Mreža znanja: Connecting Knowledge, People, and Sustainable Transitions
Mreža znanja Ltd. (Knowledge Network) is a Zagreb-based consulting company specialising in project development and management, strategic consulting, and support for innovation systems. Founded in 2007, the company has spent nearly two decades working closely with public and private stakeholders, helping ideas grow into well-designed projects and meaningful strategies in health, science, research and innovation, and sustainable development. At the heart of its work is collaboration — connecting institutions, businesses, and communities to create initiatives that deliver real benefits for society and the environment.
🧑🤝🧑 The Team Behind AquaBioNets
The AquaBioNets team at Mreža znanja includes Domagoj Račić, a Senior Expert, that contributes deep expertise in smart specialisation (S3), having participated in the development, implementation, and evaluation of national and regional strategies across several European countries, particularly in the enlargement region. His work focuses on Living Lab methodologies and innovation ecosystem building, strengthening the project’s strategic and territorial dimensions.
Ivana Mihaljević is a Project Manager with a background in humanities, social sciences, and EU project management. She brings experience in stakeholder engagement, mapping, coordination, and networking, and within AquaBioNets also serves as Communication Manager, supporting outreach activities and the transfer of project results.
Vedran Budimir supports administrative and financial coordination and is responsible for implementing the Quality Assessment and Risk Mitigation strategy, drawing on his experience in coordinating large international consortia.
Matea Legin, Financial Expert, contributes expertise in feasibility and viability analysis, supporting the planning and implementation of project activities, including Living Labs and other collaborative actions.
Depending on project needs, the core team is supported by additional in-house or external experts, ensuring that the right expertise is available whenever activities require it.
Beyond AquaBioNets: Supporting Innovation and Sustainability
Beyond AquaBioNets, the Mreža znanja team is involved in a range of European and national initiatives that strengthen innovation ecosystems and support sustainable development. These include participation in the European Digital Innovation Hub AI4Health.Cro, where Mreža znanja provides services in strategic planning and vision development, project application preparation, and consortium building.
The team is also involved in projects such as CapTTict, focused on strengthening technology transfer and innovation capacities, and NUDGES, which explores behavioural approaches to climate and sustainability challenges. In addition, team members contribute to initiatives like Social Impact Manager and provide strategic and advisory services to national public actors in the blue economy sector, supporting evidence-based policymaking and sustainable innovation.
🌿 Looking Ahead with AquaBioNets
Through AquaBioNets, Mreža znanja aims to support the transition of Croatian aquaculture towards more sustainable practices, with a longer-term vision of extending this approach to the fisheries sector. The project offers an opportunity to engage stakeholders across the entire value chain — from producers and technology providers to policymakers and communities — and encourage meaningful steps towards sustainability, grounded in shared knowledge and innovation.
At the same time, AquaBioNets enables Mreža znanja to further strengthen its network across Mediterranean countries, working alongside partners who share the same ambition:
to accelerate sustainable transitions in the region and support organisations as they move towards more environmentally responsible and resilient models.
