This agreement continues to build upon the recent public procurement of new NMR spectrometers under the capital infrastructure project Open Scientific Infrastructure Platforms for Innovative Applications in Economy and Society (O-ZIP). With this partnership, RBI positions itself as a reference centre for state-of-the-art NMR technology, which will enhance scientific research capacities in Croatia and the Southeast European region.

The agreement was signed in Zagreb by Dr. David Matthew Smith, Director of the RBI; Dr. Bruno Achard, President of JEOL EUROPE SAS; and Mr. Slavko Žižek, Director of SCAN.

Focus on Enhancing Research, Education, and Collaboration

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is indispensable in numerous scientific and industrial fields due to its ability to provide detailed information about the structure, dynamics, and interactions of molecules. Whether it involves developing new drugs, exploring future materials, or product quality control, NMR remains a crucial tool for understanding the molecular world.

Established in 2003, the RBI’s Centre for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance is a key infrastructure unit for NMR research in Croatia. It operates as an open research platform, accessible not only to RBI scientists but also to researchers from Croatian universities, industrial partners, and international institutions. The Centre conducts scientific research, scientific service, and professional activities, technological and applied research for the pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries, and educational activities in NMR spectroscopy in chemistry and physics, molecular biology, biomedicine, and biotechnology.

As part of the O-ZIP project, the Institute conducted a public procurement and contracted two high-resolution NMR spectrometers with the company SCAN d.o.o. – 700 MHz and a hybrid 500 MHz system, intended for research in solutions and solids. These devices will support a wide range of scientific applications, from molecular biology to new materials and pharmaceutical compound research.

Under this agreement, the Institute will host demonstrations, workshops, and scientific events focused on promoting new NMR technology. During the partnership, RBI will make its NMR facilities and instruments available for demonstrations and educational activities for scientists from the region and beyond, facilitating access to research resources. Furthermore, in collaboration with its partners, RBI will organize an NMR school, aimed at training young scientists and researchers.

"Thanks to the O-ZIP project, we have set all the conditions for enhancing the Centre’s infrastructure with new NMR spectrometers. Strengthening the infrastructure and acquiring modern instruments will enable advances in research in chemistry, biology, biomedicine, material science, and related fields, and our status as a reference centre for JEOL technology will open new doors for collaboration with colleagues from the region and beyond," highlighted Dr. David M. Smith, Director of the RBI.

"The new spectrometers will allow us to expand our research horizons and projects. Equipment is important, but it is equally significant that this strengthens our collaborative network, both with the industry and with the domestic and international academic community," emphasized Dr. Vilko Smrečki, Head of the RBI’s Centre for NMR.

With this agreement, RBI reaffirms its commitment to strengthening scientific infrastructure, supporting research excellence, and developing international cooperation. The partnership with JEOL Europe SAS and SCAN opens new opportunities for the Croatian scientific community, as well as for international exchange of knowledge and technology.