Events

Smart Cities – Digitalization, Sustainable Housing and Innovation in the Service of Citizens

Smart Cities 2026

The topic of smart cities is becoming increasingly important for Croatian cities as they face the challenges of accelerated urbanization, a shortage of affordable housing, the need to modernise infrastructure, and the growing impact of climate change. The introduction of digital technologies and smart solutions can help local governments manage resources more efficiently, improve public services, and increase transparency in governance, while sustainable urban development contributes to better mobility, more accessible services, and higher-quality public spaces. For cities with limited financial and infrastructural capacities, the exchange of experiences and the adoption of best practices are particularly important.

Investments in Focus

Regional Development Forum 2026

Numerous analyses confirm the central importance of domestic and foreign investments as well as affordable housing for the development of Croatian counties. Investments stimulate economic growth by increasing capital, productivity, employment, and exports, while affordable housing supports demographic stability and labour mobility, reduces the financial burden on households, strengthens social cohesion, and facilitates the attraction of skilled workers and new businesses.

Political Academy Reviews Progress at Winter Seminar 2026

The KAS Croatia–Slovenia Office organised in cooperation with the Croatian Statehood Foundation (ZHDZ) the midterm evaluation of the 19th generation of the Political Academy in Rovinj from January 23rd to 25th, 2026. As part of the so-called Winter School, the event marked the conclusion of the first half of the one-year training program for political talent development. The long-standing weekend seminar serves both to deepen participants’ knowledge of key political and societal topics and to systematically evaluate the training outcomes achieved so far, as well as to prepare the content and methodology for the second half of the course. At the same time, it provided participants with an intensive exchange with political decision-makers, scholars, and communication experts.

Women in Politics

In mid-January 2026, the two-day seminar “Women in Politics” for the 6th generation of participants took place in Novska. The event was organized by the Croatian Statehood Foundation (ZHDZ) in cooperation with the KAS Croatia-Slovenia Office and brought together committed participants from across Croatia who are actively engaged in political and social issues.

Young Voices in Politics: The Power of Dialogue and Responsibility

The KAS Croatia-Slovenia Office organized together with the Dr. Anton Korošec Institute (INAK) a two-day seminar in Ljubljana “Young Voices in Politics: The Power of Dialogue and Responsibility”, which brought together young political actors, students, socially engaged participants, and experts from Slovenia and abroad. The seminar aimed to foster open dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and responsible political engagement among youth by encouraging reflection on their role in democratic processes and the development of political culture.

Building Europe’s Strategic Resilience: The Croatian-German Partnership in a New Era

Andrej Plenković on a working visit to Germany

During his working visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković visited the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin. There, he held a lecture on strengthening Europe’s strategic resilience, titled “Building Europe’s Strategic Resilience: The Croatian-German Partnership in a New Era”. Plenković emphasised Croatia’s strong commitment to further deepening its partnership with Germany and highlighted the important role of the nearly half a million Croatians living in Germany. He stressed that, in times of global uncertainty, Europe must become more resilient, more united, and more sovereign — and that Croatia can contribute to this effort with its own experience: from a country once devastated by war to the newest member of the EU, the Eurozone, and the Schengen Area, with a dynamically growing economy.

The Power of Values in Times of Hybrid Threats

Christian-democratic principles such as respect for human dignity, the protection of the rule of law, solidarity, and a sense of responsibility toward the community play a vital role in strengthening the resilience of democratic systems - especially today, as disinformation, cyberattacks, and other forms of hybrid activity are increasing in intensity. Insights from research and practice clearly show that reliable institutions and a value-based political culture are essential to preventing social fragmentation and reducing society’s vulnerability to manipulative actors. The Christian-democratic emphasis on the common good and the social market economy further strengthens trust in state institutions, which serves as a crucial safeguard against disinformation. At the same time, security analyses highlight that a clear value orientation and political-ethical reliability are indispensable for maintaining stability and resilience within both the European and transatlantic security order.

Security Challenges for Europe

Tide of Change

The KAS Croatia–Slovenia Office, in cooperation with the Centre for Security Cooperation (RACVIAC), successfully concluded the 13th annual “Security Challenges for Europe” conference, held in Zagreb on November 25th and 26th, 2025.

AI2 Future: Legal Terms of Use

AI Beyond the Hype

At the end of October, Zagreb hosted the 9th “AI2Future” conference, Croatia’s leading event in the field of artificial intelligence. Under the motto “AI Beyond the Hype,” over 250 national and international experts, researchers, engineers, legal professionals, managers, and students came together to exchange knowledge, experiences, and ideas. The conference clearly demonstrated that AI has long moved beyond marketing trends and is being applied in industry, the public sector, and research in practical, measurable, and responsible ways. Technical excellence, economic applicability, and cutting-edge research were all addressed, with a particular emphasis on tangible benefits and ethical implementation.

The Migration Transition in Croatia - Current State and Perspectives

International Scientific Workshop

At the end of October, national and international experts, representatives of public institutions, NGOs, academia, and employers gathered in Zagreb for the three-day international workshop “ The Migration Transition in Croatia - Current State and Perspectives”. The event brought together key stakeholders to discuss one of the most significant social processes shaping Croatia today – migration. The workshop was organized by the Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences in cooperation with the KAS Croatia–Slovenia Office and supported by the ERSTE Foundation and THE CIVICS Innovation Hub. Its aim was to exchange knowledge and insights on how migration and integration processes are influencing Croatia’s demographic and social development.