ZAGREB, 6 Oct (Hina) - A Stanford University study ranked 130 Croatian scientists among the world's two per cent most cited researchers in 2024, with 97 Croatians also listed for overall career impact. More than half are from the University of Zagreb, though the leading names in 2024 are from Split.
The study, based on Scopus citation data, is widely cited, though academician Vlatko Silobrčić cautioned that it is less reliable than other databases, such as WoS (Web of Science), and that Croatia lacks accurate data on the number of scientists and investment in science.
An unusual case appeared at the top of the career-long list: American neurologist Charles M. Poser, renowned for research on multiple sclerosis, is listed under Croatia’s Health Ministry despite no evidence of formal links. Croatian institutions, professional societies and the ministry itself said they had no knowledge of his affiliation, though he co-authored with Croatian scientists.
The second-ranked name, and effectively the leading Croatian scientist, is energy expert Frano Barbir of Split's Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture. Recognised internationally, Barbir has authored influential work on fuel cells. Despite his achievements, he was not elected to the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU), which said he had not secured enough votes in a secret ballot.
Barbir argued that candidates with fewer citations and lower h-index scores were elected instead, calling the process unmeritocratic. Silobrčić also criticised HAZU's practices, noting that prominent researchers such as Ivica Đikić had been rejected and that personal interests often outweighed merit.
The top ten Croatian researchers include molecular biologist Miroslav Radman, civil engineer Antonio Munjiza, neurologist Ivica Kostović, space meteorologist Bojan Vršnak, energy expert Sandro Nižetić, mathematician Nenad Trinajstić and epidemiologist Ana Marušić.
For 2024 alone, the top three are Split-based scientists Sandro Nižetić, Frano Barbir and Antonio Munjiza. They are followed by economists Marina Dabić and Marinko Škare, IT researchers Petar Jandrić and Andrina Granić, psychologist Irena Burić and molecular medicine expert Neven Žarković.
By institution, 72 of the 130 most-cited Croatians in 2024 are from the University of Zagreb, followed by the University of Split (14), the Ruđer Bošković Institute (8), the University of Rijeka (7), the Institute for Medical Research (6), the University of Osijek (5) and the Catholic University of Croatia (3). Smaller universities and hospitals also contributed single names to the list.
Most cited Croatians work in biomedicine (50), followed by natural sciences (25), technical sciences (22), biotechnical (18), social sciences (10) and humanities (1). Silobrčić noted that biomedical sciences are dominant worldwide and interdisciplinary overlaps are common.
HAZU said that 17 of its members appear on the career-long list and 14 on the 2024 list, though only a few are directly affiliated with the Academy. Many continue publishing with their university or institute listed as their affiliation, where they still conduct research.
Two university rectors also appear as the only representatives of their institutions: Marinko Škare from Pula and Nebojša Stojčić from Dubrovnik. Silobrčić commented that what matters is their genuine contribution to published research, not their positions.
Despite disputes over methodology and recognition, the lists show that Croatian science maintains a significant presence in global research, with Split producing top-ranked individuals and Zagreb dominating in numbers.
