Ruđer Bošković Institute

The Ruđer Bošković Institute is the largest scientific research institute in Croatia and the country’s leading research institution in the natural and biomedical sciences, as well as in marine and environmental research. Owing to its scale, scientific excellence, international reputation, and the quality of its researchers and research infrastructure, the Institute plays a pivotal role in the development of both the Croatian and the European Research Area.

Through its long-standing commitment to developing advanced research infrastructures, digital platforms, and national and international collaborations, the Institute actively contributes to the advancement of Open Science and the digital transformation of research in Croatia and across Europe. In particular, it promotes the principles of Open Science through the development and maintenance of research infrastructures, support for open access to scientific outputs, and the provision of research data management services aligned with the FAIR principles.

A central role in these activities is played by the RBI Centre for Scientific Information, which participates in the development of information systems and digital services for the research community. Among the most significant initiatives are CroRIS, the Croatian Current Research Information System, which integrates information on researchers, projects, publications, institutions, research equipment, and other entities related to scientific activity in the Republic of Croatia; and Dabar, the national infrastructure for the establishment, maintenance, and development of digital repositories within the Croatian science and higher education system. Through participation in the development, maintenance, and user support of these systems, the Institute enhances the visibility, interoperability, and accessibility of Croatian scientific data while strengthening the national Open Science ecosystem.

By participating in European Open Science initiatives and networks, the Institute further consolidates its role in the development of interoperable and internationally connected research infrastructures. The Institute is a member of OpenAIRE AMKE and an observer member of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), while also serving as the Croatian OpenAIRE National Open Access Desk (NOAD). In addition, Bojan Macan serves as Croatia’s representative to the European Commission in the areas of scientific information and Open Science/Open Access. These activities further reinforce the Institute’s role as a key national stakeholder in the fields of Open Science, research data management, and digital research infrastructures.

Education and capacity building also form an important part of the Institute’s mission. Through workshops, seminars, and specialised training programmes in Open Science, research data management, digital tools, and FAIR principles, the Institute contributes to the development of a modern, sustainable, and internationally connected research ecosystem.

In addition to developing digital infrastructures and information systems, the Institute provides a range of specialised scientific and laboratory services relevant to researchers in the humanities and social sciences, as well as to the field of cultural heritage preservation. Among these, particularly notable are its radiocarbon dating services for archaeological, historical, and environmental samples, and the application of cobalt-60 gamma irradiation for the conservation, protection, and sterilisation of artworks, archival and museum materials, and other sensitive cultural heritage objects.

Furthermore, through its Centre for Informatics and Computing, the Institute advances and applies photogrammetric methods, tools, and workflows for the creation of high-resolution 3D models and the digitalisation of cultural heritage. This includes the preparation of materials for digital documentation and archiving, such as orthophoto imagery and digital elevation models (DEMs). In collaboration with the Croatian Conservation Institute, the Institute is also working on improving computational methods for the detection and documentation of historical graffiti on frescoes. These interdisciplinary activities further connect natural science research with the needs of the DARIAH community and the broader field of digital humanities.

Through its participation in initiatives such as DARIAH-HR, the Ruđer Bošković Institute contributes to bridging the humanities and social sciences with advanced digital technologies and European research infrastructures, thereby fostering open, accessible, and internationally connected science.