CLER Ltd. is a company owned by the Faculty of Economics and Business in Rijeka, established in 2013 with the support of the University of Rijeka and the Croatian Chamber of Economy. CLER operates as the professional and research centre of the Faculty, with a strong focus on local and regional economic development.
It is also the first company in Croatia founded by an academic institution, further strengthening the Faculty’s role as a partner to the public sector, the business community, and civil society.
Motivation and Achievements
The primary motivation behind the establishment of CLER Ltd. was to enhance the capacities of cities, municipalities, and public sector institutions through knowledge transfer. This includes strengthening organisational and administrative skills, improving the management of local and regional budgets, and supporting the selection of appropriate financing and governance models for public assets.
Through its work, CLER continuously contributes to improving the performance and management of both the public and private sectors. Its activities are particularly focused on the following areas:
Development Strategies and Planning
Preparation of long-, medium-, and short-term development strategies, programmes, and plans for cities, municipalities, counties, and ministries, including analytical foundations as well as ex-ante and ex-post evaluations.
Analyses and Decision-Making Studies
Preparation of expert reports and studies supporting infrastructure, investment, budgetary, organisational, and other key development decisions in both the public and private sectors.
Research in Local and Regional Development
Interdisciplinary research on socio-economic, demographic, and institutional determinants of development, including measurement and analysis of the development levels of local and regional government units, as well as the development of indices, databases, and analytical tools.
Advisory Services and Public Governance Support
Consulting services in the areas of local public finance, budget management, financing models, and strengthening organisational and administrative capacities.
Education and Knowledge Transfer
Organisation of professional and scientific conferences, workshops, and training programmes focused on current topics in local and regional development and public sector management.
BFC SEE Programme and International Cooperation
CLER is the national coordinator of the international programme BFC SEE – Business Friendly Certification in South East Europe for the Republic of Croatia, within a regional network responsible for certifying cities and municipalities with a favourable business environment.
Through this programme, CLER supports cities and municipalities in:
- improving the investment climate and business environment,
- standardising and enhancing the quality of public sector services,
- strengthening international visibility through the award of the “Business Friendly Environment” certification.
Connection with the Faculty of Economics and Business in Rijeka
As a company owned by the Faculty, CLER directly utilises the expertise of its academic staff and researchers, as well as the results of scientific projects and international cooperation. This ensures:
- the transfer of academic knowledge into practice,
- stronger analytical foundations for public and private sector policies,
- opportunities for joint projects with public institutions, businesses, and international partners.
In this way, CLER acts as a bridge between academia and real-world policy-making, with a clear goal – achieving more efficient, sustainable, and competitive local, regional, and national economic development.
Contact Persons:
Prof. Nada Denona Bogović, PhD
Assoc. Prof. Ana Marija Sikirić Simčić, PhD