Branko Stanić is a Research Associate and Deputy Director at the Institute of Public Finance (IPF) in Zagreb, Croatia. He earned his PhD in economics from the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, following earlier degrees from the University of Ljubljana and the University of Sarajevo. His research focuses on public sector transparency, government accountability, local government finance, and the efficiency of public services, with a particular emphasis on applying quantitative approaches such as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate performance and promote good governance.

Since joining IPF in 2015, he has been involved in numerous research projects, including analyses of local government efficiency, citizen-friendly budget guides, and EU- and nationally funded initiatives on transparency, anti-corruption, and good governance. His work has contributed to both academic debates and practical policy solutions, especially in the areas of fiscal openness and local government performance. Branko has published peer-reviewed journal articles and policy reports, and has presented his research at international conferences.

In addition to his research, Branko is an Associate Editor of the journal Public Sector Economics, where he contributes to the editorial process and peer review in the fields of public finance and applied economics. He is also an active member of expert councils in Croatia, including the Council for the Reform of Local and Regional Self-Government and the Open Government Partnership Initiative Council.

Branko has attended advanced research training programs across Europe, including summer schools at the Paris School of Economics and the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, as well as the BITSS Research Transparency and Reproducibility Training (RT2) in Amsterdam. These experiences have shaped his commitment to integrating open science principles into everyday research practice.

As Deputy Director of IPF, Branko is dedicated to building institutional capacity for transparent, reproducible, and ethical research. His participation in the BITSS Catalyst program reflects both personal and institutional priorities to promote open science through training, infrastructure, and advocacy, with the aim of creating durable improvements in research standards in Croatia and beyond.

Open Science in Practice: A Pilot Initiative for Transparency and Reproducibility in Croatia