A Ceremonial Session of the Scientific Council of the RBI was held in President Josipović’s honor. In addition to the President of the Republic, the Ceremonial Session was attended by the Rector of the University of Zagreb, Dr. Aleksa Bjeliš; the President of the Board of Governors of the RBI, Dr. Slavko Krajcar, and members of the Scientific Council and Board of Governors. This was also the first time that members of the Board of Trustees, a separate body of the Institute consisting of distinguished persons from scientific, cultural, economic or public life who support, advise or sponsor the RBI, attended a session of the Scientific Council.

In welcoming remarks, Dr. Ramljak noted that she gratified by President Josipović’s visit to the RBI and expressed particular satisfaction that, in addition to Rector Bjeliš, the Ceremonial Session was attended by several members of the Board of Trustees: Gordana Kovačević, M.S., the President and CEO of Ericsson Nikola Tesla; Academician Boris Kamenar, Academician Slaven Barišić and Dražen Sirišćević, Director of the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall. Inaugurating the activity of the Board of Trustees is a step forward in the RBI operations and an important component in strengthening the link between Croatian science and business as a highly important element in the development of the Croatian society and economy. During the Ceremonial Session, the Director General also delivered a presentation about the Institute.

President Josipović described the RBI as the archetype of science for his generation and noted that science is the engine for the successful development of every country. “There is no progress without people of vision,” he said, adding that responsible science must have general social and moral consequences.

The President of the Republic also said that the Ruđer Bošković Institute can and should be the engine for the development of the Croatian society.