13.11 percent and 13.42 percent of the shares, respectively. In total, that is 26.53 percent. It is hard to say why they are exiting the ownership structure, but it seems that the reason behind it is the expiration of the mandates of the Supervisory Board members, which was controlled, says one Čakovec resident, by the Varga family. Edis Felić writes that the expulsion of the Varga family from the company seems increasingly likely.

Although there have been several very serious statements from the owners of certain companies in recent years that they are preparing for an IPO, the last one seen on the Zagreb Stock Exchange was Span’s a year and a half ago. Some hesitate due to the current unfavorable market shares, some state-owned companies would be ready to go public immediately if their owner approved it, and some simply are not ready for the transparency of operations that they must have after listing. Why domestic companies shy away from listing shares on the stock exchange was discovered by Manuela Tašler.

With the new issue comes a special supplement ‘IT solutions and data centers‘.