AITECH Establishes Research and Development Collaboration with Sparky*

The Faculty of Science, University of Split, has signed a Research and Development Cooperation Agreement with Sparky* within the framework of the AITECH project – Artificial Intelligence for Future Technical Education and Industrial Competitiveness (IP-UNIST-48).

The agreement formalises cooperation between the Faculty and Sparky* in the areas of artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and development of AI-based solutions connected with real-world industrial and research challenges. According to the agreement, the collaboration includes joint activities related to data analysis, selection and evaluation of machine learning algorithms, development of AI models, and validation of solutions in industrial environments.

Sparky* is a deep-tech company focused on data, artificial intelligence, and digital innovation.

The company develops AI and data-driven solutions for sectors such as healthcare, finance, media, research, and digital transformation, while also collaborating with universities and research institutions on advanced technology projects.

The collaboration is particularly important in the context of connecting academic research with practical industry applications. Through this partnership, students from the Data Science and Engineering study programme at the Faculty of Science are already participating in activities related to data science, artificial intelligence, and software development through diploma theses and practical project work.

In addition to supporting student research and professional development, the collaboration also contributes to strengthening the connection between higher education and industry needs. Students gain opportunities to work on real-world problems and better understand contemporary workflows in data science and AI engineering.

An important aspect of the cooperation is the involvement of Sparky* experts in teaching activities at the Faculty of Science, where company employees participate as external collaborators in courses related to data science, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies. This exchange of academic and industry expertise contributes to modernising educational content and preparing students for rapidly evolving technological environments.

The agreement also supports several broader goals of the AITECH project, particularly those related to strengthening collaboration between academia and industry, development and validation of AI-based solutions, promotion of responsible and human-centred AI approaches, and strengthening competencies in data science and artificial intelligence.

The cooperation agreement was signed by the Dean of the Faculty of Science, prof. dr. sc. Ana Maravić, and Sparky* director Živko Krstić.

Acknowledgement

This agreement was supported by the University of Split through the Institutional Research Funding Programme under the project “Artificial Intelligence for Future Technical Education and Industrial Competitiveness (AITECH)” (IP-UNIST-48), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.