Nuqleus, the academic entrepreneurship program of the Nikola Tesla Innovation Centre at the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER), has been included in a list of the 150 leading innovation hubs in Europe for 2025. The program earned its place for successfully mentoring scientists and entrepreneurs and connecting them to form innovative start-ups. One of the many success stories is a start-up by Domagoj Ćorić and his team.
Their software platform processes drone-captured data quickly, allowing users to identify cracks and potholes on roads precisely. Another standout start-up, founded by Sandra Ćatović, helps users find reliable legal answers.
Nuqleus among Europe’s top hubs
Their application analyses legal texts and provides relevant regulations for specific cases. In sustainable solutions, Nades DESIGN by Manuela Panić has developed a natural alternative to petroleum-based solvents applicable in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries—an initial analysis covering over 3,000 European innovation hubs, incubators, and accelerators.
Nuqleus ranked 60th overall and 12th for its strong mentorship support. “This recognition highlights the impact of our program and the quality of support we provide to start-ups,” said Matija Srbić, Nuqleus program coordinator. The next step for Nuqleus is to support scientific start-ups further and strengthen Croatia’s position in high-tech industries.
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