Project “KAINOVA” is implemented within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021–2026 and is financed by European Union funds through the NextGenerationEU instrument.
Research team
Prof. Tomislav Baković, PhD, represents a scholar whose career has organically developed at the intersection of quality management, innovation, and international business. Born in 1979 in Sinj, he began his academic journey at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb in 1998, where he graduated in 2003 with a major in finance with excellent success (GPA 4.5). Even then, his interest in interdisciplinary areas that would later define his scientific identity became apparent. His master's thesis from 2005 entitled "Application of Quality Management Tools in Croatian Foreign Trade Companies" represents the first step in building a coherent research program that integrates quality management with issues of international competitiveness. His doctoral dissertation "The Impact of Quality and Innovation on the Performance of Croatian Manufacturing Industry" (2010) further solidified this research paradigm, exploring how quality and innovativeness shape competitive advantage in the specific context of Croatian industry.
Research Orientation and Research Interests
The scientific profile of Prof. Baković focuses on carefully studying how quality management, innovation processes, and organizational performance are connected, especially in small open economies. His research program can be organized around three main areas:
First, systematic study of the implementation and impact of quality management systems in Croatian manufacturing companies, with a special focus on export performance. Through a series of empirical studies, he explores how the application of quality management principles contributes to the international competitiveness of domestic industry.
Second, research on innovation as a strategic resource, including implementation of standardized approaches such as the ISO 56002:2019 standard for innovation management. This interest encompasses both technological innovations and organizational transformations that enable innovativeness.
Third, a new and particularly timely area of research: artificial intelligence and digital transformation. In the past two years, Prof. Baković has increasingly directed his research focus toward AI literacy in higher education, the quality of generative AI tools, and the impact of digitalization on international business.
Dr.sc. Ivana Načinović Braje is an associate professor at the Department of Organization and Management, Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb. In her scientific and research work, she deals with the topics of organization, organizational culture, as well as the topics of organizational resilience and the effects of new business models based on digitalization. In her previous scientific work, she has been engaged in several scientific projects (MZOS and HRZZ). She has also participated in international scientific projects FP6, Tempus, Erasmus+ KA Strategic Partnership in Higher Education, Erasmus Blended Intensive Program and COST projects. She was awarded the “Mijo Mirković” award for scientific work in the field of economic sciences. She has published more than a hundred scientific and professional papers in the fields of organizational culture, organization and organizational design, strategy and reward systems.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Ines Dužević is an associate professor at the Department of Trade and International Business, Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb. Her scientific work is focused on the areas of quality management, business excellence and international trade. She has published numerous scientific papers in relevant domestic and international journals, covering topics such as quality management in educational institutions, the effects of artificial intelligence on service quality in education, the relationship between organizational culture and total quality management, and digital transformation in the context of international trade. According to Google Scholar, her works have been cited more than 820 times.
Mia Delić is an associate professor at the Department of Trade and International Business, Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb. Her scientific and research work focuses on additive technologies, information systems in trade, supplier relationship management and supply chains. She is the author of numerous scientific papers published in relevant domestic and international journals and has participated in numerous conferences, with topics such as the application of additive technologies in production systems, the impact of information technology application on organizational performance, and consumer perceptions of e-commerce services. Her works have been cited more than 770 times in Google Scholar.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Mate Damić is an associate professor at the Department of Trade and International Business, Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb. The focus of his scientific work is in the areas of quality management, culture and international business, with a special emphasis on analyzing the influence of culture on the connection between company innovation and the implementation of a quality management system.
Davor Vlajčić is an associate professor at the Department of International Economics, Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb. The focus of his scientific research is innovation management, knowledge transfer, intellectual property management and international business. He is the author of numerous scientific papers published in prestigious domestic and foreign journals. He has participated in European and domestic projects (Open Innovation Network, TEMPUS, SLIM, etc.), and is a reviewer for numerous reputable international journals (Journal of Business Research, Technology forecast and social change, etc.). He was a visiting researcher at prestigious faculties - Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, University of California, Davis.