The Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb was founded in 1950 as a center for advanced research. The Institute was named after the famous Croatian 18th century scientist Josip Ruđer Bošković (1711- 1787). From the very beginning the Institute was oriented to fundamental research. Following the predominant interests of the times, nuclear disciplines, both experimental and theoretical, were the first to develop. The first success in the field was related to the experimental neutron physics, using a locally built 14 MeV neutron generator. Very soon, to support the basic experimental research in nuclear physics, the need for the extension of the research activities to electronics and chemistry was felt. As early as 1954 the official decision was made to extend the research activities from physics, electronics and inorganic (radio) chemistry to biochemistry and biology. Thus, the Institute early became and has remained a truly multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research center.

An important enforcement of the interdisciplinary character of the Institute took place in 1969 when the Institute of Marine Research at the Adriatic Coast in Rovinj joined the Institute. The marine and environmental mission-oriented research of the interdisciplinary teams deals mostly with the properties of natural waters, in particular the Adriatic Sea.

Biomedical research and molecular genetics in particular, have recently acquired considerable attention as a promising avenue of interdisciplinary and applied research. So, at present the Institute houses natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology and biochemistry), electronics, medical and biomedical sciences and interdisciplinary, marine and environmental sciences.

The Institute has almost 750 employees with about 320 Ph.D.'s and 70 M.Sc.'s. Present research activities are centred and organized within 12 divisions, namely, Theoretical Physics, Experimental Physics, Materials Physics, Electronics, Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Materials Chemistry, Molecular Genetics, Molecular Medicine, Marine Research, Marine and Environmental Research, and Laser and Atomic Research and Development.

In parallel with fundamental scientific investigations, the Institute has exercised applied research, collaborating with other institutes and industrial units in various branches of production of goods, and co-operating with a number of governmental institutions related to national defence, health care, food production and environmental protection. Additionally, the Institute offers expert advice and training courses for industrial engineers and serves as a reference for a quality control of various products as well as for standards and measures related to science and technology. A large variety of scientific and expert problems addressed by researchers has been enabled by a well-organized infrastructure, which includes the largest library in natural sciences in Croatia, a computing centre, animal facilities and a large number of valuable experimental devices (Tandem Van de Graaff, EPR, X-ray, NMR, core facility for molecular genetics, MS, IR, Raman spectrometers).

An important facet of the Ruđer Bošković Institute is the devotion of its research staff to pedagogical activities both through lectures at undergraduate and (mostly) graduate level and by training junior researchers by leading B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. theses. In fact, the first national graduate (post-diploma) studies were established at the Institute in the year 1957.

International co-operation is another salient feature of the Institute. It is very broad and intensive and plays an important role in executing modern scientific research. It embodies joint venture projects involving bi- or multi-lateral research groups. Another form of co-operation is realized by our leading experts acting as visiting professors and/or scientists at foreign Universities. Within this category falls the organization of numerous international congresses and symposia, which represent significant contributions to scientific progress in the world. The same holds for books and monographs written or edited by our researchers and printed by well-known international publishing houses. Last but not least, our scientists serve as members of the Editorial Boards of international journals, as officers in international scientific societies and as United Nations experts. It follows that our science is deeply involved in the modern global research system.

In conclusion, it should be pointed out that the rich scientific experience at the Ruđer Bošković Institute is a valuable resource of expertise, methodology and creative imagination for the future "high-tech" development in the 21st century