Croatia

As the new year begins, the Living Labs within our project are reactivating after the Christmas break.

The Croatian team was the first to do so, seizing this initial meeting of the year to maintain direct contact with local stakeholders. See the meeting agenda here.

The Croatian Living Lab has set itself the task of holding the majority of Living Lab meetings in the local communities of the innovators involved in the project. Thus, on 24 January, 2025, the Living Lab meeting took place in Gospić, where Marijana Svetić, who was recently introduced on the project website https://www.grassceiling.eu/marijana-svetic-croatia-livinglab/ , comes from. The meeting with stakeholders was particularly successful, primarily due to the great interest of local stakeholders in the project and then also due to their active participation in the workshop. It was noted that the progress made over the last two decades is remarkable, but there are still many problems in the Lika region that need to be worked on to improve the status of women, especially in the areas of infrastructure, economy, politics and family. Rural poverty and the needs of the elderly population, especially older women, as well as the digital divide and the lack of microfinance were particularly highlighted. Some of the services that are lacking in the rural region of Lika are kindergartens, facilities for the elderly, microfinance for small crafts, businesses and family farms, more accessible public transportation and fast network signals.

Representatives from Lika-Senj County Development Centre (the host), The Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, the Croatian Employment Service (Gospić branch), the Association GTF-Initiative for Sustainable Growth, City of Gospić, Polytechnic “Nikola Tesla”, LAG Lika and Lika-Senj County itself, had the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the Grass Ceiling project and, more specifically, how it is impacting rural Croatia through the group of women entrepreneurs participating in it.

Professor Nataša Bokan from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Zagreb was responsible for presenting the project’s content and the Living Lab methodology being implemented in various parts of the country.

Innovation training took place in the afternoon session, focusing on the testing phase of the innovation process as part of the design thinking methodology. In an open discussion, the innovators shared their experiences of testing their products with the customers. The innovators reported that they received constructive critical feedback with new perspectives on their products or approach. The final session was an open discussion about the overall innovation process and their own progress (personal and business) that they have made so far in the Grass Ceiling project. The most important outcome for them is support and networking. In second place is learning about the innovation process and realising that their own perspective is not enough and how important it is to talk to others and incorporate their opinions into their own ideas/projects.

This meeting spanned over two days and included, among other activities, a visit to the Nikola Tesla Memorial Center. The gathering also served as an opportunity to share with all the women participating in the project the results of the 2nd showcase event, which took place in late November 2024 in Vilnius (Lithuania) and was attended by Ines Dundović.

As the new year begins, the Living Labs within our project are reactivating after the Christmas break.

The Croatian team was the first to do so, seizing this initial meeting of the year to maintain direct contact with local stakeholders. See the meeting agenda here.

Representatives from entities such as the Lika-Senj County Development Centre, the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, the Croatian Employment Service (Gospić branch), the Lika-Senj County Development Agency, the company GTF-Initiative for Sustainable Growth, and Lika-Senj County itself, had the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the Grass Ceiling project and, more specifically, how it is impacting rural Croatia through the group of women entrepreneurs participating in it.

Professor Natasa Bokan from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Zagreb was responsible for explaining the project’s content and the Living Lab methodology being implemented in various parts of the country.

This initial meeting spanned two days in January and included, among other activities, a visit to the Nikola Tesla Memorial Center. The gathering also served as an opportunity to share with all the women participating in the project the results of the 2nd showcase event, which took place in late November 2024 in Vilnius (Lithuania) and was attended by Inés Dundovic.

In the coming days, we will expand on this information with more details about everything discussed during this seventh meeting of the Croatian Living Lab of the Grass Ceiling project.

Birgit is a dynamic, determined woman from Istria, with a diverse background that spans law, business, and agriculture. Until recently, Birgit worked as a lawyer, while managing a successful security company with a team of 110 employees, predominantly men. However, her true passion lays elsewhere—olive growing, a hobby she inherited from her grandmother.

For Birgit, olive growing is a way to honour her grandmother’s legacy and preserve a piece of Istrian culture. It represents sustainability, tradition, and a personal commitment to cultivating something lasting and meaningful. Through her dedication to the craft, Birgit found a new passion, one that is as rich and enduring as the olive oil she produces.

After receiving a grant for young farmers through the Rural Development Programme, Birgit made the decision to transform her hobby into a full-fledged profession. Birgit had no formal background in agriculture, but her determination fuelled her to dive into the world of olive growing with full commitment. She sought out mentors, attended workshops, and learned everything from the science of soil health to the art of producing high-quality olive oil. Every step along the way was a learning process, but one Birgit embraced with enthusiasm.

Despite facing scepticism and derogatory remarks about women working in agriculture, Birgit never wavered.

Today, Birgit proudly identifies as a passionate advocate for justice, equality, animal rights, and women’s empowerment. She embodies the spirit of resilience.

The GRASS CEILING project is helping Birgit expand her network of Croatian women entrepreneurs. She’s also gaining valuable insights and knowledge that will undoubtedly support the growth of her olive tree business.

Located near the birthplace of the great Nikola Tesla, often credited as the inventor of the electric motor, Marijana’s family business thrives on innovation and tradition.

Marijana is a mother, human rights defender, student, farmer and innovator. On her path to rural entrepreneurship, she has combined the old with the new to create something truly unique and meaningful.

Her latest project involves breathing new life into discarded oak wood to create stunning table lamps, each named after the visionary Nikola Tesla. Marijana has also started to explore wood jewellery making and the endless possibilities of this beautiful, natural material.

She works in disaster management, making sure her community is safe and prepared every day. But her passion for sustainability and creativity doesn’t stop there! She produces fresh vegetables and high-quality meat on her family’s farm. She is also the proud winner of second place in the competition for the most exemplary village women in Croatia in 2021.

She believes in the power of education and wants to connect her work with educational institutions. She is a true inspiration for the next generation of rural entrepreneurs.

Marijana’s main message is: let’s be open-minded, innovative and support each other. Our potential is limitless and our contributions are invaluable!