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Thematic Session on AI and India - Opportunities for Collaboration including discussion on EU-India FTA The Faculty of Organization and Informatics (UNIZG FOI) in Varaždin hosted a dynamic thematic session and panel discussion titled “Thematic Session on AI & India – Opportunities for Collaboration” along with discussions on recently concluded India-EU FTA. The event was organised in cooperation with the Embassy of India in Zagreb, bringing together students, researchers, industry experts, academics, and public sector representatives.

January 28, 2026

Thematic Session on AI and India - Opportunities for Collaboration including discussion on EU-India FTA

The Faculty of Organization and Informatics (UNIZG FOI) in Varaždin hosted a dynamic thematic session and panel discussion titled “Thematic Session on AI & India – Opportunities for Collaboration” along with discussions on recently concluded India-EU FTA. The event was organised in cooperation with the Embassy of India in Zagreb, bringing together students, researchers, industry experts, academics, and public sector representatives.

The session opened with welcoming remarks highlighting the importance of global AI development and international cooperation. Speakers emphasized India’s rapid growth as a global player in AI, education, and technological innovation and underscored opportunities for students and researchers to engage in academic exchanges, joint research projects, and collaborations between Croatia, the European Union, and India.

Speakers and Moderators

The panel included distinguished experts from industry, academia, government, and diplomacy:

Opening & Key Participants:

* Ambassador Arun Goel – Embassy of India, Zagreb

* Prof. Dr. Sc. Marina Klačmer Čalopa – Dean, Faculty of Organization and Informatics

* Miroslav Huđek, Head of the Administrative Department for Education, Culture and Sports, on behalf of Varaždin County,

Panel – “India as a Global AI Force”:

* Lovro Stipanović – Elproms

* Zoran Korečić – Bankai Group

* Igor Ljubi – Ministry of Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation

Panel – “EU–India IT & AI Cooperation – Experiences”:

* Prof. Dr. Sc. Markus Schatten – FOI

* Moreno Grgurić – IBM iX Croatia

* Sandra Carić Herceg – Nacional

Moderators:

* Prof. Dr. Sc. Neven Vrček – FOI

* Ružica Jajčević – Moderator

ITEC Program Presentation:

* Doc. Dr. Sc. Bogdan Okreša Đurić – FOI

* Ružica Jajčević – Moderator

Panel discussions covered topics such as India’s role as a global AI force, cooperation experiences between the EU, Croatia, and Indian IT/AI sectors, and an introduction to ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) programs that support student training and professional development. Experts shared insights and encouraged networking and future partnerships.

This event also took place in the context of significant global developments in India–EU economic cooperation, including the recent conclusion of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement — a historic milestone announced at the 16th India–EU Summit by Prime Minister Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi and European Commission President H.E. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen. The new agreement between India (the world’s 4th largest economy) and the European Union (the world’s 2nd largest economy) represents a strategic breakthrough in global trade engagement, covering a combined economic area that accounts for roughly 25% of global GDP. This agreement is expected to expand trade, investment, and cooperation — including in innovation sectors such as AI — and Croatian students, researchers, and businesses are poised to benefit from the enhanced opportunities it brings.

The FOI thematic session successfully connected international perspectives on artificial intelligence with emerging global economic trends, inspiring participants to explore future research collaborations and professional pathways bridging Croatia, the EU, and India.