Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar signed amendments to the Grant Agreements for Croatia’s European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH), securing the legal and financial preconditions for continued public co-funding. The amendments were signed with the heads of the coordinating institutions of the four Croatian EDIHs, including Dr David Matthew Smith, Director General of the Ruđer Bošković Institute, who signed on behalf of EDIH AI4HEALTH.CRO.
For the healthtech community, the key takeaway is simple: EDIH services remain stable and available until the end of 2026. Although the original investment line was removed from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO), the Ministry will continue co-funding EDIHs from the state budget through end-2026—ensuring continuity for companies and public-sector users that rely on EDIHs for real-world testing, skills, finance navigation, and ecosystem connections.
The numbers behind the decision (why it matters)
Total value of Croatian EDIH projects: €10,266,599.16
Co-funding structure: 50% Digital Europe (European Commission) + 50% national co-funding (€5,133,299.58)
Impact already mobilised (as of 25 Nov 2025): €3,538,865.73
979 state-aid decisions worth €2,259,312.09
€1,279,553.64 in co-funded services for public-sector users
Deployment rate: 68.94% of contracted funds already put to work
These figures show that EDIHs are not “future potential”—they are already delivering measurable support at scale, and Croatia is now ensuring that momentum continues beyond the original NPOO investment window.
What this means specifically for AI4HEALTH.CRO?
For AI4HEALTH.CRO, coordinated by the Ruđer Bošković Institute, the amendments are a clear operational green light: we can keep expanding the support that helps hospitals, health authorities, startups, and SMEs adopt digital health and AI responsibly—without unnecessary risk.
Our core offer remains focused on outcomes:
Test Before Invest
A neutral environment to validate digital health and AI solutions before procurement, scaling, or integration—reducing technical, clinical, and organisational risk.Upskilling healthcare teams
From data literacy to hands-on AI adoption in clinical workflows—so technology is usable, trusted, and implementable.Access to finance
Helping teams understand calls, instruments, and investment logic—and position their plans for funding and scale.Ecosystem matchmaking
Connecting hospitals, public administration, startups, SMEs, and researchers who actually build and deploy healthtech.
Who should reach out now?
AI4HEALTH.CRO is here for:
Hospitals & clinics
Public health bodies and public administration
Startups & SMEs in digital health, medtech, and AI
If you’re asking: “Is this AI solution mature enough for my hospital, clinic, or product roadmap?” — that’s exactly the moment to talk to AI4HEALTH.CRO.