Opening a New Chapter: RISE Appoints Two New Managing Directors
From December 2024, Gabrijela Radić and Ema Ćerimagić take up the role of Managing Directors of RISE. They take over from Smiljka Vikić-Topić, who will resign from her current management position as Head of RISE.
“After working more than 35 years in academia and the pharmaceutical industry, and following two transformative years establishing RISE in Croatia, I look forward to transitioning into a more advisory role,” Vikić-Topić said. “However, I am excited to continue to support key RISE initiatives in the area of Intellectual Property (IP) management, knowledge transfer and valorisation, such as the European IP Helpdesk, the Impact Licensing Initiative, and the Horizon Results Booster from a slightly different perspective.”
This leadership transition marks an exciting moment for the Croatian team while continuing to strengthen collaboration between RISE and its sister company EURICE.
Introducing the New Managing Directors
Gabrijela Radić and Ema Ćerimagić have been part of RISE since its founding at the beginning of 2023. Sharing the Managing Director role across the two company sites, Radić will head the RISE office in Split, while Ćerimagić will be Head of the Zagreb office.
Gabrijela Radić, Managing Director & Head of the Split Office
From the beginning, Gabrijela Radić has led the team’s efforts in operational excellence and managing a diverse range of projects. With extensive experience managing European research grants and leading major projects under FP7, Horizon 2020, and Horizon Europe, Radić is well-versed in the complexities of EU-funded research and innovation initiatives. Her work at the University of Zagreb’s Office for Technology Transfer and involvement in initiatives like Alliance4Life have shaped her strategic insight into EU-funded research. With a focus on fostering new partnerships, she will be vital in steering RISE’s future development, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of research and innovation management.
Ema Ćerimagić, Managing Director & Head of the Zagreb Office
With a background in humanities, social sciences and project management, Ema Ćerimagić has successfully managed Horizon Europe projects and large-scale research initiatives at RISE. She has also actively contributed to strategic planning and business development of both RISE and EURICE. Building on her experience as a Senior Advisor at the Croatian Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes and as a national research coordinator, where she collaborated with the European Commission and other European partners to analyse programme implementation and impact, she brings valuable expertise and insight into EU funding frameworks and their operational dynamics. Her strategic vision and proactive approach position her well to guide RISE into its next phase of growth, expanding the team’s contribution to the European innovation community.
