ARCA 2022 Report – The First 20 Years
ARCA 2022 Report
ARCA 2022- The First 20 Years
Organized by the Croatian Community of Innovators, the jubilee 20th international innovation exhibition ARCA 2022 was held from October 13 to 15, 2022, in the National and University Library in Zagreb, Croatia.
More than 200 innovations from a 12 countries were presented at the exhibition, which are the result of the imagination of individual innovators, the research and development community and innovative start-up companies from Croatia and abroad.
Prof. Dr. Miljenko Simpraga, president of the Croatian Union of Innovators, pointed out in his welcome speech that ARCA is the only such exhibition in the world that has been held continuously for 20 years in person, including the two pandemic years.
At the opening, the gathering was greeted by Prof. Dr. Tomislav Josip Mlinaric, the newly elected vice-chancellor for innovation, technology transfer, and cooperation with the economy of the University of Zagreb (the largest Croatian university), who referred to the role of innovation and new technologies in stimulating the economy. The audience was warmly greeted by the IFIA director Mr. Zoran Barisic, who spoke on behalf of the IFIA president Dr. Alireza Rastegar. The audience was also greeted by the representative of the City of Zagreb, Ms. Madeleine Wolf, the head of the Innovation Sector of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Ms. Diana Krcmar, the state secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Zdravko Tusek, while the 20th international innovation exhibition ARCA 2022 was officially opened by the envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, and the Mayor of Mursko Sredisce, Mr. Drazen Srpak.
After the official opening, the Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Croatian Union of Innovators and the “Marko Marulic” Polytechnic in Knin, and the Medjimurje Polytechnic in Cakovec. On the sidelines of ARCA, there was also a forum held under the title of „Digital Transformation of Croatia“, where the digital transformation of business and possible financing through EU funds were discussed. ARCA’s long-standing partner, the State Institute for Intellectual Property of the Republic of Croatia, traditionally held a lecture on the topic “Protection of Intellectual Property”. The Association Nikola Tesla – Genius for the Future held a workshop and panel discussion on the importance of Nikola Tesla in promoting ethical business. Another workshop, titled “Popularization of STEM and Examples of Good Practice”, was held by the Rudjer Boskovic Institute, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding, the Faculty of Agriculture and the Croatian Union of Innovators. STEM workshops where „xVidi“ mini computers and “LegoWeDo” robots were built and programmed were intended for youth. Among the many activities during the exhibition, the monograph “ARCA – The First 20 Years” was presented, which, in addition to the tradition of holding ARCA, marked 65 years of organized activities in the promotion of innovation in the Republic of Croatia.
On the last day of the exhibition, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development informed interested parties about the “Upcoming tenders for entrepreneurs and innovators”.
At the awarding ceremony, two IFIA Best Invention Medal were awarded to: “Nitrogen Organic Fertilizer From Raw Wool” – Dragica Jerkov and “PRO-I Smart Virtual Switch” – Lovro Stipanovic and Josip Oroz
The WIPO Special Award was won by the innovation: “Procedure For Making Composite Panels From Natural Materials” by Marservis d.o.o.
The Grand Prix prize for the best innovation of the 20th international innovation exhibition ARCA 2022 was awarded to the following innovation:
“GLOGLO Mobile Self-Service Tap” by the innovator Petar Vlahovic (Association of Innovators Faust Vrancic Sibenik). It is a mobile automatic device for pouring beer, wine, water and juices that enables service interventions (replenishment, telemetry, etc.) without disturbing the beverage distribution process.