Consortium

Mateja Šnajdar is an Associate Professor at the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University. She graduated in 2008 and received her PhD in 2015. Her research focuses on materials engineering: powder metallurgy, hard metals and hard coatings, the corrosion resistance of materials, the properties of polymer and composite materials, and the application of additive technologies. She has taken part in two successfully completed powder metallurgy projects (Nanostructured Hard Metals – New Challenges for Powder Metallurgy (a Croatian Science Foundation project) and Development of a New Generation of Eco Smart Products for the company Oprema d.d.). These projects produced new types of materials for specific applications, which were subsequently put to commercial use in industry. This experience of linking research with industrial application is also the foundation of GreenMagCore, a project she conceived and submitted as project leader together with partners from industry and technology transfer.

Igor Štambuk, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University, with many years of experience in electrical engineering, electronic systems, satellite systems and applied research. His research covers the development and application of measurement and electronic systems, the processing and analysis of measurement data, and the application of modern methods in technical systems. He has participated in several research and development activities and is the author and co-author of scientific papers on measurement, electronic, technical and satellite systems. Within the GreenMagCore project, he takes part in the research and development of sustainable soft magnetic cores, with a particular contribution in measurement methods, experimental characterisation and the analysis of research results.

Daniel Pugar, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Polytechnics of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University. He received his PhD in materials engineering from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, where he previously worked as a teaching assistant. His research covers the development and characterisation of polymer and composite materials, nanocomposites, self-healing materials, structural analysis and mechanical testing of materials, and additive manufacturing (3D printing). He is the author and co-author of more than 20 scientific and professional papers and has worked as a researcher on the projects ACCESS – Advanced Simulation of Self-Healing Composites and VARC – Vacuum Centrifugal Casting of Rotationally Symmetric Castings. He contributes to GreenMagCore with his experience in the preparation and characterisation of materials and in analysing the relationship between their structure and their mechanical and thermal properties.

Tea Ostojić, MSc, is a PhD candidate in chemistry at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. Her research focuses on computational modelling of small molecules and biomolecules, molecular simulations and statistical data analysis. She has received the Department of Chemistry Award for research work and the Rector’s Award of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University. She is the author of five scientific papers, four of which were published in Q1 and Q2 journals. She currently works at the Office for Science, Projects and Publishing. On the project, she is involved in industrial research as well as in developing new project ideas and cooperation between academia and industry.

Matea Brižić, PhD, Administrative project leader, Head of the Office for Science, Projects and Publishing at the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University, holds the reins of project management – administration, coordination and everything the project needs to hold together behind the scenes while the team works on developing new magnetic materials. Matea also holds a PhD in biology (Faculty of Science, Zagreb), so alongside the organisational side she brings a solid scientific background – a research mindset that comes in handy when following the technical side of the project, not just the paperwork. Before GreenMagCore, she led crisis operations at the Croatian Red Cross and worked on a range of international and national projects, so managing demanding, multidisciplinary projects is nothing new to her.

My name is Katarina Klepić, and I work as a Professional Associate in the Accounting and Bookkeeping Unit.

My main role is to ensure the accuracy, transparency, and compliance of all accounting processes.

I have built my professional career through many years of experience in private-sector accounting, where I gained hands-on operational knowledge, the ability to respond quickly to complex challenges, and the adaptability required to navigate constantly evolving regulations.

Today, I am proud to apply this strong foundation from the private sector in the specific and challenging environment of higher education.

Beyond numbers and spreadsheets:

I live in the beautiful town of Samobor and am a mother of two. In my free time, I most enjoy being outdoors—I am a great lover of nature and long walks, which are my favourite way to recharge and find balance after a dynamic working day.

Tamara Aleksandrov Fabijanić, PhD, is the Director of the Center for Technology Transfer Ltd. and an expert in powder metallurgy. She received her PhD in 2014 from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb. For many years, her research has focused on the development of nanostructured hard metals, their mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. She led the Croatian Science Foundation project “Nanostructured Hard Metals – New Challenges for Powder Metallurgy” (NANO-PM) and also led the Faculty’s team on an EU project developing new products made of nanostructured hard metals (NANO-PRO). She is a co-inventor on three patent applications for new hard metal compositions, including one international application. She has completed professional training at the German institutes Fraunhofer IKTS and PTB. She is a certified Tech Scout and a member of the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA). On the GreenMagCore project, she takes part in powder metallurgy research. In addition, her experience in intellectual property protection and technology transfer supports the journey of the developed materials from the laboratory to industry.

Tihana Ivić is a specialist in administrative and financial management. She works at the Technology Transfer Centre as an Administrative and Financial Project Manager, where she is involved in financial monitoring, reporting, coordination of project activities, and the administrative implementation of national and international projects. Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience in projects in the fields of science, technology, energy, the environment, and technology transfer, having previously worked at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Zagreb, as well as at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Energy. She continuously develops her expertise in project management, business development, technology transfer, and intellectual property. Within the GreenMagCore project, she provides administrative and organisational support for project management, report preparation, and monitoring the implementation of project activities.

Matija Sakoman, PhD, received his doctorate from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, with a dissertation on the development of PACVD coatings on nanostructured hard metals produced by powder metallurgy. His research focuses on hard coatings and the corrosion resistance of materials. He is a co-author of papers published in the international journals Coatings and Materials. On the GreenMagCore project, he is responsible for intellectual property protection and technology transfer.