Thematic objectives of the operational programme address:

1. Strengthening research, technological development and innovation
   • Enhancing research and innovation (R&I) infrastructure and capacities through: (i) investment into R&D&I infrastructure, incl. equipment or e-infrastructure; (ii) development of all project documentation needed for the successful application and further implementation of R&D&I infrastructural projects; (iii) grant schemes for R&D&I projects; (iv) support to Technology Transfer Offices and (v) activities of science technology parks
   • Promoting business investments into R&I through support to R&D projects for business sector addressing to industrial research, experimental development and feasibility studies, or fundamental research leading to introducing new products, services, processes.
2. Enhancing access to, and use and quality of, information and communication technologies
3. Enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, the agricultural sector (for the EAFRD) and the fisheries and aquaculture sector (for the EMFF) and, among other addressed topics,
   • to provide better access to finance for SMEs through e.g. loans and guarantees funds would be mainly provided to SMEs for new capital investment that will improve their product and market profiles (to invest capital in novel technology, high technology industries and knowledge intensive activities)
   • to improve business development and technological readiness through (i) initial investments resulting in the setting up of a new or extension of the existing capacity, diversification of the output …, (ii) training and advisory services directly related to new outputs of the company;
   • to support enterprises in meeting the applicable requirements of standards, conformity assessment and certification of products/services/processes
   • to improve the competitiveness and efficiency of enterprises through ICT (introducing/implementing e-business solutions, e-services between enterprises (B2B) and beyond the boundaries of the enterprise such as supply chain or customer relationship management), etc.
   • to support the commercialisation of R&D results for SME (only) covering costs of tangible and intangible assets, industrial design, indispensable specified trainings and advisory, service development and promoting entry on the market, etc.
4. Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors with focus among other on (i) increasing energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources in manufacturing industries and (ii) in in private service sector (tourism and trade)
   
5. Promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management
6. Preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency
7. Promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures focuses (among others) on the increase of the volume of freight traffic on inland waterways through following examples of actions:
   • development of port infrastructure (focus on inland ports Vukovar and Slavonski Brod (TEN-T core) and Osijek (TEN-T comprehensive): construction or modernisation of infrastructure dedicated to functioning of inland waterway’ ports including direct access to them and links with other transport modes (modernisation and construction of new facilities to increase the capacity of the existing ports, modernisation of road and rail infrastructure connections, construction of the port basin and developing of the business zone, construction of the bulk cargo terminal, construction and reconstruction of the existing banks, modernisation of the basic port infrastructure and safety systems).
   • improvement of river navigability: enhancement of navigability of inland waterways with a focus on river Sava (to achieve navigability requirements for Sava river, increase dimensions of the waterways and eliminate the bottlenecks, to ensure the navigability of Danube and Drava (downstream till Osijek only) in line with the required navigability levels acc. AGN.
   • preparation of project documentation
8. Promoting social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination
9. Investing in education, training and vocational training for skills and lifelong learning

Rate of co-financing will be detailed in the individual calls for proposals.

The individual calls for proposals under the European Structural and Investment Funds are in Croatia published on the central website of the Ministry of Regional Development and funds of the European Union: www.strukturnifondovi.hr.