Can our Croatian islands become something more than a summer holiday destination which is forgotten as we take the last picture from the boat that takes us back ashore? Can perhaps some become attractive places to live and work in throughout the whole year?

Lifelong learning is today not just a life choice of the few contemplative people isolated from the outside world as it use to be in the past. It is a need of all those who face life’s challenges with purpose. Intensive learning and creativity often require withdrawal from everyday life. Many of the best European and American universities function as "isles of knowledge" separated from the frenzy of large cities. One such "island", the University of Cambridge, has witnessed the beginning of the idea of setting up an oasis of learning and knowledge on one of the smaller Croatian islands.

Such an oasis would cooperate with educational, research and business organizations in creating and carrying out educational programmes for a wide group of users. It would also improve the quality of life on the island. The preserved environment and relative isolation would provide ideal conditions for the participants in education and research processes. Collaboration and partnership with the local community would enable blending of the project with the island and discreetly facilitate its development — through provision new high-quality jobs, investments in infrastructure and protection of natural and cultural heritage. The creation and sharing of knowledge would thus become a lever of development of a specific local community, facilitating the revitalization of an island in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable way.

During the last few months the project has been supplemented by the intention of relocation several ICT companies onto the island. We have started the realization of the project by setting up the Isle of Knowledge Foundation. Having analysed the possible locations, we have decided to initially explore the possibility of setting up the project on the island of Koločep — or Kalamota, as the locals name it. The project has received support from a wide circle of experts, business people, and ordinary citizens from Croatia and abroad. Some of them have joined us in rather concrete ways — by joining the team of founders or its Board of Advisors, which gathers distinguished researchers from several continents. They include Dr. Garret Fitzgerald, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland and the creator of the Irish “economic miracle”, who is currently serving as President of the National University of Ireland. Other members include members of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as Croatian researchers living abroad.

How does it sound — the Isle of Knowledge? Please give us your support — join us! Yours,